The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-05-31
HEATED CONTEST At
TOWN MEETING
Fire Bylaw is Finally
Passed
New Tractor To Be PURCHASED -Fire
Station To Be RemOdelled

Last Saturdays special Town Meet
ing became a yeritable court room
one while during its progress when
the amendment in regard 70 the fire
district bylaw was proposed Law
yer Cover in behalf Of the town Of
Skowhegan and Fred F Lawrence who
is representing the case Of Martin =.
Heselton which is to be tried in the
Supreme Court next September, ar
gued the matter pro and con but the
bylaw was finally passed.
The meeting was called to order
promptly at two and L. l. Walton was
again chosen moderator The first
article concerned the purchase Of a
road tractor Clyde II Smith ex-
planned the needs of the town stating
that the engine purchased in 1914 at
an expense Of S21o0 had broken down
and that the necessary parts could not
be obtained for sixty days. In the
meantime it is important that the
roads be put into condition at once
and that teams can not be procured
for the work He suggested purchas-
ing a new tractor after which the ola
one could be repaired and kept for
future use whenever necessary. It
Was Toted 70 purchase the new ma
ehing and to raise by loan or other
rWise the sum Of Sl100,
The next article concerned the rais5
Ing OF money for maintenance and
expenditures OF the Committee on
Public Safety Carleton p. Merrill
addressed the meeting and stated that
the matter Is a war measure pure and
simple and that the liabilities OF the
Town Public Safety Committee are
Something like $3.50 at the present
time, this amount including a bill Of
about $74 for telephone and telegraph;
one of about S24 for printing and post
age; and another of approximately
$40 for railroad fares and expenses
He explained the things which the
Committee attend to and said that in
Pittsfield the sum OF $1,000 has been
raised while $4,000 has been raised
by public subscription in Cumberland
County 1t was voted that the select
men be authorized to pay over to the
Public Safety Committee such
amounts as may be required not ex-
ceeding $500, this sum 10 be raised by
loan if necessary.
The next article of the warrant per-
tanned to the remodeling of the fire
department building so as to make it
suitable for horses. NJ c, Yiles OF
the fire commission asked that the
commissioners be authorized to spend
as much as necessary of the remand
er of the $500 raised at the annual
meeting for the purchase of horses
and supplies for the fitting up of the
department building He stated that
he thought it would not require all
of the remaining sum TO do this. 1t
was so voted
The article in regard 10 the ex-
change OF the town hearse for new
one was passed over.
The last and perhaps the most I'M
portant article was that which caused
the long discussion, namely. the fire
protection bylaw. The purpose Of
the article was to make the town
ordinance. relative to the rebuilding
of partly burned buildings amended
SO as to include the 80 per cent clause.
Lawyer Cover made a motion TO the
effect that the bylaw first be amend
ed by striking out the words Board
Of Fire Underwriters" and substitu-
ting in place thereof the words. "a
majority of the County Commission
ers OF Somerset County This mo-
tion was carried Fred F, Lawrence
then arose and objected to the pro-
posed amendment on the ground that
ii would affect Martin b. Heselton. He
pronounced the bylaw unjust in that
it would affect but one man whose
building is al the present time par
TALLY burned Lawyer Cover an
swered the statements made by Judge
Lawrence in a long explanatory talk
during which he stated that because
of the many recent fires. the insurance
companies were putting up their rates
He said that the town wished 10 take
steps 10 prevent the rates from ln-
creasing any more by establishing fire
districts and fire protection bylaws
and everyone must have due regard
for the safety of the public NJ c.
Viles spoke in behalf of the fire COM
missioners and both f. F Merrill and
Selectman Smith told OF their views on
the subject The motion for amend
ment was finally carried and the meet
ing adjourned
Date of Spiritual Meeting Changed