Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-13

A new situation in town meetings developed in that of Tuesday evening in the town hall when the citizens of the town of Norwich assembled for their annual town meeting. at which one of the principal items of business is to lay the town tax for next year. but the meeting had to adjourn with out doing so, as 1t was revealed that the estimate made by the retiring board of seloctmen of S24,311-4S for state tax had been merely a guess, as the board had been unable to secure from the state tax commissioner the figure that this item would amount to- All that they had been able, to learn wcs that the item would probably be considerably larger than the amount they had named in their estimates.
 The figure of $4,395 estimated for national guard Is also subject to re- vision, it is stated, and in view Of both these facts the meeting adjourned without laying the town tax. The date to which adjournment was taken was Nov. g. by which time it is ex- pected that the state tax commissioh- CT will have furnished the figures that are needed for these two items.
 In effect. the meeting also threw down the challenge to the state board of education when 1t cut down from $1, 600 to S100 the amount asked for medical inspection in schools in the face of the statement that 1t was not considered that medical inspection could be satisfactorily carried out for less than $1,000. and the secretary of the state board of education had said that if such inspection was not car ried out the state grant for schools. which in the case of Norwich amounts to SIS, 400. would be held up.
 Town Counsel Pettis Presided. There was an attendance of about 200 men when First Selectman Casper K- Bailey called the meeting to order just as the town clock was striking s and gave up the chair to Town Coun- sel H. H. Pettis to preside. This the new chairman did with ability. con ducting the business in an expeditions way.
 After Town Clerk Charles S. Hol- brook had read the call for the meet ing. the annual reports. which were in printed form. were accepted. These were the reports of the town treasurer, sinking fund commission, health ofi- cers. town school committee and trus- tees of the Otis library.
 Salaries Voted.
 The usual salaries were voted to be paid as follows: First selectman, 32,- 100; second and third selectmen. $200 each; town clerk. S200; town treasurer, $1, ,0O0; board of assessors, $S,000:' tax collector, commission of l per cent. upon the amount of tax collected The resolution was presented by A. S. Spalding the salaries being the same as before.
 Before taking up the estimate of expenses for the next. year. Chairman Pettis said these had been prepared by the retiring selectmen. but he believed they were pared down to the lowest possible figure and he felt that any radr1cfinw1 Tn tba amouuta- reCOrnrnand- : ed. would be inadyisahle- s-- The following as recommended were voted: Almshouse, .$7 800; outside poor. ts. .50o: insane. $10,5O0; neglected and dependent children. s2,6oo; highways (outside), $6.000; macadam repairs, s2. 900; Chelsea parade. reseeding and fertilizing. S2o0. ~s
 For oiling roads the item was 1900. and W. S. filling inquired what was tho expense Of oiling roads last year. He was told by MT. Spalding that 1t was about $1,300.
 This Town Meeting.
 George o. Stead inquired how it was that he had to pay a tax for oiling and he was set straight by being told this was town meeting while the proper ty he owned was in the city. which as- sessed the taxpayers direct for oiling streets.
 The SlISOO was voted
 Big Improvement in Bridges. The sum of $5,00o as asked for bridges was voted after former Second Selectman William B. Wilcox said that the last year was an unusual year for had to be rebuilt. Now the town has six concrete bridges.
 These items were voted without re- mark: Contingent. $s,ooo; interest S12,560; election expense. $3,0O0; reg istry of vital statistics. S1,6OO: YantiC 1000 feet of hose; town clerks office $40O: property tax account, $6.5O0i sinking fund, ss,S00; tuberculosis ac- count. $2J500; probate district expense $500; street lighting, s1,O0O.
 No Figure on State Tax.
 Before voting the item for state taJ Chairman Pettis said that $24.371.4i had been the amount that had beer estimated. but it had since beer found that it would be considerably larger He asked Mir. Spalding to ex' plain the situation.
 MT Spalding stated that they hat put this item in at about $500 nor than last year, but when the selectmeI talked with Tax Commissioner CorbiI on Sept. g he gave no definite reply and since then MT. Corbin had givel no town in the state any definit' knowledge as to what it's share of tn, state tax would be. MT. Spalding sug gested that the only thing to be dom l was to adjourn the meeting till Nov. after transacting all other business bu voting these amounts. and laying tn town tax. There is also the amour due the national guard. which was pu in at $4,395. but Is also indefinite.
 MT. Spaldings motion to adjourn till Nov. 9th was carried. s. | ThrexheY as<ad if we vvould know thel what the tax would be. and Mir. Spal ding answered that 1t seemed yer. likely. because the town had to pa. the state tax on Nov. 10.