The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-14
THAT VIADUCT VETO.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

Sir:-EditOrially, this morning, you
advise the West Side board Of trade to
"be reasonable about the viaduct." 1t
may be in accordance with your
thought that West people. are unrea-
sonable in this matter, but in the light
of all circumstances it is hardly per-
tinent opinion. People on the West Side
are as loyal class of citizens and tax
payers as those of any other part of
the city. They do not wish to place the
city in an unreasonable debt. But, at
the same time, they are beginning not
"to see through a glass darlkly."
The resolution of the board adopted
ON Tuesday evening (and for which in
your columns you substituted q minor
one) contained the gist of the feelings
of the members expressed mildly. Had
the wishes of some of the members
been carried out, the resolution would
have been complete enough to satisfy
any desire for a full and convincing
explanation" of which you speak. 1t
was deemed more advisable, however,
to mildly express the boards feelings.
Your editorial bases unsatisfled judg-
ments against the city as a ground
upon which to justify the veto, There
are these judgments, 1t Is true. Yet if
council had done in all cases as they
did on the ordinance providing for
grading North Rebecca avenue "a West
Side avenue), these judgments would
not be facing the city now. Heavy
damages were claimed and the result
was that council repealed the ordi-
nance within thirty days, This was
the precedent which the viadust or
dinance would have followed. The
mayor was cognizant Of the manner in
which the ordinance was to be taken
through council. In August there was a
meeting Of councils special viaduct
committee and the committee Of West
Side citizens. The mayor was present,
| and knew Of the understanding reached
whereby the ordinance was started on
its way That understanding was that
! If the damages allowed by viewers
were excessive or embarrassing the
| West Side cOuncilmen would stand to-
| gether for the repeal of the ordinance;
and they were pledged on their honor
to do so. Indeed, when the ordinance
was before select council on final read
ing, that issue was presented by Col
Ohel Sanderson when the vote was be-
ing taken. You claim that the amount
Of money embodied in excessive"
would vary. That is probably true
also. Still, councilmen are endowed
| urith nd
be any damages too much for the city S
treasury to stand, the repeal agreement
would come forth to obviate the trou-
bic.
The ordinance provided for the ap
pointment Of viewers by the court tC
assess damages, if any. The question
is mooted one whether the damage
cry is not vastly exaggerated one
There would be iundoubted benefits
result from the construction of the via.
duct, and there are many who think
that this side of the scale would be
heavier than that of damages. The ordi.
nance, however, made specific provi-
sion to ascertain whether there would
be damages. Why, then, should it be
stated unqualifedly before courts ap.
pointees sayso, that there would be dam.
ages? The passage of the ordinance
with the tacit agreement of council.
men, and by the knowledge of the mayor
beforehand, as was the case, that the
measure would be repealed under Ger.
tain conditions, would not "open the
door to unknown additional expendi.
lures" The only way to learn what
probable damages would be must be by
city legislation providing for it. Thai
course was offered in the present case
and yet, after am official knowledge
of it for several weeks, which seemed
at least to sanction, the course proved
to be ground for the veto. The city
engineers plans are specific enough fol
all details to be known, and were com.
plete when before court
Whether it be turned into a political
weapon l doubt. But still the veneer.
ing of the veto message shows to many
people on the West Side politics al
through the ordinances passage and
finally its veto just after the election
People who have advocated measure
so earnestly as have the West Side citi.
zens are not to be blamed If. they en-.
deavor to read between the lines fol
the reasons Of an official action such as
this one. Respectfully,
CHARLES Il. DANIELS,
Secretary West Side Board Of Trade
Scranton, Dec. 13.