Connecticut western news., 1914-07-02
GOOD OLD NEWS
Cleaned from the Housatonie RepubIF-
 can of 56 Years Ago.

1iedneu rom tne F1ousatonic hepublt-
 can of 5e Years Ago.
 The Falls Village Housatonic Re- publican" of June l2, 1853, contained an editorial by Editor C. B. Maltbie on the forthcoming town meeting to act upon the proposition to divide the town It would appear that there was some bitter discussion of the matter, and Editor Maltbie favored division. The editorial says:
 "The good old town of Canaan is just at this time being upheaved by the town division commotiun and we are sorry to say that no little fuel is sup piled by certain outside or what should be outside influences. North Canaan raised the question of division at this time and SoIth Canaan have thus far acquiesced or remain silent in the mat ter.
 "Now it would be no more than fair that the South Society should have m fair chance to express unbiased their honest convictions upon the subject. We believe it to be fact that there would be but few if any dissenting votes, could those who now dissent be convinced that our Taxes would not be raised. AS to this matter we have taken pains to enquire of those who have been long conversant with our town affairs, and they give an unani- nous opinion that our town tax need not be necessarily raised but rather that they may be materially lessened. Let us look at the matter a moment candidly.
 "1st We know that there is not any desire by the Republicans, us n bodyr to mix politics with our town matters. neither do we believe the Democrats have any such desire, as for ourself we have voted for us many Democratic as Republican town officers and shall ever do what lies ill our power to keep town questions free of political strife and animosity.
 "2d. Is not the chief question for South Canaan to consider on next. Mon day, the one of propriety as to the town division, we think it is and that it is the main question, and now we say let every one vote as to him shall seem best, but let him fully inform him self upon the subject before he decides, and that all may be informed, we hopo the advisability of the division may be discussed publicly ut the polls by those who have given the subject their care full consideration and that all the voters may be present to hear what may be said on both sides of the question
 "3d. 1t is fact that tho town is now and has been for years us nearly divided as it possibly could and not Re. We have had two set of selectmen. who have managed their own society,". ask the old ones if it is not 90, we have had two assessors, one for each, we shall now want no more, we have had two collectors, one for each Society and do not need any more, we have had two set of school officers and do not need any addition, there has been fourteun justices of the peace but it is not pro- posed to add at all to them. What officers then do we need in addition to, our old? Just this and no more, ~ town clerk, who has Il salary of 25 dollars a. year, and as we had to pay for one.half of the old one, of course there will be, the enormous increase in town officers salary of 12 1-2 dollars, and this is the | WilOle OI the neeueu AuultlOuhl eApenhAv is it not? We leave every one to judge for himself. As for town hall or place for meetings, the selectmen can provide one at the cost of one-half of the present one, and if they will go to- South Canaan Church, for less too, even for nothing. Where then VIC ask in all sincerity, can be the great addi- tional expense, so much talked off There is none, and there being none, is it not for the interest of Canaan to be divided? We think it is, and think it will be so decided by fair majority
 Finally we would call the attention of the voters in ;. Canaan next Mon day, to the fact that proposed amend meut has passed one if not both branches of the Legislature, restricting all towns hereafter to one Representa- tive each. This fact is one that should be we'll understood for if it becomes a, law, it will be almost impossible to ever divide the town after this year, from the fact that in no probable way could the town agree upon Representa-. tive. If the town is now divided Ga naan will save one of her Representa- tives, if not she must lose one from the two she now has. We wish all voters to look at the matter as itis and be governed by a common sense view of the subject"
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