Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-03-18


George Visue. Skowhegan; John Kola-
sen. Lewiston; JOS. Thibodeau, Fair
field; Norman E. Frizzell, North An
son; Guy f. Bickford, Pittsfield; Roy
Clifton Walker. Embden; Roland K.
Buswell, Skowhegan.
The annual town meeting adjourned
from Monday until Saturday afternoon
was brief and quiet. L. l.. Walton elect
ed at Mondays meeting, was the pre-
siding officer. There was no opposition
to any Of the officials chosen. all being
reelected. The slate was composed Of
the following: Town clerk and collec-
tor, Adam Simpson (same compensa-
ton as last year); selectmen. assessors
and overseers Of the poor, Clyde H.
Smith, Henry Demo and Rev. j. w.
Packard; treasurer, George f. Samp-
son; auditor, A. B. Lamb; member II
school board, Willis A. Bailey: park
commissioner, Mrs. Sarah L. Eaton.
At two sessions prior to the annual
meeting a committee composed of local
citizens Cf various professions had
gone over the articles of the warrant
making recommendations for each ar
ticle. In the majority of the articles,
the adViceS Of these men were needed,
and in the matter of increasing the re-
spective salaries of the three selectmen
$50 for the first, $3.50 for the second and
$3.50 for the third, the citizens voted to
do this, as the committee of 20 had
recommended doing in their executive
sessions. Prior to being elected. Mr..
Smith stated that it had been his In
tention to retire from the Office Of first
se!ectman and engage in business for
himself, but because of the unsettled
conditions Of the present time he mad
decided to serve again if it should be
the minds Of the people to re-elect him.
At this point Mr.. Smith. to avoid flu
ture misunderstanding mentioned that
there was a bare possibility Of his be-
ing a candidate for representative to
the Legislature. While Mr.. Smith had
not previously made this announce
ment. his name had been mentioned by
Skowhegan people as likely candi-
date for nomination before the June
primaries.
There was no preference expressed as
to the person whom the voters would
desire to have appointed as road
commissioner for the ensuing year, and
the matter of maintaining Municipal
Fuel yard was taken up. Some months
ago there was an indication that at the
annual town meeting there would be
considerable oratory and some fire
works. when this matter was consid-
cred but nothing of the sort occurred.
and it was quickly voted upon to main
tain the fuel yard for another year.
Again Selectman Smith arose to his
feet and mentioned the severe criticism
which had come to the board. lie
asked the people to express preference
at that time rather than after town
meeting, as it was his desire to know
how the people felt on this matter. lie
then offered to answer criticism, but
as none was forthcoming, he then
touched briefly upon the inability or
the board to please everyone, the ef-
forts exercised by the selectmen, their
inability to obtain wood under contract,
hence the purchasing Of the wood lot.
The town had purchased 100 tons OF
coal and had obtained all coal pur-
chased. He stated that the board ex-
pected to have ready next fall nearly
1000 cords of wood, and that a large
quantity of coal had been purchased
direct from the mines. In reply to one
critic Mr.. Smith stated that the car
load of coal which had been reported
sold in HnclSley had been sold IN that
town, but for the Skowhegan poor
farm, which is much nearer Hinckley
village than Skowhegan village. He
explained the saving of $1,000 for an
other year, and recommended the
measuring of all wood so that the peo-
pie may know what they are paying
for. He closed his stirring remarks by
representing Skowhegan as in the van
guard, leading the way. A motion was
made that three farmers be appointed
by the chair to serve with selectmen
in establishing the price of wood, and
this was voted upon in the affirmative.
After due consideration the three farm
ers named to serve in this capacity
were S. II. Bradbury. Joseph Beauiler
and Fred L. Moody, Sr.
1t was suggested and carried that the
sum of $1,000 be appropriated to defray
the expense of the police department.
the chief Of police to have charge OF
the enforcement of traffic regulations.
It was voted to authorize the select
men to enforce the laws, prohibiting
fast and reckless driving of motor
vehicles, and the citizens voted yes.
as last year, to the question of appro-
priating and raising money necessary
to entitle the town to State aid.
The real argument of the day oc-
Cured relative to the town voting to
take some action regarding the disposi-
ton of the Austin farm, and 20 pass all
votes respecting the same. This farm
is valued at $500. 1t seems that many
wears ago the selectmen of Skowhegan
entered into an agreement that the
Austin family should have the use of
the place so long as they took care OF
themselves. Hon. T.. n. Merrill, fav>
ored with considerable stress the pass
ing over of the article The plan of
the selectmen it seemed had been to
deed the farm to the Austin family,
providing they would give the town
a right of way across the farm, which
the road commissioner had laid out
over the Austin land, and which it was
claimed the Austin family had at times
interfered with by placing obstacles in
the same This Mr.. Merrill did not
consider a wise procedure. and Select
man Smith, Elmer Greenwood. Thos.
Dionne and Daniel Lewis entered in
the argument. The matter was event
ually left with the selectmen to release
whatever interest the town may have
in the farm as they saw fit for the
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