The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-16
CITY &cil Thinks Law as
"w6oarding Tax Delin-
quents Oppressive
BILLS FAR EXCEED
TAXES UNCOLLECTED
Efforts Will Be Made to Get
a Change in the
Statutes

Objectionable features of the statutory
provision which makes it possible for
constable TO arrest delinquent taxpay-
er, commit him to jail and maintain him
there at the expense of the municipality
may be removed through legislative en-
actment or amendment if the plan con-
ceiyed by the board of aldermen at its
regular meeting last night attains frui-
tion. II is proposed to remedy one of
the recognized evils of the present I'M
prisonment plan by obviating the board
and-lodging burden which falls on the
city or town from which the delinquent
was committed. The aldermanic legisla-
confer with epresentative-elect E. l..
Smith on proposal to introduce a reme-
| dial amendment at the coming session of
the general assembly.
Another suggestion made at the meet
| ing, if carried out, will enlist other Ver-
mont municipalities in an effort to have
the statute changed The matter came
to the attention of the city fathers when
Constable George L. Morris handed them
a warrant which was used yesterday to
commit delinquent of this city to the
county Jail in Montpelier. Within the
present year the city paid the jailer a
large amount for carrying along some of
its delinquents imprisoned for failure to
square their tax accounts. Almost be-
fore anyone realized how long the de-
linquents had been incarcerated a big
bill for board and room had mounted up
and the city faced an inexorable legal
wall when it baked at settling the ac-
count. In the instance cited, the delin-
quent plainly got the better of the deal
and from the city treasury leaked sum
several times larger than the sum total
of the taxes collectible.
Increased Returns from Gas Franchise.
Ten per cent larger than last year is
the revenue which the city is to realize
from the gross receipts of the Peoples
Lighting Heating Power Co. for the
year ending July 81, 1914. BY virtue of
the franchise granted the company by
the city. the latter receives per cent of
the gross receipts. According to the
statement furnished by the company and
read before the aldermen, the gross re-
,eipts for the period mentioned were
s27 ,94s.72, or an average of something
ike $4,000 per month, of which the city
receives S55s97; last year the city's
share was S500.56. This revenue is d.
rerted to the sinking fund.
Council Will Investigate.
Acting under instructions from the
mayor, City Engineer George A. Reed
ubmitted a report on the condition of
he concrete flooring at the Cutler stables
IT Washington street Among the older
members OF the board the report swak
ned memories of the concrete episode Of
our wears ago and recurring incidents
mixed with H. Recently, IL seemed, II.
7. Cutler renewed his complaint that the
FORK had not been properly done. II viii
2 recalled that former Street Superin-
andent J. c. DcBnne contracted for the
.ork unbcknown 70 the street commit
re-. a. il was claimed. When the con-
ract was aired for the fret time, Mr..
eBrune upheld the contention that the
N was done 20 keep his men busy and
ot for profit Engineer Reeds report
ascribes at length the condition Of the
lncrete az IL Is to-day and suggested
at III the aldermen still feel under obli-
,tion 20 Mr.. Cutler they may authorize
payment Of half the cost Of recov-
ing the floor In the horse stalls
Apparently some Of the aldermen did
4 feel the delicacy Of the obligation N
n exists for Alderman Kesst's motion
Law the report on the table was SER
.ded rather promptly Nv Alderman
aefe. Niavor Ward. however. thought
. hoard should accept the report. So
happened that the motion was with
nu-n and u also developed that Alier-
IN Hohan's motion 10 accept the report
n refer il % the eornmi ittee of ths
lole should prevail. The committee in
-u~ted itself - report at the neHt
.etinr
NOVEMBER vital Ststistioa
Durlnr ths month ~ N0semler. ar
ding 20 TIE reToTt of Health Ofcsr
". EteHart there were = hrtlss.
fur isisnee tetwss6 the maies and f.
lfs uns preserved fer isoth wers rrp-
nrtfa ~ tie rnvsf8f figure ll. T1seas
- iE ,surtnriass diseases reported.
.l.ar fsn runfnr FIRST with sud
r4rnr rnurt as-sn5 wth Tweiss
.tis us-s arf 80 the fuIlov v5ar esussss
.-.i.f ftairlr rait-s hHsrt fsiiurs di.-
: 81 fis isart sd fisesss ~ 49, kif-
r. . each. efrrnlsiafs. enurlsrT.
r.-arnntu-r hrth. 9 Faur tf11rial r.sf-
= ufrt issirHf far En1unos asr---s-T.
eco ea-t - Hufs snf - Fssaisv
~ esrusfa~ars
BuBSinE 1pzfszsseus
lsrsEtg un- FaruiEtsa ~ Ettl.
a. "a 49, s.a-aas.s.a - -. ~r