22 
a Pacific coast city where he once 
lived. When the paving had to be 
taken up after 22 years’ use the blocks 
were found to be in perfect condition. 
It was said that they would have 
lasted fifty years. 
P. H. Boyle was for a_ gravel 
shoulder no matter what material was 
used for paving. Otis M. Stanley 
objected to the use of any new kind 
of material on these roads and made 
a motion to pass over the article. The 
motion was lost. 
William Hooper said he did not 
think Bermudez was safe paving for 
a horse to travel on and did not think 
that wood was lasting enough. 
Selectman E. S. Knight moved an 
amendment to have the appropriation 
made for $58,500 as asked by the 
selectmen instead of $40,000 recom- 
mended by the finance committee. 
Frank P. Knight wanted to know 
how much the ‘appropriation would 
add to the tax rate. The selectman 
replied that it would add about $1 to 
the rate if the money were hired for 
the work for two years and about $2 
if it were all paid for this year. He 
said that at the beginning of last year 
the town faced a Toss of $870,000 in 
taxable property but had gained over 
$4,000,000 during the year. He said 
many people were registering bonds 
under the new state law to escape lo- 
cal taxation and that there was dan- 
ger of an increase in the rate for that 
reason. 
Frank P. Knight warned against 
the danger of increasing the funded 
indebtedness because of the prob- 
ability of a change in the method of 
taxation which would lose to Man- 
chester much of its taxable property. 
He advised that it would be wiser to 
“pay as we go.” The amendment 
proposed by Mr. Knight was lost 122 
to 32. 
Otis M. Stanley thought that the 
width of the paved part of the road 
should be 16 feet at the most. This, 
he said, would allow a wide enough 
shoulder even at the narrowest point. 
of the road. 
Arthur F. Olson moved an amend- 
ment to the article providing for con- 
struction only from Ashland avenue 
to the Beverly line, at a cost propor- 
tionate to the original proposition for 
$40,000 for the whole construction. 
It did not come to a vote. 
George R. Dean insisted that some 
sort of construction should be accom- 
plished as it was important that the 
town have good roads. 
On motion of Mr. Sinnicks it was 
voted to refer the entire matter back 
to the selectmen for a report at an 
adjourned meeting. In the meantime 
the board will secure the further in- 
NORTH-SHORE “BREEZE 
formation necessary for a proper con- 
sideration of the matter, such as 
width of roadway and consequent 
width of shoulder on each side of cen- 
EOL 
Article 8, for the appropriation of 
$15,950 for the water department, 
was set for 9 o’clock. John F. Scott 
was instantly on his feet with an 
amendment providing for an appro- 
priation of $13,450. Moderator Ray- 
mond C. Allen ruled that parliamen- 
tary procedure demanded that the 
larger appropriation be voted upon 
first. Mr. Scott talked at length on 
economy in running the water depart- 
ment and said that the expense could 
be reduced $2500 by running only one 
plant for 6 months of the year. He 
charged that there was labor waste 
in operating both plants and said that 
if a business man ran his business on 
the same basis as the water depart- 
ment he would be bankrupt in three 
months. 
Frank P. Knight thought any 
money spent on the water department 
was good insurance to property. 
George E. Hildreth said that the 
reason for increased expense at the 
home plant was that the shift had 
been doubled since the fire at the 
Gravelly Pond plant and that a 
watchman was on duty. He main- 
tained that the plants were run eff- 
ciently. 
Mr. Scott again objected and said 
that the automobile belonging to the 
department was being used to carry 
men back and forth to work and that 
they were not working their full time 
that way. 
Article 8 was carried, with an ap- 
propriation of $15,950. 
Scott again was the champion of 
economy when article 9, providing for 
an expenditure of $3,800 for repairs 
on the concrete standpipe came up. 
He volunteered to show the water de- 
partment how to stop the leaks in the 
standpipe by a method which he said 
would cost $150. If it did not work 
the first time he said they could do it 
over. 
Water Commissioner Hildreth ask- 
ed of the finance committee the rea- 
son for not pense the adop- 
tion of the article. nies re- 
plied that the aabecehes had re-- 
ported that the standpipe was in good 
condition and for that.reason he did 
not think any repairs were needed. 
On motion of Otis M. Stanley the 
article was passed over. 
Clarence W. Morgan moved the 
adoption of Article ro providing for 
an appropriation of $5,800 for main- 
tenance of the fire department. Mr. 
Scott offered an amendment cutting 
the appropriation $1200. It was lost. 
. March 10, 191 
He was called to order for character 
izing the fire headquarters as a polit 
cal club room. He said that he 
tried to get into the fire departm 
but was told that there were a numbe 
of men ahead of him. He wanted t 
appropriation cut so that some o 
members would quit and give o 
their place. 
Thomas Baker defended the © 
department and the justice of the ap 
propriation. George Hobbs and | 
H. Boyle also spoke for the adopt’e 
of the article. lt was Capriedaas 
The appropriation of $150 for pai 
ing and repairs to the station u 
the same article was also carried afte 
lengthly discussion, by a vote of 76 t 
69. Mr. Scott was eta in the op 
position. 
Mr. Sinnicks said that he wante 
the appropriation rejected as a matte 
of principle. He said the meetin 
should support the action of the fi 
nance committee in not recommendin 
it. He thought that the repairs coul 
be made within the general appropri 
ation for maintenance of the depar 
ment. He said that a reduction @ 
three men in the number of men it 
the department would provide | th 
necessary amount. 
Mr. Sinnicks said that when he 
was clerk of the department such ex 
penses were paid out of the genera 
fund and could be now. Thome 
Baker replied that when he came int 
the department he found things in 
very dilapidated condition and the 
now the department was kept in bet 
ter shape. 
On motion of Selectman Kniel 
was voted that when adjourn 
was taken it-be until next Mo 
evening, March 13, at 7.30) sGsam 
The meeting adjourned at 9.50. 
The meeting was characterized | 
more life than usual and was very in 
teresting. Next Monday’s meetit 
promises to be as lively. 
Too Goop FoR THE ARMY. — 
This is the letter a Georgia R 
sentative received from one Of 
constituents : a 
“Dear Sir:—My youngest son. I 
gone away and enlisted in the re 
army, I can’t get him out. Would 
help me? He is a good boy a 
raised him for my own use.’ 
RATHER A HANDICAP. 
“Do you think a nickname is an 
cet in politics?” ; 
“That depends on what. ‘sor 
nickname it is.’ 
“No doubt.” a 
“For instance, a candidate 
acquaintance is known a Tong: 
mates as ‘Imogene.’ ” 
