|
25
<br />grant money for the use of such committee in making surveys•
<br />and procuring plans and estimates; or act in any manner relat-
<br />ing to such a highway.
<br />This article was favored by Messrs. R. P. Clapp, H. G.
<br />Janvrin and Cornelius Wellington, and opposed by Messrs.
<br />F. Alderman and J. F. Maloney, and after some discussion
<br />it was
<br />Voted, That the article be indefinitely postponed.
<br />ART. 22. To take action in the matter of the proposed re-
<br />funding
<br />efunding of money to E. S. Wetherbee on account of taxes over-
<br />paid by him, to this end rescinding or amending, if desired, any
<br />previous vote of the town on the subject, and passing such new
<br />votes as shall seem best, and to appropriate money to pay any
<br />amount that shall be ordered to be so refunded.
<br />The committee having the matter in charge made a major-
<br />ity report signed by Daniel F. Hutchinson and Robert R
<br />Clapp and a minority report signed by H. E. Holt —as
<br />follows :
<br />7o the Town of Lexington:—
<br />Your committee, appointed at the town meeting of Octo-
<br />ber 2, 1897, to investigate further and report upon the
<br />claim of E. S. Wetherbee for a refund of certain taxes
<br />paid by him on a note of the Boston Lead Company in
<br />the years 1880-1894 inclusive, beg leave to report as
<br />follows :—
<br />The—
<br />The facts found embrace some not contained in your
<br />former committees report, for the reason that the present
<br />committee was directed to conduct a somewhat broader
<br />investigation.
<br />26
<br />Mr. Wetherbee became a citizen of Lexington in April,
<br />1878. About six years before that time, he loaned the Bos-
<br />ton Lead Company $14,000, receiving therefor its note for
<br />that sum. The accumulation of interest and a part of the
<br />principal had been paid, so that on his removal here the
<br />balance due him was about $9,600. The company becom-
<br />ing unable, in December, 1877, to meet its obligations, its
<br />property was conveyed to trustees who were to dispose of
<br />the same and divide the proceeds among the creditors. Mr.
<br />Wetherbee says that at that time it was believed that the as-
<br />sets would be sufficient to pay the debts in full, and that
<br />for one or two years thereafter the interest on his note was
<br />paid.
<br />It was soon found, however, that this expectation could
<br />not be realized. The interest payments ceased and no divi-
<br />dend was received until 1881 (as near as he can remember)
<br />when $2,300 was paid him. IIe was owing this amount, he
<br />says, and used the money to pay the debt, which was con-
<br />tracted about two years before.
<br />The next sum received was $1,700, paid over in the
<br />summer of 1890, and was a final payment, the note being
<br />then surrendered. The total amount received therefore, on
<br />said $9,600 balance of principal was $4,000.
<br />In 1878, the first year of his residence here, Mr. Wether -
<br />bee paid a tax of $139.23, divided as follows : real estate,
<br />.$115.37 ; personal property, $23.86 ; the latter based on
<br />live stock and carriage valued • at $1,680. (Tax rate,
<br />X14.20.)
<br />In 1879, he paid $82.42, divided as follows : real estate,
<br />$66.48 ; personal property, $17.94 ; the latter based on live
<br />stock valued at $2,242. (rate $8.00.) •
<br />In 1880 he paid $237.65, divided as follows : real estate,
<br />$104.43 ; personal property, $133.22: the latter based on
<br />live stock valued at $2,450 and money at interest $10,000.
<br />
|