Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-11-01

At the stated weekly meeting of the
City Commissioners yesterday after
noon, October 31st, n constant
kindly face'w "among the missing"
that of the city clock. Many wistful
chances were directed to the spot where
it was wont to be seen, only to be re-
warded by the sight of a nail or two
and a few scratches to mark the place
where once the faithful servant hung.
So sad did many present seem to feel
because of the clocks absence, that no
one could pick up courage enough to
\ ask what had befallen it? Was it
stolen? Or was it removed surrepti-
tiously because it was "~attracting en-
tirely too much attention" as was re-
marked by one of the commissioners at
a meeting or two age? Whatever its
fate, we cannot forget it's gentle accents
MOI its sincere, steady. honest de-
meanor!
1t was 200 by the JOURNAL repor-
ter's nickel plated "Waterbury" watch
when Mayor Smith signaled for order,
as quite a bit Of loud conversation had
been going on prior to the announce
ment of the opening of the meeting.
The roll was first called, all Of the COM
missioners answering to their names.
Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Cooper of 249
1.ak Calor oxonro hoinn nNaaanf tho
mayor asked Mrs. Cooper if there was
anything she wished TO bring up before
the commissioners? Mrs. Cooper, who
is 81 years old, but tall and stately in
her bearing and remarkably well-pre-
served for her age, arose and laid her
case, In person, before the commission
ers. Last week she wrote a letter to
the commissioners, which was read at
last weeks session. In this letter she
asked for a rebate of $3.50, claiming
that this amount vas collected from
her in error in July, 1917. Mrs. Cooper
does cleaning and pressing Of clothes
at her home. She says she does not
advertise in newspapers, nor by the
distribution Of circulars, nor does not
even put out a sign in front of her
house. She stated further that she
does not do any tailoring, that is, the
cutting, fitting and making of suits.
The Wildwood license fee for tailoring
is $3.50. The fee for tailoring,
cleaning and pressing, is $40. Mrs.
Cooper appeared before the commits
sieners some time ago, and ex planned
to them that she did not do any tailor
ing work whatever and requested that
she be exonerated from paying any Ii
cense therefor. o. this occasion Mrs.
Cooper drew the attention of all con-
cerned to the clauses, as stated. Solic-
itor Hands opinion was sought; who
then gave it as his opinion that II Mrs.
Cooper did not do tailor work, she
might then pay only the proportionate
amount to cover the cleaning and pres
sing features. The commissioners &C
cepted this view of the city solicitor
and agreed to make Mrs. Cooper's IL
cense fee for cleaning and pressing
clothes, to be $3.50. She did not how
ever pay the fee that day. She went
home and took her time to think the
matter over. sShe reflected that in
July, 1917, she had been summoned to
city hall by virtue of a warrant shown
her, but not read to her by Lester w.
Smith, chief Of police, and then and
there made to pay a mercantile tax Of
$40. She figured that the commission
ers ought to be uniform and consistent
in their actions; aud that II her merA
camille tax in 1918 is $3.50 for cleaning
and pressing, it should have been so in
1917 Hence she reasoned that she had
been overcharged 81. so in 1917, and de-
cided to make a demand that this sum
be remitted to her by the city. This
request was made by letter. as men,
toned, on Thursday, October Oath.