Smyrna times., 1909-01-27
COUNCIL ASKS ADVICE FOR
COLLECTOR CHAIRS ACT
APPOINTS SPECIAL COMMITTEE
LOOK INTO PLAYHOUSE TAX
Finance Committee, j. C. Stocky
Chairman, Given Power to Employ
an Attorney and investigate Case

Finance Committee, j. C. StoCkly
Chairman, Given Power to Employ
an Attorney and investigate Case
At the regular session of Smyrna
Town Council last Friday evening
with all members present, the FL
nance Committee, John C. Stockly
chairman, was directed to employ
council and to investigate the legality
Of the tax imposition which was placed
upon Joseph H. Wright manager of
Smyrna Opera House recently by
Revenue Collector Harry w. Chairs.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Chairs
came to Smyrna to collect a play
house license from DIR. w. H. Long
proprietor of the Indian Medicine
Show which was filling a two weeks
engagement at the Opera House. Col
lector Chairs in company with Consta-
/ BILE Boyer awaited on DIR. Long and
/ finding he held town license from the
/ Opera House Manager, he proceeded
/ to collect the license tax from Mana
ger Wright. The latter being "up
against it, and with a peremptory
demand for an immediate settlement,
took the matter in is own hands and
paid the license, amounting $100. so
out of his own pocket. While COun-
ell was not called together in special
session and while thus far, Council
regards the matter purely a pers-
onal matter between Manager
Wright and Collector Chairs, still
they want legal authority for Mr..
Chairs act and propose to learn some
thing about it. Mr.. Stockly who is
the lawyer" of the Board, said he
had read particularly the law on the
subject and sees no authority for Col
lector Chairs act. He explained at
length his construction of the law
after which Council turned the matter
over to the Finance Committee as
above stated. Council took no steT
toward reimbursing Manager Wright
and will probably suspend action unit
the committee makes its report.
Majority of Property Owners Must Sigr
The Street Comittee, J. C. RoE
inson, chairman. which was author
lied to consider the petition presented
at the last meeting to open Peterson
! street through to Railroad depot
reported progress, it being found tina
the petition lacked one of having ;
. majority of all the property owners
residing in the Sixth District. Peter
son is a short street running iron
Union Street opposite St. Peter
Church, to the Mcdowell property, ant
as it would work to the advantage
of the residents of that part of tn
town in having a back street to an,
from the Depot, the petition has bee
freely signed and now falls one shor
of being in legal shape to be acte
upon by the board. The Mcdowell an
Y other properties will have to be conde
4 mned, an appraisment taken and tn
r owners settled with before the stree
e can be opened. The petition will
r probably go through at next meeting
= Pavements Must Be Cleared of Sno'
e Upon the recommendation of tn
: Street Committee the town ordinanC
Y with respect to removing snow off tn
V pavements will hereafter be strictl
h enforced and all property owners WI
It fail to have the snow removed with
r six hours will be amenable to a fine
i Alderman Crow and Policeman Turnt
f have been authorized to give timel
warning of this law. In the matte
of street crossings, Policeman Turne
has been directed to have all crossing
= cleaned by o'clock in the mornin
n and if unable to accomplish this hin
5, self, the Street Committee will Civ
Ie him the right to employ extra hell
-e Council adjourned after allowir
e bills to the amount Of S298.81.