Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-10
WINTHROP.
Bitter War on Tango and
Other MUdern Dances
Vigorous Debate on Article to
LiCence Town Dance Halls
Finally Passes by Close Vote at the
TownmeetIng appropriations

Winthrop voters held one of the
stermiest town meetings in their his
tory Monday, the principal argument
ceHturing around Article 56 of the
town warrant, which read as follows:
To see if the town will vote to make
the following bylaw, or act anything
thereon, to wit;
No public dance shall be held in
Winthrop without a license therefor
from the board of selectmen: whoever
promotes, conducts or maintains
public dance in the town of Winthrop,
for the holding of which no license
has been granted by said board OF
selectmen shall be punished for each
offence by fine not exceeding So.
The article came up for discussion
toward the latter part of the session
and for nearly two hours the question
was vigorously debated. The purpose
of the article as explained by those
who proposed it was to restrain the
Introduction of improper dances in the
public dance halls at Island park and
at the new pavilion being erected at
Green street. A motion to ass over Mas
ruled down by those favoring the pas
posed it objected to townspeople being
obliged to ask for license to hold a
dance. When a vote by division was
called for, the bylaw was found to
have passed by small majority.
The only other article calling forth dis
eussion of any length was the one which
related to a new contract for street light
ing and the granting of lights in several
localities in the suburbs of the village.
The town finally raised a sum sufficient
to meet all requirements-s16SS. A COM
mittee including the seleetmen, Chas.
Towle and N D. Hamblen was appointed
in charge. The town grants came close
to so. .00o-s20oo for the common schools.
5000 for support of poor and other town
charges, $3.50 for evening school, $500 for
the repair of highways, s15vV for Free
High school,, 500 for repairs on school
houses, $500 for insurance and supplies,
$3.50 for free text books, $3.50 for obserS-
ance of Memorial day. 500 for public Ii
brary. 500 for Payson Tucker Hose Co.
and $500 for care of cemeteries.
The selectmen were authorized to pur-
chase a power sprayer at $500 and 500
feet of hose at 1915. An appropriation of
$500 was made to cement the basebent of
Town hall and purchase 2o0 assembly
chairs, $500 for purchase of new scenery
and the selectmen were instructed TO pur-
chase new piano for the hall, the old
one being donated to the Primary school.
The suggested improvements and repairs
of certain pieces of roads were left with
the selectmen and road commissioner.
Several new sidewalks We're granted. one
on Greenwood avenue and one on High
land avenue 500 was voted to complete
the East Winthrop schoolhoue, $500 for
development of domestic science and
manual training courses, 500 for services
of school physician and $500 to purchase
land north of the High school building
for school purposes.
The sum of s79s was appropriated to-se-
cure State aid for roads, and a vote was
taken to erect a tombstone at the grave
of Mr.. and Mrs. William Blanchard. sell
ing articles of value left by them for
this purpose.
1t was after o'clock before the meet
ing was adjourned.