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FORT ERIE – Correspondence
[Welland Tribune, 12 March 1873]
A serious hitch has taken place here between the Reeve and the License Inspector. Last January Messrs. Eden and Treble competed for the Reeveship, the latter being the successful candidate.
The Council, elect, however, were favorable to Mr. Eden, and they proffered him the position of Inspector of Licenses, which he accepted, as he declared, not for the pecuniary emoluments attaching thereto; but if possible, to assist in checking the drunkenness prevalent in the village. Some one who would act independently and without ulterior motive in view was wanted, and Mr. Eden was selected. Well, Mr. Eden went on and licensed ten houses, which, heavens knows, is enough for the village. Other applications were made, however which the Inspector rejected on the ground of want of proper accommodation. Last year several obtained licenses under false pretenses, offering stables not attached to their houses, and which accommodated neither hay, oats nor horses from one end of the year to the other. Can such be called public houses, when the law most distinctly says they shall have accommodations for at least six horses? Two of these miserable groggeries are owned by Mr. Treble, and he, the Reeve and a J.P., did his best to have them licensed, but in vain, as the Council and nineteen-twentieths of the ratepayers sustained the Inspector. One party who had gone to considerable expense in getting four bedrooms and beds, with proper stabling accommodations, obtained a certificate from the Inspector, which he presented to the Reeve for his signature.
He, (the Reeve) however, refused to sign, but went to his house and asked to be permitted to inspect it which was very properly refused, as he had no authority from the Inspector. Mr. Treble still withholds his signature, and says he will not give it unless the Inspector (Mr. Eden) gives certificates for his houses, thus attempting to coerce Mr. Eden. The other day petitions were circulated for the dismissal of Mr. Eden, but fools to sign them were not found. What a piteous position for Reeve to be found in, merely because he happens to be proprietor of two miserable groggeries, in one of which the proprietor was recently stabbed in several places at a late hour at night. The culprit was brought up before the Reeve, and committed to the lock-up, but broke out and escaped. A meeting of the Council took place on the 5th inst. Present-The Reeve and Messrs. Harris and Thompson. A resolution was drawn up by the Reeve and moved by Mr. Harris, to the effect that, in the opinion of the Council, stables a convenient distance from the tavern would be considered as attached, which resolution was forwarded to the License Inspector, who thanked the Council for their kind expression of opinion, which he said was not asked nor desired, and expressed his determination to still be guided by the statute.
Fort Erie, March 11, 1873
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