The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-05-01

ANNUAL.
NEE TING TONIGHT
Street Lighting and Day Po-
lice Problems to Be
Considered
ROBERTS CANDIDATE
FOR COMMISSIONER
May Result in Fewer Concerts - Tax
Rate Recommended Is Two Cents
Higher than Last Year.

Action upon several of the articles
in the warrant for the annual village
meeting to be held this evening at s
o clock in Festical hall will be favor
able or unfavorahle as the majority
feei with regard to the necessity of
economizing in village affairs as they
have felt for some time in their per-
sonal affairs.
Unless some dark horse is entered
at the last minute there is no contest
for election as village commissioner to
succeed Walter S. Stearns, whose term
expires and who is not candidate for
reelection. Arthur F. Roberts an
nounced two weeks ago his candidacy,
and he apparently is unopposed for the
office. There will be no contests for
the other Offices, clerk, treasurer. tag
collector and auditors. 1t is to be ex-
pected that they will be voted the
same salaries as last year.
| Article ) is to see whether the vii
| iage viii appropriate money to pay for
the usual annual series of band con-
lNSites In tiiN He'1t II hao DOVii StS1oHttti
| TO give 16 concerts. but it is possible
that this year the voters will be asked
to pay the same amount for IL con-
certs. Two or three of the prominent
instrumentalists of the old band are
not now employed in town and to give
we'll -ba4anrev-~oHccft-It will be nee
essary to engage two or three men from
| other places for each concert. which
son it is understood that the idea of re-
ducing the number from Is to u will
be advocated.
Another important article is that to
see whether the village will vote to APP
lpropriate money to pay the Twin State
Gas & Electric Co. for the installation
business section of the village and the
resultant increase in the cost of the
lighting of the business streets.
There are men who believe that this
is not good time to attempt to
shoulder any additional expense. On
the other side it is certain that the
Twin State company will not be able
again to make so advantageous an of
fer as the one now up to the village
voters for consideration, because of the
|
glass and wire. 1t can be said without
fear of contradiction that the lighting
company will not be at all disappoint
led If the offer is turned down. Mate
: Trials have gone up considerably in
price since the offer was made. The
present street lighting system has not
to be renewed of necessity at once
and in the opinion of the company OF
y
now. This question resolves itself in
to the determination of whether ma
iority feel that the village should un
dertake the additional expense of thu
: proposed form of lighting.
When Article 9 is called up regard
ling instructing. the village commits
sioners as to the employment of a da,
3 policeman there is liable to be SOM
discussion.
1t is impossible to find a busines
man or men who are. frequently o.
4 the business streets during the da
t who do not favor the employment of
4 day officer. Since one was employe
IS the traffic on Main street, especially
h has moved much more decorously tha
Y in the past, and there have been FRI
+ lquent instances Of arrests whic
were Ildut du OHICeT cOulu u
& found at once.
IS Underlying this question is the con
d lment of the commissioners in their al
rs nual report that they believe som
;. changes should be made in the pc
1t sonnel of the police force. Whethe
N this means one or more of the three O.
" fcers was not even limited at in the
Iprinted comment, but voters will bea
RS in mind that the officers receive
il cents an honr and a very few fees fe
Id either day or night duty and at
I'd time when common laborers comman
Id l30 cents an hour.
IS, The last article of Importance is I'll
matter of raising money to defray IL
expenses of the coming year. In tn
connection the commissioners ha,
recommended tax of AZ cents
Ae against one of 40 cents last year, an
this is not calculated to care for an
additional expense that may be vote
q at the meeting, such as an increase
u cost of liohtino