The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-22
COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
(Continned from Page l.

dwelling houses with a population of
about 400 aud an assessed valuation of
100000
Acting on the request of the citizens the
commissioners caused a bill to be intro
duccd IN the legislature extending the
llmltS OF the present village so that the
present unprotected area could be included
and have police and fire protection. This
bill failed passage in the house and the
excuse given was that method OF eX-
tending limits was provided by statute.
rms would require considerable expense
! Court proceedings would be necessary and
decision of the commissioners appointed
by the court subject to referendum OF
the village voters and referendum OF the
voters Of the area affected.
| W hencVer fire occurs IN the unprO-
tected area the commissioners are con
fronted with the question as to whether 60
use the fire apparatus and the fire depart
lnent for the protection of property sit
uated therein. The commissioners have
no desire to fail to have the department
answer any emergency call, but the qUcs-
ton of constant use whenever a fire occurs
outside the limits should be determined by
the voters and some action bc taken to
govern the policy of the village in that re
gard.
: We believe that n majority of the citi-
Zens in this area desire union with the
village. Closely connected as many are
/ with the life and business interests of the
village their minds must run along lines
| of mutual helpfulness. We feel quite
sure they do not desire to place any bur
/ den Tor their own protection upon their
fellow citizens residing within the present
I limits.
Our Municipal Government-The pco-
| PIE OF the village are living under three
municipal governments. Namely. that Of
! the town. the village and the school dis
trict. AT of the work of these three
could we'll be performed by one central
| lzed government. and with n greater de
gree Of efficiency and at a less cost.
We believe that progress should be made
towards solution of our governmental
| problem. We therefore recommend that
Il committee be appointed at the coming
meeting to work in conjunction with SINH
/ lar committees Of the town and school
/ district To study the situation and make
such recommendations to future meeting
as the committee may determine.
Police Dcpartmcnt-The country has
been swept with wave Of crime. Brat
tleboTo has not escaped it. hut conditions
have not been S bad here a. i'm many sec
tons. I'm deallug with the situation we
| have had assistance from the state by en-
/ ploymcnt at different times of able and
/ experienced men. We have also employed
| some specials to do specific work. In addi-
! ton we have had the services Of the sheriff
! department of the county. These agen-
ccS have been indeUcndent Of the regular
police department. The commissioners have
had in mind the throwing around our cit
lzcuS that security which they pay for
and to which they are entitled.
There IL and has bccn much criticism of
4 tn" present force. \ policeman is the ser
! want and the protector Of the citizens en-
/ ploying him. II is his duty to act with
courtesy and at the same time to see that
] tacb and every law is reasonably enforced
D Inc citizens Of the community have the
/ right to expect that full measure of ser
} vice. IF they dn not get il I'm fact their
is no IL.
! sIonorS. mindful Of these criticisms. are
&lvlng the situation careful attention to
3 the end that the police department NAV be
maintained upon high plane Of efficiency
y surprisingly large number of often
d+f~ WHO nave been III court during the
past year have been around rs years of
I age. We believe that curfew ordinance
/ reasonably enforced would result i'm great
good to the community. Such ordinances
ere working well in Rutland. Montpelicr
Barre and other municipalities The com
mlSsi"hers recommend tin" adoption of
,@uch an ordinance.
Water Hatcs-Thc last village meeting
voted thar the commissioners take such
action as legally could be taken in regard
90 the reimbursement of the water rates i'm
the village. Ia carving out the direction
OF the voters "" have ascrrtainrd the
rates IN towns Of similar size and append
hereto Il comparative table showing the
same
Under the charter of the Chestnut hin
%. aud Its successors. including the pres
ent company. application can be made
at any time to county court by persons
2ggrlcycd and the court has power to hear
the parties and fix such rates AZ are rea-
js0nablc.
The last session Of our legislature
placed ell water companies under the con
tJfoI OF tho public service commission with
/ power TO fix rates to consumer i'm the
Sanc manner as the rates of railroads and
9ther public service corporations are
Z hNcd. 80 that now any change i'm rates can
I De detormincd by that commission.
! The commissioners have taken the mat
! ter OF the reduction of rates UD with the
/ hrattlcborO Water Works Go. Inc. and
have been promised Il reduction without
/ legal proceedings AZ soon as it is possible
/ to do so giving due consideration to fixed
/ charges and upkccp Of the company. The
( commissioners are ready TO adGut any
course of action which the voters desire.
J tabi" showing the annual water
rates. in Bratticboro. Athol. RutIand
. Montpelier. Kcenc, Burlington. st. Al
bans. Greenfield and Barre is published
/ IN tn" report, showing the rates i'm Rrat-
tIchoro 10 be- larger il most instances.
! The report contains Il table of the es-
! tIaatcd expenses for tue year and I. table
o. thc estimated resources. which al
/ ready have been published i'm The Re
| fofmcr The village has no liabilities.
| ChIctof-Pofcc George Wilson's report
J shows that - arrests were made during
| the wear, t3bulated as follows: Breach Of
J peace l.. insane =. INVESTIGATION . uettv
( larceny /. selling cigarettes to minors /
/ statutory oftenseS >. During the wear
/ 10G men applied for lodging for the
| nIEht and were cared for.
Fire Chief II. c. Streeter reports that
/ the fire department responded to eight
/ box alarms and 81 still alarms.
Z
| The Chinese, of all people, attach most