The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-02-08
Ordinances To License Thea
tres, Taxis And Billiards
To Be Voted On
MEN AFFECTED GIVEN
CHANCE TO FILE KICK
Solicitor Seeks Aid To Prose
cute Cases Now Pending
In Courts

When the city council meets next
Monday night it is likely that ii mum
Der OF ordinances similar 10 ones on
the books several years ago and later
repealed will be again enacted for the
purpose OF raising revenue. These or.
dinanceS provide for the licensing of
pool rooms, bowling alleys, taxicabg
: and motion picture shows. All were
presented 10 the council Monday
night and given three readings un.
, der suspension Of the rules and were
then tabled until the next meeting
when they will come up for final pas.
sage.
IN addition to the above ordinances
1t Is said that there is another In
preparation that will be presented at
the next meeting which provides for
the licensing OF peddlers, hucksters
and hawkers. IL was intimated AT the
meeting Monday that this last ordi-
nance may also provide for the H.
censing OF commercial travellers
The ordinance introduced providing
| for the licensing OF pool rooms and
bowling alleys provides for a yearly
tax OF 81 the table or alley, and fine
OF from So to $40 for the first viola
tion and from S25 to $50 for the sec.
end and each subsequent oTense.
Taxicab owners will be required to
pay a license of s. for the first ma.
chine ald S2 for each additional ma.
chine in use. while transient opera.
tors OF automobiles for hire will be
charged fee OF $3.50 a week for each
machine. Pines are provided for vio-
lations OF the ordinance.
MAYER OBJECTS
/ The licensing fee Tor the motion
picture theatres is set at $2j annual.
ly in the ordinance Councilman
Mayer raised an objection to this
Monday night, declaring that he fav-
ored fixing the fee in proportion TO
the number OF seats in the theatre.
/ Mr.. Mayer is of the opinion that this
would operate more equitably for the
proprietor of the small house
All three ordinances were tabled for
one week to give the men affected by
them in case they are passed an OPP
pOrtunity to present their views to
the council at the meeting next Mon
day night before the final vote is TAX
en i'm tho mattar
An ordinance was presented to pre-
vent the tearing up of any street by
any man or corporation without first
having filed with the city bond to
guarantee that the street shall be re-
paired and placed in proper condi-
ton. THIS ordinance was unquesti ION
ably intended to secure the city
against the possibility of the pur-
chasors OF the local street car line
( from removing the rails from the
streets without replacing the pave
ment. The ordinance had its first
| reading.
TELEPHONE RATES DISCUSSED
If the city is to continue its efforts
in opposition to the increase in rates
put into effect by the Mt. Vernon Tel
ephCne Co., il must bring an action
before the public utilities commits
sion in Columbus to require the com.
pany to show justification for the in
crease, according TO the report OF City
Solicitor Harris. The city solicitors
report was supplemented by Council.
man Mayer, who reported that he had
obtained information from local Oiiic.
ials Of the company showing that the
increase In expenses approXimates
$1,000 the year. Mr. Mayer also said
that the increase put into effect by
the company Will make i gross re-
turn of approximately $4,000 more
annually than it has been receiving.
He said that in his opinion this was
not right" and declared himself I'm
favor OF taking the matter before the
public utilities commission for decis-
ion. Mr.. lIookway spoke In favor OF
seeing the thing through" but no
further action has been taken by the
council.
STOP TRASH BURNING
Councilman Hookway entered a
protest against the practice OF permit
ting the burning of trash and rubbish
in the streets, which he said is con-
trary TO city ordinance as we'll as to
all notions of civic pride. In response,
Mayor Bair informed him that he
would be glad to instruct the police
department TO arrest all violators of
city ordinances, provided the mayors
office was given something by which
the nature OF the city ordinances
might be determined.
Treasurer Rawlinson reported that