The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-09
MONTPELIER CUTS
THE "MOVIE" LICENSE
Taxes Picture House $225 Year When
Having Seating Capacity of Not
More Than $50 and $500 When
Over That Capacity.


The matter OF increasing the license
fee OF Montpelier motion picture houses
claimed almost undivided attention al
the regular city council meeting at Mont.
Ipelier last evening, all routine business
being sidetracked to allow the movies
to be disposed of. The council month
ago decided to raise the fee from 81 a
month to 81 a day, the same to take ef-
feet Sept. /. The picture places imme-
diately voiced strong protest against
represented by an attorney at the last
council meeting, they succeeded in having
an investigation made. The license com
mittee, consisting of Aldermen Galleher,
Parker and Premier, reported last even
ing to the council that after careful
consideration they would recommend a
license fee Of 1925 year for a moving
picture theatre having a seating capacity
Of not more than 250 and $500 for
house having capacity Of not more
than 500.
Owner Harold keegan Of the old Com
ique theatre aud Manager Roy l.. Me-
Intyre of the new Comique were pres
ent and the former, following the read
ing of the report, said he did not think
the report contained all the facts. He
was of the opinion that conditions in
Vermont towns and cities snould apply
in Montpelier and from information he
had received from I6 towns in the state.
the average license fee per year would
be about Sl44. This would include three |
towns which claim no license fee and
Barre and Montpelier classified at 50 a |
day. Messrs. Mcintyre, Keegan and Al |
dermen Kent and Galleher cross examined |
each other for nearly half hour. Among
other things touched upon, Mr.. keegan
inquired If the license was being raised /
because the places were making money;
but he admitted that he believed the
house should be taxed according to pat.
-onage and license was really being as
'essed on the amount of revenue
In reply to query from Manager Nc
ntyre as to what was TO be done with
he money received from the theatres,
Alderman Kent said it would 20 into
he general fund. Alderman RYAN moved
hat the report of the committee be. sc-
epted and adopted, but before the mo
ion was put before the meeting, City
Atty. Hunt asked TO have an executive
ession. What happened behind the
ocked doors is not known, but after Is
linutes' discussion the doors were opened
nd routine business was taken up. Lat
r Alderman Ryan introduced a resolu-
ion which was adopted by vote of five
0 one. Alderman Standish alone voting .
gainst IL. The resolution was to the 9
feet that whereas the public good re.
uired special police supervision and fire
rejection be provided in and about the
rowing picture places, be il resolved
rat motion picture theatres pay H.
,nse fee of 1925 a year with seating
opacity OF not more than $50 and with
seating capacity over that, $500 year. 4
II is presumed that the resolution. took r
le place OF the report of the license Z
Undoubtedly the council :
as informed as TO what il was necessary a.
do legally. Y
Alderman Kent tried TO introduce a y
solution 70 have the police and fire -
mmittees delegated with authority to g
yestigate the picture houses as TO the II
ating capacity and fire protection or Al
eyentlon. No one seconded the motion. m
wever, and il was dropped. Alderman U
Illeher favored il but thought il looked "a
II they were crowding the picture th
aces" da
Aside from the reading of the petition al
Downing street residents and the pc
ion Of George ID. Emslie and others vi
ainst the city of Montpelier asking for IN
court committee. and the granting Of sn
feral building permits and one license se
operate 4 public automobile 20 Willis re-
lnchard, no other business was trans ~
ed. tN
ab
Keegan Sells His Movie" House. ha
Harold L. Keegan. who for the past Ad
81 ]