Amador ledger., 1910-09-23
SUPERVISORS
SCOFF PRESS
Remit Back Taxes and
RidiCuIe Ledger'S
Objections
GREGORY ON WARpATH
Without Any pToVOCation
the Sheriff Attempts to
BulIdose Reporter
GREGORY ON WARpATH

CIOOhS was IIlc uSCldTdJlOn Hldue ny
Lawrence Burke, chairman of the
board, at the meeting last Monday.
The assertion was made during a
heated argment in which district at
torey Vicini, sheriff Gregory, Lawrence
Burke, John Strohm, D. A. Fraser of
the board and John Ratio, the picture
show man, waged against the repre-
sentative of the Amador Ledger, who
objected to granting Ratio another
free license for operating a moving
picture show in Amador county on a
plea of poverty, when as matter of
fact, it can be proven that the picture
show in Suffer Greek at present nets
more than fifty seven dollars per
week.
The best films may be secured for
SIS set, and each set runs for three
nights. In other words, Ratio clears
his film expenditure on his first night S
exhibit in Jackson, and then takes the
films to Suffer Creek, and Amador, or
lone, and exhibits them virtually with
out any further expense than the rent
of the building, and hiring what help
he might feel like employing.
Supervisor Fraser informed the
board that John Ratio was present,
and desired that something be done
about his future license, for operating
his picture machines in the county
The license, collectable by the
county tax collector, amounts to $3.50
PEI exhibition. This tax had been
RENTED by the board of supervisors
on two previous occasions, and the
Snowman was given to understand by
the board at his appearance before
that body in November of 1909, tina
he need not trouble himself any fur
ther about a license, as it was under
stood among themselves, meaning the
board members. that for certain reason
they would exempt him from all
license tax. This was a private I'M
Outstanding which Fraser and Burke
confessed existed at the last meeting.
at which Ratio attended, and re-
quested his free license. To be sure
this understanding had no business on
the minutes and was not entered.
Sheriff Gregory, was also informed
of the understanding which existed
between the board of supervisors and
Ratio, and did not ask contribution
in the shape of license for the sup
port of the government. The exemp-
ton worked smoothly until the Ledger
discovered from the discarded and
smashed up ordinance that the show
man owed the county somewhere in
the neighborhood of $500 for licenses,
not covered by the exemption act,
which Gregory. as official tax col
lector, failed to collect.
Ratio arose and confusingly tried to
plead his case, explaining that owing
to the understanding which he and the
board had last November, he felt free
from any back licenses which the
Ledger claimed he owed the county.
After hearty scornful laugh over
the $500 debt due the county, the
chairman asked the district attorney
what action they were to take in the
matter.
Leaning back in his chair, the at
torney asked Ratio if he would be able
to give his show in Suffer Greek, and
clear enough money to pay expenses.
"No," said Ratio, 81 could not, l
have expenses that are very heavy, as
any Snowman knows, who is in the
business.
well, " continued the legal adj
wiser, "Then you would be compelled
to close up your show in Suffer Creek,
if you did not run your Jackson show
in conjunction with it,"
eyes sir, answered. Ratio. Then
forgetting his poverty plea, Ratio
began railing Stinson, of the Amador
Record, for criticisms given his poor
exhibitions at Suffer Creek. ''Why
showed $lOO under his nose, and told
him I'd bet him any amount he never
saw better pictures.
The Ledger man here informed the
board if Ratio could go through the
county showing a hundred dollars
under the nose of country editors, he
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