Smyrna times., 1897-03-17
TOWN COUNCIL.
PetitlOned by the University Extension Pro-
mOters OF Smyrna Centre Electric
Light System Revised.

Llgnt system Revised.
The first regular meeting of our
new Town Council came off Friday
evening with all present except w. A.
FAIRIES
The following bills were read and
allowed:
Vallee Bros. & Co., s12.4O; Thomp-
son & Co., S2G. 90
Rev. G. w Dame, Messrs. c. H
LeFeyre and A. G. Cummins were
present in the interest of the Univer-
sity Extension Course to petition the
council for the free use of the Opera
House for their lecture course. Rev.
G. W. Dame was spokesman for the
committee and laid before the Board
the financial condition of the SMYRNA
centre. Many who had promised to
buy tickets, have for some reason or
other found themselves unable to do
so. 1t was on these promises that the
promoters of the movement were al
lowed to go ahead and if such could
have been met, the centre could about
see their way through. To help the
cause along the lecturer allowed $40 off
of his share and the University Exten-
sion Society took $40 off of their stipu-
lated price and so the committee
thought if the council would grant them
the hall free, they could see their way
clear, otherwise they would be obliged
to discontinue the course.
Councilman Moore, who is chairman
of the Opera House Committee, said he
didn't feel the Town could give it
free or to establish precedent by such
a course. If they did, there would be
others who couldn't see why they
shouldn't have it free for entertain
ments. However, appreciating the
condition of this educational move
ment, he was willing to give them the
Opera House for the cost incurred bv
the actual running expenses.
COuncilmon Robinson said he was
willing it should be referred to the
judgement of the Opera House Com
mittee.
Councilman, A Lee Cummins said
he had committed himself to Rev.
Dame and was willing that they should
have it free.
Rev. Dame again took the floor and
proposed $500 for the use of the Opera
House for six lectures, with the pro-
vision that if they took in any money
above expenses, it should be paid to
the Opera House Committee.
The matter was finally left to the
Opera House Committee, Chairman
Moore still saying they could have it
for the actual running expenses, what
ever it amounted to.
Councilman Anthony, then took the
floor and made a long report of the
electric light system, the power house
etc. He gave hard blow at free wire
ing which unnecessarily cost the town
several hundred dollars a year. He
favored increasing the rate for electric
lights and that the town shall run its
own plant His remarks were heard
with interest by the Board and after
he had finished, Councilman r. L.
Cummins moved that a committee of
three be appointed to take into con-
sideratiOn the conducting of our cleo
trio light system. President Hof-
fecker appointed r. L. Cummins, H.
S. Anthony and j. G. Robinson.
The rest of the meeting was taken up
in reading applications for positions.
G. G. Boyer the present incumbent.
wished to be appointed for another
year as policeman and street worker:
John S. Griffin applied for policeman:
and Abel Taylor applied for position as
one of the engineers should a change
be made. On motion the matter was
deferred till a later meeting. Board
adjourned to meet last night.
SPECIAL COUNCIL.
On Saturday evening notice was
hushed to the members to meet at the
council chamber to take some action
concerning the proposed town charter
now pending in the upper house of the
Legislature. In view of the fact that
an effort was being made by certain
politicians to have an amendment
made to the charter, granting the right
OF suffrage to property holders only,
Councilman Moore moved that
President John II. Hoffecker be
authorized to go to Dover and bring
back the bill This brought Council
man Robinson to his feet with prompt
denial of any such movement so far as
he had heard. Remarks were made in
favor of the motion by r. l.. Cummins
II. S. Anthony and when the question
was called for, all present voted for it
except j. G. Robinson, the absent
members being A. Lee Cummins and
w. A. FAIRIES.