Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-31

regan in the town of Plainfield and he knew the assessors had twice refused Ponemah mill for MT. Eccles, but once they kept the figure at what the company handed 1t in. He didn't know about the town meeting where unanimous vote was passed against annexation. The town tax in Norwich had been F 1-2 mills for several years until the last year and that was also the tax in Plainfield.
 After the question by MT. Brown ing already referred to, Attorney Higgins asked him if he knew whether the former propositions for consolida- tion had been the sporadic effort of individuals or whether the Norwich common council or selectmen had ever appeared at hearings in favor of them. MT. Atwood said he could not tell.
 Attorney Shields put the question whether MT Atwood would be satis- fled with an act to be submitted to the legislature declaring in the strong est terms possible against annexation unless the desire for annexation should arise from the part to be annexed.
 That would have satisfied us years ago." said MT. Atwood but it's differ ent now.
 Winslow T. Williams. Wfnslow T. Williams of Yantic was called to the stand. shaking. hands with Chairman Thompson as he took his place to testify.
 He said there had been constant fric- tion between the city and the sections of the town which it is proposed to set off and they have surprisingly lit tie in common. He believed 1t would be a distinct advantage to separate Yaltic felt that 1t had never received | full value or the privileges which it should enjoy. They felt a fer of the city and that these protestations about not wanting to annex would not | hold water. He believed the prevail ] ing feeling in the city was that they would get the town some time. He | thought the proposed Old Norwich l would be able to take better care of | it's poor and do better with the schools. | which were not as good under consol- l idation as under the old district sys- 1 tenn
 | Attorney Higgins asked him if it | were not so that the first state money l in the town of Norwich for roads was spent on a road towards Yantic and also towards Taftville. MT. Williams said he thought that was so- 1 In answer to question from Attorney Browning, MT. Williams said he | thought 1t could be easily proven thai | the schools under consolidation were | not as good as the old district schools | but none of his children went to tht | Norwich schools, except to the Free l Academy
 | Attorney Shields asked him if ht | knew of the recent city meeting where | 500 men voted unanimously agains | annexation
 MT. Williams said he did not consid.
 CT that a meeting of 500 on such ar
 important question adequately rep | resented the city. He did not, how.
 ever, know anything about the char
 acter of the men at the meeting ol | whether they were the most tnf1uen. | tia1 citizens or not
 l He admitted to Attorney Browning I, I,a @ay-fy, N0csJ
 tion to the proposed measure were z
 good representative body of citizens.
 At this point Attorney Henney sait
 he rested for the petitioners. l Opened for the Opposition.
 In opening the case for the oppo- l nents to the proposed bill, Corporation Counsel Tanning presented a petition who were at the hearing, which stated their opposition to separation. and de- nied that there had ever been any
 bitterness or jealousy between the sec tions, but that fair treatment had al
 ways been given in all matters. and
 that the outlying districts had always had representation on the town board
 All the men at the hearing opposed
 to separation were asked to stand up
 So that the committee might see who
 they were.
 In the time that was left, from A;
 to 5.15, Attorney Shields made 8 bFie1
 opening of the case for the town, 1T
 which he claimed that he would be
 able to show that 200 or 300 of those
 who had signed the petition for sep
 aration had done so under a misun.
 derstanding and now wanted to re- | tract and withdraw.
 Attorney Higgins presented petitions
 from the Fourth and Fifth districts
 protesting against any change in the
 town lines or the formation of a new
 town. He also presented the affidavit
 of Philip B. Whaley, who had signed
 the separation petition without read
 ing it or knowing what 1t was abou
 and declared he thought others hat . done the same. He is opposed to sep aration
 w. O. Rogers of Norwich Town tes 2 tiied that he is opposed to separation
 and that the people of that distric largely feel the same way.