The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-09
PITTSTON.

Tho mass meeting Of citiz,ns called
for Thursday evening in keystone hall
to discuss the proposed borough i'm
provements will 60 down into local
history as n memorable event for the
committee who had the affair in charge
discovered at the opening of the meet
Ing that scheme to oust them had
been carefully planned and success
fully carried out as subsequent events
proved. When 8 o'clock, the hour for
convening had arrived, there were
probably 150 persons in the hall. The
committee, it would appear thought
best to defer calling the meeting to
order until the seats were more fully
occupied. BY doing so they made their
great mistake. AT precisely ten min
utes to o'clock delegation that filled
the hall to OVERLOOKING entered. On
the stroke Of 9and the failure Of Mr.
Harding to call the meeting to order,
Professor Shiel stepped to the platform
and raped the meeting to order. His
''insolence aud intrusion" as Paul
Bohan expressed it, in requesting him
to step down and out caused whirl OF
excitement to sweep over the hall be-
cause the audience recognized in II mo.
ment that the committee had been
caught mapping. No sooner had Mr..
Shiel called the meeting to order than
Squire James Gibbons, who occupied II
front seat, arose and said: "Gentle-
men, | move you that John
j. Hart be chosen chairman
of this meeting; are YOU ready for the
question:" Chorus, "Questionl" Shouts
OF "Nol MOI" Hold onl" came thick
and fast from those who had recovered
from their astonishment. The squire.
with the wave of his hand, shouted
"The ayes haye it and Mr. Hart will
please take the chair" Mr.. Hart, with
the air and dignity of Chesterfield,
advanced to the platform. while res
toratives were being applied to resusci-
tate the committeeman. who had gone
into state OF total collapse Mr.
Hart, upon taking the chair. in neat
speech thanked his friends for the
honor conferred, For secretary
James Gibbsns was elected and the
chairman announced the purpose the
meeting was called for The quickness
and strategy with which the busiu ess
was done caused deafening applause,
and even the most grave, seeing the
numerous phase Of the situation, in
dulged in hearty laugh Paul Bohan
arose and said he thought the proceed
ings were trifis premature; that the
meeting had been called by the CHAIR.
man of the advisory committee, and it
was certlinly his privilege of calling
the meeting to order However, he
resumed, 1.-THE discourteous act has been
done and it is just as we'll to let it go
at that. But the chairman having in.
vlted speakers for this occasion, l trust
they will be given hearing"
Mr., Harding was then called on
Before entering upon the question of
paving he took occasion to criticise the
action of the "usurpers. whereupon
Chairman Hart called him to order by
informing him that his action in doing
so was entirely uncalled for, and would
not be tolerated. Secretary Gibbons
felt that his feelings were hurt and |
took his seat in the audience. He was
later prevailed upon to resume his seat |
at the secretary's desk Attorney g. F. |
Bohan, Professor She'll, Theodore
Strong, NJ. W. Morris joan B. Law,
Paul Bohan. J. A. Tanhill and several
others, addressed the meeting. They
all felt that the improvement was
a necessity, Messrs Morris, She'll.
and few others. inquired |
if any member of the citizens
advisory committee or member of the
council could furnish the esti-
mated cost of the proposed improve
ments2 Mr., Harding answered that 1t
was impossible to do so at present,
Mr.. Morris then contepded that he was
of the opinion that instead of the
borough Indebtedness at present be-
ing only $4,000. as has been
represented, it was $50. 1000. Attorney
Bohan explained that the bonded debt
contracted since the act Of 1874, con-
ferring on the town council the right |
to borrow 2 per cent. of the borough |
valuation, and to borrow to the extent
of per cent. of the valuation by the
popular vote of the people. is but $14,-
900, He said he thought it best 10
make the present loan for $3S, 900, be-
cause, If a test case is made, which
never has been. and court decides that
the $4,000 outstanding debt be-
fore the act of 1874 should be in
cluded in the borough debt, it will still
give the council power to borrow $20,-
900, whereas, if council was empowered
to borrow $20 900, and the court said
they might lust as we'll have had S3S. -
900. another special election would
have to be held, and this would be put
ting the borough to an additional ex-
pense. BY voting on raising $3S, 900. i ::
court decides that council cannot bor-
row to that extent the excess only
would be void
1t was about II 80 when q motion to
adjourn was made and carried