Norwich bulletin., 1920-03-02

The Westerly town council met Monday, and was enlivened by the statement of Councilman Thorp, who declared himself opposed to the eX- emption from taxation of industrial concerns for period of ten years. The town needed all monies to be de- rived from taxation and he was against the law that permitted the custom. The matter before the coun- cil was the exemption from taxation of the two large brick mill buildings recently erected by the George C. Moore company and Councilman Moore was asleep on his rights in not making application for exemption be- fore the buildings were constructed.
 Councilman Moore said that since he established his industry in West erly, the pay roll had increased from $500 to $6500 a week, the plant had been increased in a conservative way, and that to make application for ex- emption for instance on big prospects and then to fall down, would be piece of empty business. He believed equal encouragement should be given to manufacturers known to Westerly as to strangers. He declared he would not request exemption unless it was the general custom. After considerable debate. it was voted to grant exemption from taxation on the new buildings for a period of ten years, from May :, 1918.
 Representative John Ferguson told the council that there was an~act be- fore the legislature authorizing the Westerly Automatic Telephone com pany to increase it's capital stock from s20O, 900 to $40OO0O. and that he did not feel free to favor the pro- ject, without consulting with the town council, as representing the town of Westerly. He stated that 1 the telephone company does not tel it's purpose in desiring this increase in capitalization, and consequent in 1 crease in local rates, and there were no Indications of the erection of . 1 telephone building or improvement oi | the local service. Personally he haC no objection to the proposed capitali- zaticn increase, but would like to know just where the people of West
 erly stood on the subject. The only way to get at the sentiment was | through a public legislative hearing He suggested that the council pass vote recommending that the act b. | recommitted to the corporation
 committee for public hearing anC that due notice be given of sucl hearing. A vote to that effect wa ! adopted.
 Councilman Thorpe, at the reques ! of taxpayers at Potter Hill. made protest against the inactivity of tn Shore Line Electric Railway com
 pany in not operating the cars on tn Ashaway Westerly branch, betweel
 Westerly and Potter Hill. He said h
 had taken the matter up with official sNf ht1t Ixritb s.r1I
 There was discrimination in open
 ing up other sections of the system
 and in sections where ears were Op
 erated at a loss. It was <od tha
 the clerk of the council communicat
 with the public utilities commissio
 of Rhode Island. and the Shore Lin
 company be required to show wh
 the Ashaway branch was not in OF
 eration.
 Police Chief Thomas E. Brown re ported one arrest during Feb; tn |. charge was intoxica tion, from a mix
 ture Of Jamaica giI~er and coffee.
 Dr. Samuel C. Webster reporte
 seven cases of measles and enc (
 chicken pox during the month. Ther
 were several cases of so-called sri
 No cases of influenza were reported
 The clerk was asked to produce
 record of death returns, and the frs
 name in the record showed death
 have been caused by influenza.
 | The returns of olerqymen and phy
 sIcians showed that during the yea
 ending January 31. there were l marriages, 227 births and 40 death
 in Westerly. The sum of $114- wa
 voted to pay the legal fees for tn
 returns, as required by law
 George Montelto was granted l cense for pool rom. Fifty eigH milk licenses were granted. Josep . Grills applied for the use of th.\ tow hall for a rally to sell Italian bond A special charge of $15 was name i for rental for one night.
 i A special council committee. con 1 posed of Councilmen Thorp, CamI t bell and Moore. was appointed to g. f ther sta tistics on taxes from oth,
 places. for comparison with the va
 nations of valuations and rates ! Westerly, and to gather all details interest to Westerly tax payers 2 show justification for the increas, rate, and to give the result the wiC 2 est possible publicity. Councilman Berbarina was al pointed a member of the street liz r committee to fill the vacancy caust ! by the death of Councilman Charl
 G. Craig.
 |. Councilman Thorp and Town g, s icitor Agard were appointed a con ,. mittee to prepare and present suit Y hle resolutions CD the death of M < Craig.
 2 Superintendent Thomas Mckenzi l. of the water and sewer board explail q ed the need for amending the speci
 act relating to the sewerage systel