85 years ago – January 3, 1941: Crowd turns out for council meeting

Dublin Courier-Herald, Dispatch, and Press

One of the longest and best attended sessions of City Council in years was held last night with the following developments highlighting the gathering:

A resolution was passed by a vote of 5 to 2 asking Rep.  W.H. Lovett and Rep.  Dawson Kea to extend the City Limits of Dublin, effective January 1, 1942. 

A resolution was unanimously passed asking that the two representatives pass a bill abolishing the present 3-man Board of Tax Assessors and provide, for Council creating a one-manTax Commissioner. In asking this, Council expressed belief that fairer and more efficient collection and valuation of property could be attained with a Tax Commissioner than under the present system.

A petition to allow Sunday motion picture shows, with a provision that substantial donations would be given to the city’s charitable fund was heard. Council first decided to call a referendum so the people could vote on this and later someone pointed out that a Council might not have the right to do this. Mayor Dee Sessions then said he would secure a legal opinion of the City Attorney before calling an election.

A petition signed by 23 of the 25 barbers here requesting passage of an ordinance providing for appointment of a board of barbers to fix prices, closing hours, and regular barber shops, was tabled for further consideration.

City finances were discussed and the necessity of retrenchment agreed upon by council. Several tentative suggestions were advanced, but there was no definite action. 

License to sell beer was granted seven firms here and a license to sell beer and wine was refused to W.M.  Chandler. Police Chief J.W.  Robertson was instructed to notify Mr. Chandler to remove his stock from the store now being operated by February 1.

While a considerable delegation was present to request the Sunday shows, the most vocal group present was that of the property owners who objected to being incorporated within the city limits.

Among those ether speaking against this or seconding talks of others against being incorporated were W.P. Roche,  W.R. Werden,  W. R. Hodges, T.C. Waldrep, Irwin Montford, Frank Hodges,  Henry Wood,  and W. W. Larsen, Jr.

Rep. Dawson Kea and Rep. W.H. Lovett told Council that they would abide by whatever recommendation Council made about introducing the bill, and after a long discussion by the protesting delegation and Council, it was voted to ask that such a bill be introduced, effective 1942.

A request that a Sunday show be allowed at once – the entire proceeds to be turned over to the infantile paralysis fund of Laurens County – was turned down by Council on the  ground that it would prejudice the referendum contemplated on the Sunday show question.

Cost of holding a referendum on Sunday shows would not be borne by the City, Council ruled. If one is held, and citizens present immediately donated most of the estimated cost, handing the money over to City Clerk M.A. Rogers. He estimated that about five more dollars would be needed above the cash handed to him last night.

(Eastman settled this question not so long ago by holding a vote in which Sunday shows won.)

A resolution inviting the Division of Traffic & Safety of the State Highway Board to make a survey of traffic hazards in Dublin was passed. The survey would merely be an advisory recommendation to Council, made by traffic experts, about the best way to handle traffic difficulties in Dublin.

COMMITTEES NAMED

A few changes in City Council committees were announced today by Mayor Dee Sessions. The list of chairmen announced for 1941 is as follows:

Finance

M.Z. Claxton, Chairman

Martin Willis, Vice Chairman

E.B. Mackey

W.P. Tindol

Police & Ordinance

Bruce Suggs,  Chairman

Milo Smith, Vice Chairman

W.P. Tindol

Martin Willis

Street & Sanitary

E.B. Mackey, Chairman

W.P. Tindol, Vice Chairman

Martin Willis 

Milo Smith

License & Tag

Milo Smith, Chairman

E.B. Mackey, Vice Chairman

P.C. Hutchinson

Public Property & Parks

P.C. Hutchinson, Chairman

Martin Willis, Vice Chairman

W.P. Tindol

M.Z. Claxton

Light & Water & Printing

W.P. Tindol, Chairman

Martin Willis, Vice Chairman

Bruce Suggs

Milo Smith

Cemeteries & Buildings & Awnings

W.P. Tindol, Chairman

P.C. Hutchinson, Vice Chairman

Martin Willis

M.Z. Claxton

Fire

Martin Willis, Chairman

W.P.Tindol, Vice Chairman

Bruce Suggs

Milo Smith

DRAFT ORDERS MAILED

Draft Board Number Two of Laurens County yesterday mailed questionnaires to registered men whose order numbers are between 283 and 332 and today questionnaires were mailed to registered men with order numbers between 333 and 382.

Three colored registrants were also sent to the Army today. All three were volunteers, however. Board No. One sent Frank Ladson and Leo Hue Hester, and Board No. Two sent one man, Henry Coley. They will be inducted into service at Fort Benning, but local officials were not informed whether or not they would serve at the Georgia camp or elsewhere.

Attention was again called to the County Advisory Committee which is always ready to help anyone in filling out questionnaires. There is no charge for this service. The committee is composed of Blakeley Parrott, W.F. Moxley, O.B. Overstreet, and C.D. Devereaux of Dublin and M.S. Mullis of Cadwell. Those wishing assistance in filling out questionnaires can see any one of the above gentlemen.

HEALTH REPORT FOR 1940 BIRTHS

Births almost doubled deaths in Laurens County during 1940, according to Laurens County Health Commissioner O.H. Cheek in his annual report which was made public today.

By a coincident, the number of deaths recorded was exactly the same as that of the previous year, 1939,

Births totaled 871 last year, the report showed and deaths were 451.

The birth rate was slightly off as compared with 1939, when 898 births were recorded.

The county appeared to be doing its part in furnishing manpower for possible future national emergency with a majority of the births listed as male. They totaled 465 as compared with 406 for females.

White births numbered 483, according to the report, and Negro births 388.

Deaths

Of the deaths, there were also more fatalities among males than females. A total of 221 male deaths were reported with 180 female.

Accidents were listed as the cause of 29 of the deaths, and homicides accounted for 12 more. Only one suicide was recorded.

Heart disease led the list as cause of deaths, with a total of 72 victims. Pneumonia accounted for three deaths; cancer, 4; malaria, 3; tuberculosis, 8; typhoid fever, 3; colitis, 2; influenza, 2; syphilis, 2; maternal deaths, 2; and deaths from unknown diseases, 22.  Cause of one death was listed as malnutrition and infants who died from unknown causes numbered 27.

EASTMAN BRANCH DISCONTINUED

Services of the Wrightsville and Tennille Railway between Dublin and Eastman will be discontinued on March 1, B.H. Lord, general manager of the road, said today.

The last trains will run on February 28, Mr. Lord said, and dismantling of the old railway will begin early in March.

The line to Eastman was built originally by the E.P. Rentz Lumber Company in 1904 and known as the Dublin & Southwestern Railway. It was acquired by the W&T system in 1906.

There are a number of stations on the route between Dublin and Eastman. The principal ones are Rentz, Cadwell, Plainfield, Garretta, and Mayberry.

General Manager Lord also announced that application for a hearing is now being made to ask for authority to discontinue operating the road between Dublin and Hawkinsville.

RENTZ HAS YOUNG LEADERS 

This being often referred to as the “day of young people,” the Town of Rentz looks forward with a great deal of anticipation to a new year of progressive accomplishments with probably the youngest set of leaders in the state. The ages of the mayor and five members of council range between 22 and 31 years.

In an uncontested election, the new officials are

Mayor

O.H. Grant

Council:

F.C. Taylor

A.O. Hadden

H.H. Bedingfield

Barron Smith

Alton Davidson

Retiring officials who did not choose to run are

Mayor 

J.O. Proctor

Council:

H.Y. Grant

W.T. Phelps

J.A .Davidson

E.J. Woodard

Z.C. Register 

W.O.W. MEETING

Installation services for the new officers of the local Camp of the W.O.W. will be held on Monday night, January 27th, at the Lodge Hall at 7:30.

Joe Branch of Davisboro, Head Consul of Georgia, will be present for the installation. Officers to be installed are

Charles E. Baggett – Consul Commander

D.A. Moorman – Advisor Lieutenant

J.L. Lord – Financial Secretary 

J.E. Townsend – Banker

G.B. Dunn – Escort

J.C. Raffield – Watchman

J.S. Kittrell – Secretary

Physicians – 

Dr. R.G. Ferrell

Dr. E.B.  Claxton

Dr. A.T. Coleman

Auditors,-

Emory S. Baldwin, Chairman

J.R. Cherry

S.F. Beasley

A fish fry will follow the installation services, and this promises to be a most enjoyable part of the program, according to the announcement made today by J .L. Lord and M.A. Kendrick, who urge all members to be present.

DONKEY FUN

The “Cowboys” rode out a hard fought victory last night over the “Indians” in the burro basketball game. It was hard on the fans, too,  who got stitches in their sides watching local business men try to manage unmanageable donkeys.

The score, someone said, was 30 to 24, but most of the spectators and the players were too amused to care who won.

Among those taking part in the game were Parrott, Ward, Jarrard, Robertson, Bennett, White, Driver, Jewell, Powell, and Jones.

In a preliminary to the donkey game, Dublin and Brewtpn payed an ordinary basketball game with Brewton on the short end of the 29-10 score.

Brewton players were

Moye

Garnto

Walker

Sapp

Jordan

Forte – substitute

Dublin players were

Thompson

Walker

Clark

Smalley

Bradshaw

Mills – substitute

Bryans – substitute

COLORED NEWS

Kingdom of  God Singers

The Kingdom Gospel Singers will sing at the Church of God in Christ on Monday night, February 3rd.

Seats will be reserved for white friends desiring to attend.

Funds will be used for education.

The pastor, Elder R.D. Fields, will preach on Sunday, day and night. Your are invited. 

Lincoln Civic League

A call meeting was held in the office of C.L. Harrison, on Tuesday night. The Lincoln Civic League elected new officers for the ensuing term and made plans for a more progressive organization. Though only a few men were present, the spirit and enthusiasm was high, and the meeting was carried out as planned.

Preceding the business session, an open forum was held with all participating in an active manner. Following the forum, the out-going president, Dr. H.T. Jones, assisted by Professor W.L. Hughes, fully explained the purposes of the Lincoln Civic League history. 

The following officers were elected:

C.L. Harrison – President

L.T. Bacote – Vice President

E.C. Thomas – Secretary

T.J. Simmons – Assistant Secretary

W.L. Thomas – Reporter

 H.T. Jones – Chaplain

The newly elected officers were installed and sworn into office by Professor Hughes after which, each expressed and indicated his desire to serve faithfully in his capacity.

Missionary Circle

The Missionary Circle of Williams Grove A,B. Church met at the home of Mrs. Phoebe Linton with the President in the Chair.

The Bible lesson was read and discussed by the pastor.

Delicious refreshments were served after the meeting.

The next meeting will be on Monday, January 20th, at the home of Mrs. Tillery Walker. Come to the meeting.

Mrs. Maggie Moman, President

Mrs. Nealy Warren, Secretary