, 1924-02-07
CITY MEETING
A WARM AFFAIR

81 am Withholding permits on GER
tain alleged soft drink locations, and
with the support of my board of
trustees these permits will continue
to be withheld until the premises are
thrown open into one % where Of
ficers Of the law may go freely" de-
clared Mayor Hopkins before the reg
ular February meeting of the board
of city trustees last night.
1t was felt by those present mere
ly as interested citizens that Raw
Inns and the present administration
has reached a definite crisis con-
corning Front street business hous-
es ostensibly engaged in the soft
drink or billiard business, but which
feature a series of locked doors be-
hind which gambling n h sale of
liquor is alleged to be carried IN.
Attorney l.. f. Armstrong was
present at the meeting, and put in Il
plea for leniency OF treatment in the
matter OF taxing certain Front street
businesses. Mr.. Armstrong acted as
attorney for certain of the applica-
lions for permits. There were three
or four parties. he said, who were
willing to put up their money for
soft drink. billiard and similar ven
lures providing they knew what they
'A' ~ "'''F ~,
piled that the permits would be forth
coming when the city knew what 1t
was getting. After much discussion
the applications were tabled for fur
Their action.
In making his point with Mr.. Arm
strong, The mayor declared that, Il
never nave believed in the 18th
amendment. and do not now. but it
Is the law and the only way to get
1t repealed is to enforce it. Then
the people will rise up and make a
change re-instating something OF the
old order" Mr.. Armstrong agreed
with Mr.. Hopkins that closed doors
preventing the entrance at will Of
anyone choosing to come into Front
street business houses was bad. and
that this should be changed.
Several other matters of impOr-
lance were brought up for discus
sion. A petition signed by 20 or
more citizens was cad before the
meeting. asking hat the city author
tiles take Immediate steps to prevent
further erection OF shacks In certain
parts of the South Side. 1t was point
ed out In the petition that these
shacks were fire traps built of pack
ing cases or any available material
without regard to sanitation or In
many cases privacy
Chris Christopherson declared that
he represented an element of good
citizenship which was trying to build
up the South Side. but that this bet
ter element had had quite enough
neglect at the hands OF the police
and other departments established
to prevent lawlcssness. fire hazards
and the like. He urged the shack
dwellers out and establishing "A seq
regated district on other city owned
land. that the children be removed
from ontac with lawlessness to and
from school Mt least. Fire Chief
Jack Shcahan declared that virtual
~ every dryKoods crate which left
Rawlins proper might be found do
Ing duty as part Of some shack dwell
er's abode later. THE history OF
fires In Rawlins In almost altoEeth-
or u history Of shack and outbuild-
Ing fires" he said.
The appointment OF . fire or build
Ing inspector was discussed. and
Mayor Hopkins asserted that In view
Of the fact that Rawlins In rapidly
growing out OF the small town class
OF municipality such an official was
probably proper. No definite APP
pointment Wal made. however. II In
thought that prompt steps to prevent
further construction Of fire hazards
will Be taken.
An application submitted by At
tornsy N. X. Greenfield. acting for
the Hatfield OIL company. asked for
the right to = part OF the surplus
water which the city will sell To Par.
co. This use will . tapping the
biz main 1t . point lear the Eight
Mile ixks. The petitioninK company
has secured the permission Of r. 4
X. officials to 10 IN this water. the
city's bills 10 b. paid BY the r. 4 X.
corporation. This request wa grant
I'd 10 the Hatfield OIL company. but
the clause stipulating any definite