The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-04-26

WANT MORE POWER
Favor Amendment Enabling
Them to Assist in
Emergencies
VILLAGE OFFICERS
ANNUAL REPORTS
Substantial Reduction in Village Debt
Rigid Economy Must Be Insisted
Upon-Only Necessary New Con-
struction Should Be Undertaken.

stTuction Should Be Undertaken.
Printed copies of the financial exhibit
of the village of Brattleboro are about
ready for distribution from the press
of the Vermont Printing Co., which
include the reports of the commission
ers and other village officers for the
! year ending May /, 1918. The grand
list last year was $67 ,35240, the tax
rate II cents on a dollar which raised |
$2S,2SS. Following is the commission
ers' report in full:
To the Citizens of the Incorporated |
| Village Of Brattleboro:
The people of this nation are passing /
/ through the most perilous and momen- |
tous period of its entire history. There |
is demanded real sacrifice and unfiag-
ging effort on the part of every citizen
Great sums of money will be required
to finance this struggle for liberty This
must come from the people, and they
will he called upon from time to time
to contribute from their earnings and
savings. Our people are doing their
part nobly.
The sacrifice does not end, however,
! with money contributions. Patriotism is
not thing of purchase. Personal cf
= fort to the limit, personal inconvenience
i and suffering will also be required, be-
fore the barbarian is conquered.
= Therefore the times call for the most
) rigid economy on the part Of the cit
! liens in their personal affairs. as well
as III public matters. We must insist
| upon the greatest economy in our vii
r. lage government. Ne new construction
I should be undertaken unless the same
5 is absolutely necessary. No changes in
5 volying expense should be made Ev-
Il cry department should be so conducted
II as to make the greatest possible saving
5 With the final liquidation of our debt
e the village government can be main
t tanned at q comparatively small cost.
c We have made q substantial reduction
: this year. With normal conditions we
q should endeavor TO make Il greater re
Il duction next year.
:. Every preparation should be made
is to take care of every contingency that
is can be foreseen. We think. therefore,
IS that certain extensions in the scope of
d the village charter should be made. The
D. commissioners should have the power to
assist, In an emergency. in the supply
n of food stuffs and fuel to the people
n, with the right of purchase and sale of
)t the same. An amendment should be
framed to give them certain powers Of
regulation over necessaries. This ncccs
sty for use may not arise. 1t may
come at any time. No man should be
: permitted, IN this emergency, to make
y exorbitant profits ont Of the sale OF
necessarles. The one who attempts t
do so is a public enemy. In the absence
f,NEL 1,.. ! +x1J
of control should be lodged with mu
inequalities.
Every able-bodiod citizen should b,
employed in production. For the sam.
Ill reason stated above the village shoult
n, be given authority to adopt such by
r laws and regulations as will compe
as employment of rich and poor alike, il
tn work of producing. The rich idle
nc should be on the same level as the com
e mon shirk. Such necessary amendmcn
OF should be secured that Brattlebor
is may not omit to do all things her citi
ry zens can do to help in the protection 0
r. civilization.
The commissioners should be directe'
to secure the necessary legislation
The last session of the Vermont leg
islature passed an act permitting tn
es consolidation of the village and tow
governments for the purpose OF plac1nI
the government of the people With
''s the limits of the town under a tow,
~ manager Other towns are now tryln
- out the scheme Of the government by
: town manager. Good Judgment woul
~ seem to dictate that we wait and sc
the results of these trials and hay
!, the advantages claimed fully demon
~ strated before We embark on the c,
pertinent.
= The commissioners of the incorpora
cd village of Brattleboro submit tn
following report of the financial cond
ton of the village for the year endin
ced Nav |, 1918, together with the oifici;
It'll reports of the heads OF the differer
departments for the careful consider;
.rv ton of the citizens of the village
itb We are pleased to say that durin
,ws the past year the affairs of the ditferei
arc departments Of the village have bee
conducted with very little trouble an
the property of the village is in goo
=: - condition. All expenses have bee
~ paid and very substantial reductit
ny has been made in the village debt.
On May i, 1917, the liabilities
the village amounted to $4,000. Du
ing the year we have been able to r
low duce this amount by $500, leavii
by the liabilities of the village on May
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