Minutes 06/10/1941 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 1Oth~ 1941. ~Not os many months ago, co-called Fifth Coltuun activity wac looked ~on as a thing that required very little consideration. ~ith the passing of time~ however, world conditions have been revealed as orecarious and, I think, we now almost unanimously realize that we ~ve enemies within our m~dst ~ho are bent upon a ~olesale destrUCtion of defense in- dustries, private property, ~nd livec, if need be~ in order to complete s~ unholy program. Surely no area could offer a more prolific field for operations of this na - turc the~ is_ to be found in the City of Portsmouth and itc vact surrounding countryside. New homes are cpri~ing uo over night ~ud workers by the hundreds are being rushed here~ so that our part of a vast defense progr~ might be facilitated and hurried to a grand conclusion~ In my htunble op!nion~ we are blessed ~ith most efficient fire and police partments, but they are s~ll ~ud ill equipped, and therefore could not be expected to cope with e~_ything approaching a catastrophe~ It would be unfair to exy~ect otherwise~ because~ in these days, ms~ cower can not prevail s~one~ Efficient mechc~ized support is compelling. Being one who by nature ic rather partial to viewing the brighter side of things, it is with hesitancy that I exp_recc the honest conviction that there is a re~ oossi - bi!ity of ca!amity and disaster smd that haste therefore should be made to not only mee~ it but overcome i~ as well~ ~e personnel of our Police and Fire Departments sh~ould be at once reason - ~oly increased end in most imoortant addition thereto we ~ould junk or otherwise dispose of our present dilapidated, inefficient fire fighting equipment and provide in lieu thereof, modern, up-to-date ~oparatus with which we could reasonably hope to deal with the serious sit~ uations that one can vision as highly probable at any moment. A conflagration with our present personnel and so-called apparazus as our sole means of protection would-unquestionably brin~ about inestimable loss of valuable property, delay defense activities c~d orobably cause the loss of lives. It presents a condition over which there should not be long days of debate. ~ne oft lightly repeated, but, safe e~d smue ~mrds "The time for action i s now. Tomorrow may be too late~ very definitely hold good as a measure of guidm~ce in the solving of t?~s most serious problem. Why shouldn't our Federal Cover=merit be.asked to include at least a part of the cost of new apparatus in its Defense program? l~y shouldn't such action be taken at once? ~ny couldn't a very Just argument be presented in support thereof? Surely in an area such ac ours smything that orotects life and property is automatically ~n integral part of Defense and should find sym~atheti? reception from those in our Peseta_ Goverr~ment ~fno are charged with the responsibility of passzng upon such matterc~ However, in any event, immediate action shoul prevail and that which is co,ely-needed in the nature of personnel sn~d equipment should be pro- vided without further delay and irrespective of the fact that the.City may be co,celled to bear the entire cost thereof. I submit that you gentlemen he. ye before you a very vital problem which you have no doubt heretofore considered, but which ou~t to receive your quick and favor~ able dispssitiono Respectfully submitted~ H. E. Weisemen.~ The following letter was read: "At the last regular meeting of thc Portsmouth Lodge ~-41 International As- sociation of Machinists, with a membership of ever sixteen huhdred members, a motion was made and it was u~nimously adooted that Portsmouth Lodge ~4! International Association of Machin- ists are opposed to Daylight Saving Plan, and I was instructed to write you mad ask that you kindly convey to the Honorable City Council of Portsmouth our views and ask them to work against the plc~ if end ~en it is presented. Thar~ing you in advance, I beg to remain, Sincerely yours, J.H. Oland~ Recording Secretary ~44! I A of X.~ On motion of Mr. Fox, the Clerk was instructed to reply and state that the matter had not been~before the Council. The following letter was read, and on motion of Mr~ Howard, referred to the City Attorney, with power to act: ~Your co-operation in the refund of $20.00 is requested° We have, in error, bought two city tags for the same truck. Upon trading an old truck in April ~-th the ~-overman Notor Company, they bought both City and state tags. and consequently ck~rged came to us. In May, we purchased city tags for our~ nine truc~s and unknowingly purchased a tag.again for this same truck. This error was discovered when the tags were being mounted. City Tag ~79 for l½ ton Dodge truck with State License ~T2541~ ie being returned to the City Collector. This truck now has on it City Tag ~6~ the one purchased on Apt. i! 2!, 1941 by the Livermon I~otor Company in our name for tluis t~ck - City License Ticket ~365. The tag returned is listed on City License ticket ~2171, together with eight other truck To~nking you for your trouble and prompt attention~ we are, Tours very truly~ BOMCEAND KIRCP24iER By 0!inton O. Boyce~" The Oo~pensation Report of the Commissioner of Revenue for month of May was received and, on motion of Mr. Fox, approved for payment. following letter wac read: