New Britain herald., 1919-07-14
TWO LOCAL STORES ARE WITHOUT ICE Supply Cut Of Because of Spite, Is Allegation
 MAY PROVE SENSATIONAL

Norton Refuses to Be Party to
 Personal Arr,mcnts-2Oth Annual
 Session of Chautauqua This Alter
 noon-Other News Items.
 The ice purchased by the PlainVille Business and Improvement associa-
 tion for the town seems liable 10
 cause much trouble, from the latest reports obtainable this morning. The supply of ice numbered 800 tons when stored in the ice houses on New Britain avenue last winter. Shrinkage is always expected and when the ice houses were open recently it is stated that the ice was found to have melted to a considerable degree and. there- fore, the 800 tons were somewhat reduced,
 The ice committee has thc han ding of the ice in it's control and also had the disposition and regulation of sale in town under it's jurisdiction. As far as can be learned, the ice com mittec met and decided upon it's pol | icy in selling what remained of the l crop of ice.
 Last evening, Mir. Norton, the local l ice dealer heard that the committee 1 had decided to cut off the supply from ! two of the local confectionery stores. ] He immediately got busy and went to 1 the prOprietors of the stores to find out if such action had been taken. l The two stores affected arc Neri | Brothers on Central Square and the Palace of Sweets on Whiting street. One of the mon affected called on 1 a member of the ice committee and 1 asked if the report were true. He 1 was informed that it was true and l that it was the intention of the com- ! mittec to ostracze the two stores be- l cause of their action at the time of 1 the welcome home celebration when 1 they opened their doors to the hugo
 crowd after the parade had turned 1 into Whiting street and away from 1 the center of the town.
 l 1t was also learned from one of the 1 storckccpers that a letter was ree l ceived from the committee in charge 1 of the celebration condemning the ac- l tion of the proprietor in opening his 1 store after agreeing to keep closed. { The entire situation at the tim e 1 caused much feeling because mem = + bers of the executive committee are 1 reported to have almost forced the 1 merchants to agree to- close their i stores from 1 until , o'clock on that l afternoon. The afternoon of the l parade was a very hot one and when l the parade had passed the center of l the town the crowd surged it's way l into the three stores in the center of the town. In the majority opinion, 1 the storekecpers were right in open 1 ing, but in the opinion of the com =
 mittee and others they violated the1,
 word of agreement and were subject
 to reproof.
 The owners of both stores this morning were non-committal on
 what course would be pursued. Both
 stated that they could get ice in
 other places but they wished to get ice in this town if possible.
 The ice dealer however, has en-
 tered the controversy and his action
 may prove detrimental to the town kMr. Norton stated this morning that a conference was to be held between
 the ice committee and himself at ' o'clock this afternoon If the ice
 committee or other individuals in the ' town want to>gct back at Neri or any
 one else ir the town they can do i
 but they can't use me as a method o1
 getting back at them, was his state
 ment in regard to the refusal to sel
 to the merchants it was very probable
 that he would refuse to deliver ice
 through the town. "The merchants have treated me right and purchased plenty of ice and I mean to do tn