New Britain herald., 1915-01-23
Socialists Will Have to Pay Rent
 at All Other Times.
SELECTMAN JOHNSON MAKES RULE
Gives Interpretation of Vote Passed at Recent Town Mccting.-SOciaI- istS Do Not Expect to Pay For Hall For Their Lecture February ,.

privilege of using the town hall for lectures and public meetings without paying the usual rental charges, which appeared to be successful at the recent town meeting, were shown to be futile this morning, First Se- lcctman w. j. Johnson announcing that the party will have to make a contribution to the town treasury each time it uses the building for po- litical purposes, except during cam- paigns preceding elections. At such times, MT. Johnson told Herald man. the socialists will be permitted to use the hall for public gatherings without expense to their party.
 According to the selectmen the vote passed at the meeting gives him the right to make such ruling. The resolution, introduced by the social ists, and passed without any objec- tion, was in substance that all po- htical parties be given equal rights in the use of the town hall. MT. Johnson claims his decision is in ac- cord with that vote as local parties, other than the socialists, use the building only during prediction campaigns.
 The socialists have engaged the hall for February 5, when Cornelius Lehane, the Irish Labor Leader, is scheduled to lecture and the party leaders state that they have no inten- tion of paying any rent for that night, the vote of the recent meeting giving them free use of the building.
 Selectman Johnson disagrees with them on this matter. He holds that if the socialists wish to hold meetings every few weeks for the purpose of spreading their doctrines and select the town hall for the gatherings. they will have to pay the price charged to societies and individuals who use it for dances and entertainments. Will Continue Fight. The socialists are greatly disap- pointed, but they claim still undis- mayed, by the general interpretation given motions and resolutions, the in troduction of which at the town meet ing they were responsible for. They were strongly represented at the gath ering and furnished much of the spice injected in debates.
 They are particularly grieNed over the action of the selectmen in decd- ing to ignore orders to acquire the property of the Plainville Water company. This idea was conceived by the socialists and they brought it be- fore the town meeting, securing fav- orable action by the voters. The town officials, however, have decided that the action was illegal, no mention having been made of the matter in the call for the meeting. Conse- quently no attention will be paid to the instructions.
 The socialists are now busy gather ing information regarding the munic- 1pa11zlng of water plants and it is understood that they propose to peti- ton the selectmen to have the ques- tion considered in more formal fash lon at a meeting of the voters that may be called in the near future.
 Surprise Party
 MT. and Mrs. Harry Weldon were rendered a pleasant surprise party last evening by a number of their neighbors and friends from New Brit ain and PlainviIle. They were kept in total ignorance of the plans of their friends and they were genuinely surprised when the crowd descended on them.
 Nevertheless they entertained in most hospitabe fashion and their guests enjoyed the evening thorough ly. Lunch was served. Mrs. Seelye Divorced I
 Judge M. A. Shumway yesterday gave an absolute decree of divorce to Mrs. Bertha St. Louis Seelye of this place, who asked to be freed from l her husband, Ernest D. Seelye. Her suit was heard in the superior court | and Judge Shumway decided that she l was entitled to the decree and the 1 custody of child born of the couple's l marriage.
 Mrs. Seelye told the court that she 1 was married in Plainville on October | g, 1902. The couple separated on | July 24, 1910. Seelye was accused of 1 drinking liquor to excess habitually | and of abusing his wife The court | was advised that Seelye had been ar 1 rested twice on his Wfe's complaint and since the time of the separation i he had not contributed towards her 1 support.
 The case was tried as an uncontest- ed suit, Seelye offering no objections to the granting of the decree.
 At the Churches.
 Congregational-Rev. F. L. Grant. the pastor, will preach at the morn ing service Sunday on Life Through IOSS.''
 Episcopal-Services vii be held in tie Church of Our Saviour tomorrow morning at 10:45 with preaching by the rector, Rev. R. H. Burton. At the Sunday school session, the annual missionary service will be held.
 Advent Chrstian--At the morning service, the pastor Rev. J. w. Denton will preach on the subject "DidYe i Receive The Holy Ghost When Ye Believed" Sunday school will be