The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-09
ALDERMEN WOULD CLOSE THE
VARIETY SHOWS,
DULIN is APPOINTED CHIEF
Mayor Selects Member of Force for
Its Official Head-savaresy's
License Revoked.
From Tuesdays Daily Gazette.

1t was fortunate for the proprietors
OF the Topic that the mayor had the
deciding vote last night, otherwise
they would be o finding themselves
with a lot OF performers and a theatre
on hand without the necessary permit
from the city to conduct the place.
The city council, or more properly
speaking one-half of that body, was in
a mood last night that augured badly
for the variety shows. The matter
came up on a motion to revoke the
Theatrical license of Frank Savaresy,
frequent complaint against that place
having been made, while the proprie-
tor has been arrested twice in that
many weeks for allowing women to
frequent his show. The first serious
the police commission made it's re-
port and recommended the action
taken last night. 1t was on motion OF
Thorson, seconded by White that the
order of revocation was made. It
carried unanimously. Under the de-
cision OF the council Savaresy will be
permitted to continue his saloon bust
ness, but the curtain has been rung
down for the last time on the stage
OF his theatre annex.
True to his promise, Savaresy was
on hand and agreed to close, but as
sumed a somewhat defiant attitude
and said he had a license which did
not expire until the latter part of the
present month and intimated that he
could continue his business until then
if he SO elected. 1t was then that the
council acted as related.
Having closed up one such place,
Hogue was of the opinion that the
pace set could be followed up with
good results by also closing the re-
naming variety show. He made a
motion that the chief of police be in
structed to notify MinGer & Balm to
discontinue their variety theatre and
that the city treasurer be authorized
to refund the pro rata amount of the
u%nexpired license of the firm, and that
the license be revoked.
White seconded the motion. Dis
cussion now being in order, Bennig-
hoff spoke against the motion. He
said that SO long as the place was be-
ing conducted in an orderly manner
and kept within the law it should not
be interfered with. Many men came
to town who had no other place at
which to have a little pleasure, he
said, and to close the only variety
theatre in the city would be poor bus
mess policy. Other cities had them
and Billings should not be the only one
to prohibit them.
At the conclusion of the speech a
vote was taken and resulted in a tie,
Stoddard, White, Bouton and Hogue
voting in the affirmative. Berky,
Bennighoff, Cothron and Thorson vot-
ed no. Mayor George decided by vot-
ing with the negative side of the
proposition.
~ New Chief of Police.
II Having thoroughly considered the
matter, the mayor announced that he.
was prepared to nominate a candidate
for the Office of chief Of police. He
submitted the name of +. S. Dulin, a
patrolman, for the position. The
nomination was evidently highly ac-
ceptable to the council, as the NOM
ination was confirmed unanimously
and Mr.. Dulin will henceforth
the chiefs badge. The new a%ppointee
has been a member OF the force for
several years and has made a good
record as an efficient and honest Of
ficer.
Miscellaneous Matters.
The special committee appointed to
select a site for the proposed city
scales made it's report. It recon-
mended that the scales be
near the new city hall and that the
clerk be made the official weigh
master.
Berky moved that the report be not
accepted. The motion was seconded
by Stoddard. The vote that followed
showed the south side arrayed against
the north, Berky, Stoddard, Hogue
and Thorson voting for the motion,
while White, Bennighoff, Bouton and
Cothron voted no. The mayor voted
with the south side and the report
was rejected.
The street and sidewalk committee
reported adversely on the proposed