Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-01-21

terest in a village meeting in Middle
bury as evidenced last Wednesday eve
ming when two hundred and forty
nine voters cast their ballot to decide
the election of a village officer while
a hundred others sat as spectators
There have been political machines in
Middlebury before, but in that respect
too, many of the old timers remarked
the organization displayed by one of
the factions in the Town Hall We'd
nesday was the equal at least of the
politics of the past The old board of
trustees was reelected with only one
contest. An appropriation of $500 was
voted for the installation of a siren
fire alarm. The recommendation OF
the auditors that $l9000~of the $4,000
estimate for the coming year be funded
over period Of five years was adopt
ed. A new water commissioner was
elected in c. F, Rogers, a curfew law
was passed to be further promulgated
by the trustees, and one motion was
tabled without debate.
The above is a summary of the bust
ness transacted in the annual assembly
of the taxpayers of the village. But
the preliminaries to the meeting, the
rumors that had been circulated of
the assurances of a lively time, the
appearance of the factional elements
that came to verbal blows for mo-
ment only and then were lost in the
surplus strength of one, these and the
other details have to be known for one
to rightly appreciate the convention of
Wednesday evening. There were some
hard words exchanged. from the floor,
mention of "unspeakable taxes" thrust
upon the community by recent extrav-
agance. a heated arraignment of
cabal of the Tenders and spenders" of
the peoples money. futile plea twice
repeated for the reading of the list of
delnquents in poll tax payments. And
there were other things. It may also
be termed a meeting under the control
OF the villages lawyers, three however
against one, and the majority ruled
Some called it contest for supremacy
in village matters between the college
and the townspeOple, others some a re-
action against the conservatism of 9TH
er administrations. In reality it de-
veloped into victory by the better or
veloped into a victory by the better or
ponents. 1t was a really live meeting
The assembly was called to order at
7:45 by Moderator John E. Weeks
After the reading of TIE warning. Allen
R. Sturtevant nominated Mr. Weeks
to succeed bimself as chairman and he
was accepted by the assembly for the
eighth tifne as presiding officer. Jos
eph M. Burke was unanimously elected
to his oath successive term as village
clerk. in which capacity he has served
Middlebury for longer period than
any other man excepting one, and in
another year he will have equaed the
latter's record for longevity in popular
approval as an official
Ira H. LeFleur moved that the re-
port of the village officers be accepted
as submitted and there was no objec-
ton. When the moderator read the
third article of the warning, "to see if
the village will vote to petition the
legislature to amend the village chart |
er so that the seven trustees, instead
of being elected all annually, shall, be-
ginning with the year 1922, be elected, |
two to serve one year. two for two
years and three for three years, and at
the expiration of these terms for per
iod of three years, similar to the man /
ner Of electing the selectmen of the
town and other boards" Eli Fortier,
was the first to obtain recognition and |
moved that the article be tabled. He
was seconded by several John Fletch-
er asked to open discussion of the
question but was ruled out of order
When several objected to the precipi-
tate death of the article. the Chair
suggested that the ruling be set aside
and that the debate begin. Mr. La
Fleur spoke against the breach of par
liamentary law and championed the
right of "the humblest taxpayer" to
an equal voice in the meeting. He
claimed that the entire article was
out of order in that it was
a matter more proper to the last arti
Gle of the warning as "other busi
ness The question was put by the
chair and the ayes tabled the motion.
The rear section of the hall seemed
Haye" while the front
portion was vehement in replying mo.
On all votes the division of the house
the same. rear versus front.
c. c. Wells repeated the report Of
the committee that had investigated
a better fire alarm system as printed
in last weeks Register and recommend
ed the adoption of an electric siren.
George Kidder objected to the appro-
Driation of $500 for the alaKm. main
tanning that the present method Of
alarm was good enough if more advan-
located aud properly cared
for Mr. Sturtevant inquired about
The promised share of the college in
meeting the bill and amended the mo-
ion to read that the appropriation be
made on condition of Middlebury Col
ege contributing one third of the ex-
oense. The proposition was accepted
dissent.
John A Fletcher was first on his
eet after the reading of article five,
to vote a tax for maintaining and
-epairing roads and walks" but direct
ID his comment to the next item OF the
warming and was ruled out of order.
IN the course of his remarks, however,
a. r,oJa the fret affocI- On fha ad