The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-14
MR.. NEALIS WAS FORCEfUL
Said He Would Compel President
Grier to Do Him Justice.
THAT DETECTIVE BILL AGAIN
Common Council Indefinitely postpones
Action on It-Mr. divers Effort to
Hold Up Bills Was Unsuccessful.
1t Was Long -Wiuded Session.

tions in the way of consuming time.
| They began at 8 o'clock and continued
in session until 1890 and passed upon
business that might have been dis
posed of In an hour.
The oratory and foolishness began
after the reading Of the report OF the
auditing committee, which announced
that the disputed bills of Frank
Cobb, $3.50 for horse furnished to the
chief of the fire department; American
Fire Engine company, 500 for a re-
lief valve for the Nay Aug steamer
and Scranton Underwriters associa-
tion, and $1O0 as city's share of the bill
for detective service in connection with
the attempt to burn Howley Bros.
building on Penn avenue, had been
approved.
Mr.. Oliver who Is a member Of the
auditing committee, moved that the
bills be ordered paid except those of
Frank Cobb and the American Fire
Engine company. In the course of sew
eral speeches he made while the mat
ter was under discussion, Mr.. Oliver
made some very testy remarks con-
cernng Chief of the Fire Department
Ferber, and said it was time he should
be "called down." Mr.. Nealis, to help
the good work along, moved that the
Underwriters bill be also ignored,
which was agreed to and the auditing
committees report was passed with
out these items.
Then They Changed Their Minds.
In the course of fifteen minutes the
councilmen changed their minds about
these bills, and when Mr.. Nealis again
called the attention of council to them
and said he thought they ought to be
paid, his colleagues took kindly to his
idea and they ordered the bills paid,
notwithstanding the vigorous protest
Of Mr.. Oliver.
After little more business was
transacted the famous detective bill of
S477.70 was called to the attention of
councils by City Clerk Lavelle's COM
munication, which Informed them that
in obedience to a communication from
Mayor Connell supplemented by an
opinion from City Solicitor Torrey, it
was his intention to draw a warrant for
this bill. Select council a week ago
rant should be drawn and so ordered,
but the common was of an opposite
opinion last night.
When the matter came up Mr.. Oliver
insisted on having the opinion of the
city solicitor read and then differed
with its author as to the correctness of
his legal conclusions. So did Mr.
Nealis, who said he could do for 500
the detective service for which Si77.7O
was charged. He said the city solici-
tors opinion was not good law and Mr.
Torrey knew it was not and had simply
given the opinion to "bull" the bill
through council, as the speaker ex-
pressed 1t. l, .I...F 4
During the debate on this matter Mr.
Nealis had a lively controversy with
President Grier and told him that he
proposed to have his rights on the
floor of the council chamber, and If the
president did not accord them as fair
minded gentleman should, he would
force him to do so. One Of the presi-
dents rulings evoked this passionate
outburst from Mr.. Nealis.
Action Is Postponed.
Mr.. Nealis moved that action on the
detective bill be indefinitely postponed
and that the city clerk be directed to
not draw the warrant. This was
amended by Mr.. Keller that the bill be
paid, which was lost by the following
vote:
Yeas-Morris, Grier Moir, Robinson,
Seamans, Keller.-6.
Nays-Loftus. Thomas, Gilroy, Wenzel,
Sweeney, Nealis, Oliver, Zeidler, Hickey,
Norton.-10.
The motion to indefinitely postpone
then came up and was carried by this
vote:
Yeas-Thomas, Gilroy, Wenzel, Sweeney.
Nealis, Oliver, Zeidler, Hickey, Norton.-9.
Nays-Loftus, Morris, Grer, Molr, Rob-
inson, Seamans. Keller.-7
Ordinances for purchasing land for
opening Wyoming avenue, between
Phelps and Ash streets, and for the
reconveyance to the estate of John r.
Davis of q lot purchased by the city
upon a tax sale, were reported fav-
orably from judiciary committee.
An adverse report was presented by
the Light and Water company on the
proposal of the Scranton Illuminating
Heat and Power company, to light city
buildings. Later the city clerk was d.
rected to advertise for bids. An or
dinance establishing grade on certain
portions of Ninth, Robinson, Jackson
streets and Nealis place, in the Four
teenth ward, was referred to committee
and the exoneration lists of w. ID.
Thomas and William Coughlin, collec-
tors Of the Thirteenth and Twsnty-first
wards respectively, were approved.
Fines for Thrcc Months.
The report of the chief of police for
the months Of March, April and May
was referred to the police committee.
It showed that the amount of the fines
collected for March was $246.5O; April,
1854; May, $335.5O.
Select councils action in passing res
olutions awarding to William p. Con-
nell & Sons the contract for changing
the heating system in the city hall for
1864 and to the Economy Light, Heat
and Power company the contract for
heating the city hall at $1,337 per year,
was approved. An ordinance for the
construction of a main sewer on WASH
ington avenue from Stafford Meadow
Brook to Beech street, which came over
from the select council, was referred to
sewers and drains committee and re-
ported favorably forthwith. Council
endorsed the recommendation of the
mayor, city solicitor and city engineer
that the claim of Stephen Jones for
land taken in the opening of Washing
ton street be settled for $2,2OO A reso-
luton for the opening of Wyoming
avenue, south Of Elm street, was re-
ferred to committee.
Resolutions That Wore Adopted.
The following resolutions were adopt
ed: Directing the city engineer to pre-
pare plans and an estimate Of cost for
the repradfnfy Of MvrfIa stroot hot,,,a,,,