Minutes 05/10/1927 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The fo~Ilowing co_mmunication was read from the Portsmouth Retail Merchants Association: The Honorable 0ity 0ouncil, ~Portsmouth, Va., April 28, 1R27. Po~smo~th, Va,~ eentlemen:-- At a meeting of ~trectors of the Portsmouth Retail Merchants Association held On the &bore date the matter of carnivals coming to our city was taken up for discussion. We are of the opinion that they are a detriment to the commanity. Ma~y of our merchants and other business interests realize a falling off in'collections on each and every occasion that a carnival arrives in town. We believe that-money spent at carnivals by persons who are in debts to our merchants should be used in the payment of their~.obligations instead of for amusements, and other .forms of entertainments offered by carnivals. We believe, furthermore, that influences of carnivals are bad on the morals of the community, a~d trust that you will offer the business interest of our city greater pro~ tection in future against them. We, therefore, respectfully request that an additional tax be placed on them, and that such tax be made $150.0~ per day. Very respectfully, Portsmouth Retail Merchants Association, By J. M. 0verton, Secty." On motion, the communication was referred to the Finance Committee. The following commmnicatlon was read from J. Lewis Thomas: Honorable Oity 0ouncil, Portsmou~th, Va. Gentlemen:-- "Portsmouth, Va., May 5th, lR27. ! respectfully call to you~ attention'the petition of John High filed with your body by me as his counsel, askin~ that you take some action toward the revocation of the permit of the Standard Oil 0ompany for a filling station at 0hautauqua Avenue and Broad Streets, amd which was laid on the table at your last Narch meeting. It is respectfully requested that you take action on this petition so that my client may have the protection given him by the ordinance. Very truly yours, J. Lewis Thomas., The following is the communication which was presented to the 0ouncil March 22nd: Honorable 0ity Oouncil, Portsmouth, Va. "Portsmouth, Virginia, March 16th, 1R27. ~entlemen:--- About Augus~ the 10th of zast year, an application for a permit to erect a filling station on Broad Street near Chautauqua Avenue was fired bythe Standard 0il Company. The Company represented to the building inspector that it had complied with the ordinance concern- lng the erection of the filling station and had the consent of the adjoining property owner, the majority of the buildings already within a200 foot radlms being residences. John High, the owner of the lot adjoining ~he site of the proposed service station on the west, did mot consent to the erection of such station. Wi~h the misleading information which it had at that time, the council granted the permit for the erection of the station. I am now, on behalf of John High, bringing ~o your attention the fact tha~ the permit was obtained upon a misrepresentation and had the fact besn known, the council probably would nom have granted %he pe-!~zission for the erectmon of tn~s smatlen. In behalf of my client, I am respeo~fuAAy requesting the council to revoke the permit heretofore granted. Very respectfmlly yours, On mo./on of Mr. City Manager. J. Lewis Thomas." ~hi~e, the ~wo co~uications from Mr. Thomas were referred to the (Mr. Oast ex~-sed from further attendance) The following communica~lon was 2ea~l~from J. ~ewls Thomas, attorney for the drivers of Hire cars in the Oimy: