The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1951-11-08
Something to think about.

WIFI Tic w at 1Lo WO4obJ W.
need the Church at its best - from
an address by R. Paul Smith, guest
speaker at Sundays Laymen's Serv-
ice at st. Paul's Methodist Church.
1 have been advised by the Mary
land Traffic Safety Commission that
it is presenting an award to The
obe-Independent for its coopera-
ton in helping to promote traffic
safety.
I am very glad that two minors,
found consuming alcoholic beverages
in Hagerstown taverns, were both
convicted and fined when they APP
peared before Magistrate Berkson on
Saturday morning.
The more publicity that is given to
the fact that anyone under Il years
of age who is found either buying or
consuming alcoholic beverages in
public places is subject to an arrest
and fine, the quicker these young
sters will stop trying to get away
with it.
Last Thursday nights Council
meeting was, to say the least of it,
just about the most unusual and in
formal meeting of the City Fathers
I have ever attended.
Following the opening prayer by
the Rev. James E. Ault, the repre-
sentatives of an aluminium awning
company, who have appeared before
the Mayor and Council on several
occasions in an effort to get their
awnings recognized as legal in Ha-
gerstown, again asked to be heard
and were given the floor. They
showed the members of the Council
a number of slides illustrating the
use of their awnings in other cities
and then went into a private huddle
with the four members of the Coun-
Gil who were present-Councilman
Elliott was sick and unable to at
tend - and it was not until the
Council meeting was over that L
learned that the members OF the
Council had instructed the repre-
sentatives to get approval for their
awnings from the volunteer fire COM
panies and then come back to the
Council for another hearing.
The next item of business was a
request from Francis H. Urner, at
torney for the Antietam Company,
promoters of the proposed North
End shopping center, for approval
by the Conncil of plot plan for the
center. All plot plans, which sim
ply show the layout of the proposed
streets, sewers, etc, must, under the
provisions of Section SO of Chapter
6 of the City Charter, be approved
in writing by the Council before they
can be accepted by the clerk of the
Circuit Court for recording among
the land records.
After Mr.. Urner had presented his
case, he too, went into huddle with
the four Councilmen and it was
noticeable that not once during Mr.
Urner's discussion did any of the
four members of the Council ever
ask the opinion of Bruce Lightner
the City Attorney, who was present
throughout the meeting.
AS matter of fact the only one to
recognize Mr.. Lightner was Mr.
Urner, and here's how that happen
ed.
When the Council apparently could
not make their minds up regarding
the sort of motion they should pass
on Mr. Urner's request for approval
of the plot plan, Mr.. Urner said that
he would like to suggest form OF
WlllCll RlOCSCoCu "
dictate to the city's stenographe1
and then requested her to read il
back to the Council. When this was
done Mr.. Urner stated that the form
of motion he suggested would, Of
course, be subject to the approval Of
Mr.. Lightner.
During the meeting a letter was
read from the Board of County Com.
missioners asking the City Council
to go fifty-ffty with the Board Of
Commissioners on special fee Of
$4,000 to Paul Ottinger, Attorney
for the Washington County Board Of
Election Supervisors, in payment Of
the legal work he has done in con.
nection with the setting up of a per.
manent registration system for the
City and County.
The payment of the city's half o.
the fee was strenuously objected tt
by Councilman Broom, who stated
that the city had already paid more