The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-09-23
FEW EXPENDITURES
TO BE AUTHORIZED
Because Departments Find
They Are Near Their
Limit

spII was Litt
OF the city council last evening. Finances
in practically every department OF the
city's business were given cursory
scanning in order that the administra-
ton might ascertain whittier it is drift
ing, whether it is drifting in fact, or
rather, pursuing an even course IN the
channels which the executive had IN mind
when he enunciated his retrenchment
policy at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Confession is good for the soul and the
various department heads told the story
of their doings in the good old-fashioned
testimonial way. All in all, it may be
said that the administration is fairly
bound on favoring breezes toward some
thing like an actual retrenehment.
Heavy expenditures have been made,
are being made. in some directions, it is
true. and accounts are about to be over
drawn. but an encouraging amount OF
thrift has been shown in more than one
instance. 1t was good omen at the
opening OF the session when the mayor
distributed brief complimentary mes
sages to each member as q reward for
punctuality. II may not happen again,
but for once every alderman was in his
seat when the gavel came down. Per-
haps because this is the year OF quad
rennial appraisal, the account of assess
ing taxes has been pared to the core,
An extra appropriation of $500 will be
needed. Printing and stationery will
need an extra allowance of $50, and II
contemplated improvements are TO be
carried through there will be other APP
prApriations for surface sewers, side
walks and streets. It is more than like
ly. however, that a number of these inn
proyements will be postponed until next
wear. Accounts Of public buildings and
the water department viii have to be
propped up in measure If the plans in
nrosnect are to reach maturity. An
itemized list OF the necessary appropria-
tions viii be approved at the next meet
ing.
The resolution authorizing the issu-
ance of 900 in school bonds was Civ
en- its second reading and adopted with
little discussion. The resolution, as re-
viewed last week, got pretty thorough
"once over" when ii was read the first
time. II is expected that the bonds viii
be issued at once in denominations OF
$500 or 81 900 and at an interest bear
ing rate OF 4 per cent. They are to be
sold within the state and are to he dateG
Oct. with an expiring date Of 20 wears.
The city will reserve the right to re-
deem them on any interest bearing date
and the customary plan of having the IS
sue certified by trust company has
been abandoned.
Water rose to conversational levels
when two Berlin street residents ap-
peared and asked for an extension of the
main in their locality. The request was
made the occasion for n debate between
Chairman Keefe of the water committee
and Alderman Cook. who is second men,
Der of the same committee. The latter
favored regular meetings of the water
committee in order that petitions of this
kind might receive prompt attention, It
having developed that the petitioners
had prayed for the petition some time
previous. Chairman keefe thought the
committee should not meet unless it has
business to transact, a rule which, he
believed, would tend to reduce expenses
the while The argument ended when
the committee agreed TO meet this even |
ing. A committee report drafted during |
the session recommended that the main |
be extended, even though il looked as
though the departmental appropriation |
was about to be overdrawn. II was |
claimed that the petitioners are in sore
straits by reason of the failure of a |
spring water company to supply their |
wants. The report was accepted and |
the recommendations ordered carried /
out.
During the evening. Alderman Cook, |
chairman of the charity committee, took |
occasion to explain the Sl26 bill turned |
in by the city farm for August. After /
recounting a number OF reasons which |
appeared to be sufficient he expressed |
his opinion that the expenditure for the /
month was not unduly large.
Alderman Keast reported canvass OF /
residents near the Brook street inter |
section of North Main street in which |
IL seemed to be the eoncensus of senti |
ment that merry-go round on the /
Hastings lot in that locality would be /
objectionable His report was accepted 4
and il was voted TO refuse the request
Of r W. Chesser. a Waterbury amuse
ment man. who had asked permission to
operate his merrygo- round in that
neichh0rhood.
The finance committee, reporting on
lis conference with the city attorney. I
held the opinion that the tax appeal Of
Fred \. Braley on his 1914 appraisal is
almost identical with the protest which
he registered last year. The report was
accepted with Alderman Cooks amend
ment changing the word identical 20
almost identical" I
Building permits were granted in the
following instances on the favorable re
mort Of the inspector: Mrs. Jane Durkee-
TO reshingle barn at 800 North Main
street: r. Antoinetti. to reshingie roof
Al l52 North Seminary street; :. Al
harirzi. to reshingle property at las
North Seminary street. A large number
of BROOKLYN street property owners Pc
titioned the council for two street lights.
one to b located at the south end o.
the street and the other to he placed y,
near the house Of Mrs. Patterson. The