Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-19
CITY FATHERS
Grant Licenses to the
Moving Picture Shows.
The Affair Goes Through
Without Any Friction.
And Each Manager Will Now Pay
In $tOxPer Month.

ing at the city government rooms.
The mayor and five aldermen were
present, and in addition the proceed
ings was watched by about 20 citizens,
including the parties Immediately in
terested The only argument was made
by Hon. George w. Heselton, who ap-
Feared for Byers & Morang and the
Dleamland Theatre Co.
Mr. Mundee Of the Happy Half Hour
was not represented by counsel, and
when called upon said he had moth
lng to say. as the ground had been
covered very we'll by Mr.. Heselton.
There was a little gasp of astonish-
ment when Alderman Kelley introduce
ed an order setting the amount of the
licenses al $40 a month. This order,
with its accompanying police provision
was adopted, and after that the petit
tons were granted. a>, :,rsg
Mayor Atkins in opening the hear
ing said that petitions had been pre-
scented by the Johnson Opera house,
managed by the Dreamland Theatre
Co., by Mr.. Mundee of the Happy Half
Flour, and by Byers & Morang of the
Gem theatre. The petition of the Coli
scum had already been granted
Hon. George w. Heselton appeared
for the Dreamland Theatre Co. and
for Byers 4 Morang and also for the
owners of the buildings in which these
theatres are located.
Mr.. Heselton prefaced his remarks
with a few words on competition. He
said that all kinds of business nave
to endure competition. He knew no
a ioh cd of
ment from competition. 1t had been
urged that th.. Coliseum is operated by
Gardiner people: but the speaker der
clared that the other places Of auluse-
ment We're maintained in places own
cd by citizens of Gardiner.
"All these places give about the
same kind of an entertainment; and
it is a case of live and let live; and
not let me live and you die" said Mr.
| Heselton. rs there any reason Why
it should be limited to one or two?
''There is no one to find any fault
with the character of the enter! aim
ments: it is to lessen the number.
| You can't restrain people from the
places where they shall go for amuse-
ment. 1t is survival of the fittest
ultimately. which is a law of the
maker as well as a law of man. Com
petition is the life of trade" Mr..
Heselton again urged competition for
the local places of amusement.
On the matter of safety, he present.
| cd a certificate from the city build
ing inspector. showing that the john
son Opera house had been inspected.
| In closing Mr.. Heselton urged that
the question be considered in a spirit
of fairness.
Mr.. Mundee had nothing to say he
lieving as he said, that Mr.. Hesel-
ton had covered the ground.
| Alderman Kelley of Ward 1 intro
duced the following order which was
adopted: "Ordered: That all amuse-
I raent halls wherein moving pictures
are exhibited shall pay a license of
so monthly. in advance; the first pay
| ment to be made on February l.,
| 1908. Should any exhibitors OF NOV
ing pictures display without paying
| said license. the city solicitor is di-
rected to Immediately commence ac-
ton against such exhibitors. by COM
plant or otherwise to punish this eX-
fibitor under the statute, and the city
marshal is directed to report any vio-
lation of this order which may come
to his notice"
The petition of Byers & Morang. the
Dream1and theatre Co.. and f. MIN
dee, were then separately granite ed,
and there was a rustic as the spoC.a-
| tors began leaving the room. y
| Mr. Heselton thanked the mayor and
aldermen and withdrew.
One minor matter, however remained
to be considered. the bond of Timothy
Dunovan as a victualer being recei"ed
| ard accepted.
| The board adjourned at SIT p. NJ,
having been i'm session % minutes