Want Armory Back

ANN ARBOR LIGHT INFANTRY ARE IN ARMS.

The Lease Not Surrendered--A Proposition for the Sale of the Building Considered.

The city clerk's office was crowded last evening at a very large meeting of the committees for the reception of Co. A, and those present were for seeing that the Ann Arbor Light Infantry should take possession of the armory under the terms of its lease with Mr. E. P. Cook. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, that the committee consisting of the civil board, Mayor Luick and J. E. Beal take steps to hold the legal rights to the armory. This resolution was offered by George J. Haller, after a general talk had been indulged in over the report of the committee who had been appointed to see Mr. Cook and see what steps could be taken to secure possession of the armory building, which Mr. Cook had turned into a livery stable, in time to receive the company in it on their return. The committee reported that Mr. Cook's only offer was that be would sell the armory building for $3,800 and would donate $300 of the purchase price.

In order to understand the situation, it might be well to state that the lease to the armory was made between Mr. Cook as the party of the first part and Ross Granger as captain of the Ann Arbor Light Infantry, Co. A., M. N G., as party of the second part and runs until December of this year with the privilege of 10 years more. The rent is payable on July 15 and Jan. 15 of each year. The rent was paid up until last January and the nest payment was not due until next July. After the company left Ann Arbor the state kept up the allowance of $300 for rent and $100 for fuel and care of arms, sending the amount to Mr. Cook as payment of the rental. In January the quartermaster general notified him that the state would pay no more rent and Mr. Cook took possession of the building. The leases formerly were made out to the state, but the lease in question was for $100 a year more than the state allowed for rental and was therefore signed by Ross Granger as captain of the Light Infantry. The contention is made that as Capt. Granger never threw up the lease and no rent was due, Cook had no right to take possession and no letter from the quarter master general could confer any authority upon him to take possession as the state did not rent the building. A committee waited upon Mr. Cook Monday to see if he would vacate the armory in time so that it could be fitted up before the return of the company. This he declined to do but made an offer to sell which was reported to last night's meeting. The committee after last night's meeting notified him that they had been instructed to commence proceedings against him to recover the armory and spent two hours with him this morning endeavoring to arrive at some amicable understanding. It is probable that they will have a report to make at the meeting of the general committees next Friday evening.

At the meeting of the general committee last night all the various subcommittees asked for further time as all arrangements and raising of funds were largely dependent upon the outcome of the armory imbroglio.

There was considerable interesting discussion on the subject of medals their price, size and material and it seemed to be the consensus of opinion that the members of the Ann Arbor Light Infantry and the other Ann Arbor boys who had served in the war should be given medals. The committee on medals was given further time to report.

It was stated that Ypsilanti was making preparations to outshine the Ann Arbor celebration and the Ypsilanti council had appropriated $200 to help along the celebration there but this did not seem to worry the committee any. Considerable enthusiasm was shown at the meeting and after its adjournment to meet again Friday evening, they gathered in groups to discuss the situation.