Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-01
TAKES OVER BOTH HOUSES
Robert +. COllamer New Lessee
of Vermont and Van Ness.
Bars mt Both Hostelries, Closed Two
Weeks Ago, Opened Following Grant,
Ing of n License to New Les
see for Each House.

Robert +. Collamer. for six years man.
ager of the Hotel Vermont Of this city,
has leased both the Hotel Vermont and
the Van Ness House, taking over the
leases Monday from II. Edmund Kromb-
holz, who has had possession since May
l. Mr.. Krombholz will remain at the
hotels this season. The liquor licenses,
one for each hotel, applied for by Mr.. Col
lamer following the closing of the bars
two weeks ago, were granted by the
license commissioners Monday afternoon
and the bars were re-opened about five
O'Clock. They were closed two weeks ago
when c. IL. Smith. superintendent of the
Anti-Saloon League. called the attention
of the license commissioners Of this city
that both hotel licenses granted to Max
l.. Powell We're void because Mr.. Powell
was a holder of n public office, being
state senator. Mr.. Colamer thereupon
made application for both licenses and q
long hearing on his applications was held
at the city court room Monday morning,
after the usual formalities were complied
With II resulted in the granting of the
licenses.
Mr.. Colamer. who took over the hotels
Monday. has had long experience in the
hotel business and has been with the
Hotel Vermont company as manager of
that house since its opening. He has n
host of friends in this city and is very
popular with the travelling public. all of
whom will wish him success in his new
venture.
Only Commissioners c. A. Barber
and DIR. J. NJ. Clarke were present at
the hearing in the city court room Mon
day, j. Il. NTlddlebrook beng out
of the city The State was represent
ed by States Attorney T e. Hopkins
G. F. Cowlec appeared with C. H. Smith,
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
league Max L. Powell. proprietor of
the Van Ness and share holder in the
| Vermont, was present with Il. f..
Brown. Mr.. Krombholz and Mr.. Col
lamer We're also present at the hear
! ing.
| When the chairman Of the meeting
asked if there We're any objections tc
the granting of the licenses to MI
Colamer as applied for, the States at
torney stated he had been asked &c
prosecute the parties owning the
buildings on the charge that from May
l to the time the bars were closed
1 liquor nau neen SOld at Doth houses IL
legally This prosecution, he said. de
pended on whether or not the owners
knew the licenses We're valid anC
whether there was any intention OF
violating the law.
Mr.. Cowles stated that it was not his
intention to bring up objections but
that 1t was the intention of his side tt
see that the licenses were granted &C.
cording to law
Mr.. Collamcr was called and testi
fed that he was not aware that tn,
bar at the Vermont was run on Ii
cense which was void and that ther'
was no intention of breaking the law
Mr.. Powell testified that he had no
known that the licenses were void unit
notified of the steps taken by Mr. Smtl
was an error he closed both bars. IL
looked into the question of a public Off
Ger holding license, but skipped the SEES
sion laws of 1912 and thereby missed tn
finding Of the law in this regard.
The commissioners took the matte
under consideration and late Monda
afternoon granted Mr.. Collarer license
for both hotels, to sell intoXicatin
liquor in the bar rooms on the Mali
street street floors and in the publ
dining rooms Of each house.