The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-19
POLICE DEPT. UNDER
CONSIDERATION
Vote Taken to Pave North
Main Street With Gran
ite Blocks

AoMu ~ ISM anu SAID 10 exist 10 q menace
ing extent along the main streets of
Barre, was the subject of much speech
making at the regular meeting OF the
city council last night when number
OF local business men came to lay their
-charges before the city fathers. In tha
concert OF complainants were Manager
c. +. Millar of the Consolidated Light
| ing Co., Postmaster L. w. Bisbee, Su-
| perintendent A. A. Stebbns of the Mont
| pelier 4 Wells River railroad, Station
! Agent Lester .. Morgan. who looks aft
er the interests of the Central Vermont
III Barre, f. G. Howland. Arthur II. Buz-
zell and Homer c. Ladd and James r.
Higgins representing the Board of Trade.
The opinion seemed to prevail that
wanton acts of vulgarity and hoodlm-
ism along the street as well as in build
ings of a public and sem-public charac-
ter were fast reaching a crisis. Visitors
at the council meeting spoke their minds
pretty freely and that there is a dis
tinctly serious public sentiment in favor
Of drastic action in dealing with often
ders of the kind described, could not be.
hOhblei diItI tNt1NUHt uIu gwen MS,
views on the situation. The grievance
meeting of citizens and councillors hed
its ending when Alderman Dawson
moved that the police committee be in
structed TO investigate conditions vest
ing its members with power to take
such action as the situation may war;
rant The motion was carried unan-
mously.
Manager Millar was the first to speak
before the council. He described Tie
continued violations of the company's
rules with reference to the public wait
ing room for patrons of the traction
line in the Aldrieh building He had
taken the matter up with the police.
But two policemen on the day
shift would find it impossible to patrol
the waiting room on Sundays and holi-
days, when the Office attaches are alb
sent and if more effective means of pre-
serving the station for its original pur-
pose could not be secured. the company
would be compelled TO abandon its pan
of keeping a free station open for pat,
rons of the road and others desirous of
using it for waiting room.
Speaking for the NJ & W. officials,
Stebbns registered
similar complaint concerning the Wells
River station. so called. Patrolmpn We're
able to visit the place occasionally he
said. bnt the loitcrers continued TO use
the waiting rooms at will and that in
spite of repeated warnings from the CONF
Dany. Conditions were more aograqat-
ng Saturday nights, although the sta
ion was used as loafers' haven
throughout the week, he said
Postmaster Bishee gave an account
,f performances to be seen at the new
federal building. He said he was the
of the postofice. but without
and he did not consider
t his duty to patrol the building as Il
,olice officer world. When violations
ccur. he continued. it was his duty to
lotify the department of Justice AMI
detail of detectives or the United
'tates army might be expected in reply
T order could not be restored in any
ther wav. Mr.. Bisbee was loath to iav
he whole blame at the door of the po-
ice but he did express his belief that
an example were made of few of the
frenders it would have the desired ef
ect.
He had been hnmilistod by the things
e had witnessed at The new building
nee it was first occupied as n postoffice.
Ie couldn bring himself to believe that
he lobby WAS intended as an asylum
Or mischief makers and others. nor
1ud he condone acts of malice. as for
lstanee. swinging the revolving doors
lceSsantlv besmearing the marble vain
,oting with ink and numberless other
tile acts of deliberate maliciorsness.
Ir Risbee said he hated to appear in
ne role of a hard-hearted man. but he
as nevertheless in favor of surprising
few of the offenders and making then
lffer the penalty for their abuse of
'ivilege. In the course of his remarSs,
r. Bsbee referred to other perpetra
ons around the city. including the de-
ruction of shrubbeTy on Currier park.
In the absence of the president. Homer
Iadd spoke for the Board of Traic.
p called to mind the fact that the or
nization had long sought for lust such
public utility as the traction company
Il supplied in establishing a waiting
om He thought the police had plenty
authority to prevent mischief wher-
er IL existed and to this rule he could
Ike no execution in the waiting room
,ident. He heartily concurTed in Post
ister Bisbee's plan for furnishing the
enders. Mr.. Tadd believed the council
4 a duty 70 perform in wiping ous
Ndyism wherever il existed He shared
, general belief that the situation had
very serious aspects.
Arthur II. Buzzell complained that
arl street had gained the name of
wing a. lot OF hoodmms loose at all
urs Of the day Tie couh see no res
why such thing should b. peculiar
any one street and he told 81 ones
ing made complaint 70 the police an
nities. lie had been met with in
uctions 90 kick the offenders should
" continue "a offend Mr.. BuzEeii
3 he had @kickei7 Some Of the Of
ding had ceased.
lr Higgins did not think that the
fculty was confined 20 the waiting
Nd o. the postoff5ce lobby Condi-
Ne all up and down the street stood