The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-08-10

mittee on Judiciary, made report in
the matter of granting Louis Schaefer
an annual license of $50 year, that the
ordinance be amended so as to be gen.
eral in itsHprovisions.
Mr.. Sherriek said that after a bill,
that might become an ordinance, was
read third time, any amendatOry re-
port of a committee could not be enter
tained, without instructions from open
Council, and he made 1t a point of order.
Then came some talk whether the bill
had been read third itime, and upon
reference to the Clerks minutes 1t was
found to be fact.
Mr.. Fawcett said that the Council had
a right to amend bill at any time.
The Chair (Mr. Wyant) decided that the
report was in order.
Mr.. Schaefer, who was seated in the
lobby, arose, and after permission being
granted him, said he was sorry to cause
so much trouble. He had built his
Opera House fifteen years ago at cost
Of $4,000, and had always paid his SO
and $5llicense without demur, but upon
inquiry at Cleveland, Springfield, Day
ton, and other points, he found that only
$50 year was charged. He had to fur
nish the orchestra, bill posters, gas, stage
hands, &C., and sometimes lost money
on companies who came here. He said
that he could have made more money on
his investment if he had built offices or
flats for families in place of his Opera
House.
In Europe, amusement house pro-
prietOrs were favored with official en-
cOuragement, but here they received
none. He made his old time hOnOred
speech that has been heard so many
times before, that 1t is becoming bald
headed.
A TERRIBLE INFLICTI0N.
Then up jumped lawyer (?) Fawcett,
who consumed an hours time in saying
very little. He said he was accused Of
being "paid lawyer" a'cOmplimentary
ticket lawyer, etc, but he had simply
given his opinion on the constitutional
ity of the license ordinance, as lawyer.
He did not care how much infamy was
heaped upon him, but he proposed to
vote fearlessly on every subject that
came up before the Council. He talked
strongly in favor of granting the $50
license to Mr.. Schaefer, and pulled out
letter after letter from different cities,
showing how much their amusement
halls paid.
Mr.. Sherrick said that many of the let
ters showing high license were lost, and
in a powerful speech said that the
paid" attorney should refer to Alliance
and other cities where higher rates pre-
vail. He was in favor of lower license
and trusted that the $50 clause be
stricken out, as Mr.. Schaefer was tax
payer and should not be charged addi-
tiOnally. He hoped that the power of
collecting license from trOupes would
not be taken from the Mayor, and dele
gated to one man. He moved that the
report be amended by striking out the
al
At this point Mr.. Warner moved to ad-
jOurn. Lost yeas, nays.
Mr.. Warner then moved that the matter
be postponed indefinitely. Lost 6 yeas, 8
nays.
Mr.. Sherrick then demanded that the
bill be engrossed with the amendment.
The chair ruled that the bill be read at
once. Mr.. Sherrick appealed from the
decision of the chair, but got left, as
Wyant was bound to rush it through.
The ordinance as amended was read
by the City Solicitor.
Mr.. SheTrick said, "ain't this new
ordinance, and it should be read on three
different days."
Mr.. Warner inquired of the City So
licitOr If the custom was not to read an
amendment on three different days, and
Mr.. Welty said yes. MIR. Warner then
| insisted on Rule 13 being observed, in
regard to reading amendments Mr
Wyant, the Chairman called for the
final passage of the ordinance, and it
was passed with the following vote:
Yeas, Bast, Fawcett, Hiner, Rauch, Rex,
Werner, Wyant, Shields, 8. Nays, Col
| dren, Murray, McCammOn, Sherrick,
StinchcOmb, Warner, 6. So the Schaefer
bill passed.
The Council by this time were tired
out and all other business was postponed
and the body adjourned at 1850.