The state journal., 1884-07-19
COUNCIL BUSINESS.
BOTH BRANCHES HOLD IMPORTANT
MEETINGS.
Tile Common Branch Has n Lengthy Dis
cussion Over the Investigation Com
mittee's Report and Refers 1t Back
Again-ROutine Business The
Business in Select Council.

The lower branch of Councils assem-
bled at the usual hour and there was an
air of business about every member as he
took his seat When Clerk Shiffler arose
to read the minutes Mr.. Mather moved
that the reading be dispensed with, but
Mr.. Swartz thought as it was q cool even
ing the ordeal could be better endured
than if it was postponed until q warmer
one. Mr.. Mather thereupon withdrew
his motion and the minutes were read and
approved in form.
Mr.. Ryan offered resolution instruct
ing the city a treasurer to pay the State
treasurer the State tax on loans and that
all other legislation relating thereto be
repealed. 1t was laid over until the reg
ular order.
A communication was read from citi-
zens of the First ward protesting against
water pipe assessments in that section of
the city as proposed by the city engineer
Mr.. Miller offered a petition from the
Mt. Vernon hook and ladder company
asking for assistance in maintaing their
horses, their funds being exhausted 1t
was referred to the Finance Committee.
The contracts of the Ludlow valve
, y,
trock for laying crossings, F. U. Bcrgner
for stationery, and United gas improve
ment company, were approved.
The special committee appointed to
investigate the charges Of jODbery with
relation to the Eleventh street water
main reported that they had discharged
their duties. The report Tecited that they
had examined papers on file in the State
Department relating to incorporatOrs Of
Steelton water company; that City So
licitor largest had made application for
charter of said company; that Joseph B.
Ewing, a member of Select Council, was
a stockholder in the turnpike company,
leading from the city limits to Steelton,
and that said company demanded 81, 900
or 50, 600 for the use of said pike for lay
ing of said water main therein The re-
port concluded with the remark that in
the opinion of the committee city officer
should not be connected with or inter
ested in any company that has direct
dealings with the city.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
report Mr.. largest said it did not appear
to be the report of any investigating COM
mittee, and asked for a second reading of
the paper. When the clerk had read that
portion of the report referring to the in
corporation of the SteeltOu water COM
pany, Mr.. largest moved that so much
Of the report as had been read be laid
over, as it did not touch upon the duties
of the committee.
Mr.. Mather also thought the committee
had gone beyond its province. 1t was
not its duty to investigate the corporation
in, I,,k 20 fKn4A 81
charges of jObbery that had been made.
The report, he thought, was entirely ir-
relevant, and the investigators appeared
to have looked into everything but that
for which they were appointed. He could
not see how such a report could consist
emily be spread upon the minutes.
Mr.. DeVout likewise thought the COM
mittee had been derelict in its duty and
utterly failed in discharging the task as
signed it. He said he would not vote
upon the report one way or the other,
and seemed very indignant at the char
acter of the report
Mr.. Fleming said he had voted for the
ordinance authorizing the laying of the
Eleventh street main and had actively
assisted in its passage, and he expected
when such an investigation was ordered
that he would be subpGnaed before the
committee. He thought the investiga-
ton should be more thorough, and there
fore moved that the committee be con-
tinued and requested to perform the du-
ties Of its appointment.
Mr.. Miller was seemingly anxious to
be relieved from the committee, and
called repeatedly for the yeas and nays
on Mr.. Swartz's motion to discharge the
committee from further consideration
of the matter. They were not
called for some reason, and Mr..
Ryan, chairman of the special COM
mittee, obtained the floor. He said
the committee had done all they could
do and all that they were expected to do.
With the powers vested in them he could
not see that they were empowered to
subpoena members of Council as it had
been limited should be done. The re-
search at the State department was in Or
der to get at some basis for a report and
in vigorous style Mr.. Ryan defended his
committee against the imputatiOns cast
upon it.
Mr.. Swartz (Fourth ward), wanted to
resign from the committee and asked that
Mr.. largest be appointed in his stead, as
the latter gentleman had originally been
appointed by the Chair and resigned. Mr..
Hargest said as he had been prominent in
the passage of the ordinance he did not
think it proper to place him at the head
of committee investigating charges of
jObbery in relation thereto.
The question recurring On Mr. Elem
ing's motion to continue the investigating
committee, it was agreed to.
Mr.. Leighton read in place an ordinance
making additional appropriation for the
highway department for the current year.
Referred.
Mr. Mather read two ordinances, one
making an appropriation of 81, 200 for the
extension of all brick sewers to low water
mark, and the other fixing salaries of
water house employees.
The Highway Committee reported neg
atively the resolution providing for the
appointment of civil engineering board.
Adopted.
Mr.. Walters read in place an ordinance
making special appropriation for the fire
department.
The communication from Mayor Viii
son regarding the payment of Saturday
Nights bill was received and filed,
A large number of bills were read and
approved. Very few were objected to.
The ordinance authorizing the pur-
chase of the property at State and Fourth
streets for city purposes was read a sec.
ond time. The yeas and nays being de.
manded were-yeas, II; nays u. Agreed
to- Further consideration was then post
poned for the present.
The ordinance making appropriation
for the payment of the cost of laying
water pipe in Wallace street from Herr
to Gun. berland streets, passed finally.
An ordinance relating to water pipe in
Fourth street, from Hamilton to Kelker,
passed finally.
The ordinance authorizing the placing
of certain avenue on the official plans