The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-03
Granted THE FRANCHISE
Interstate Telephone Company Meas
ure Passes Common Council.
COMPANY MUST GIVE BONDS
An Important Amendment Compels the
Company to Establish Its Business
Within Six Months - Business
Transacted in the Select Branch.

Each branch of council met last
night.
In common council the Interstate
Telephone company franchise resolu-
tion was passed with important COM
mlttee amendments. The measure was
reported favorably by Chairman God
frey, of the judiciary committee. The
committee stipulated the following
amendments:
That within six months after being
granted the franchise the company
snail have It's plant and lines built and
be prepared to furnish service to at
least 300 subscribers; that not more
than two telephones shall be attached
to each line; that the maximum rate of
rental shall be $50, and that bond OF
SloO0o by two approved sureties shall
be filed to bind the company to comply
with the provisions of the franchise.
Mr.. Oliver moved that the report be
adopted and Mr.. Gilroy moved to post
pone action one week, the latter motion
being lost by a vote of 10 and s.
Had Another Amendment.
another amendment obliging the Inter
state company to furnish the city Off
GERS and police and fire departments
with service and to establish a maxi
mum rate Of $50 for residence service
and $SS for business service. The offer
was not recognized, and the original
motion to adopt was carried. The meas
ure VIII go to the next meeting of the
select branch for concurrence.
A resolution was adopted in each
branch directing the city solicitor to
settle the jackson Merryweather claim
against the city. Decisions against the
city have been made in three separate
trials in court.
An ordinance, introduced by Mr..
Zeidler and prohibiting the sale Of
goods by auctioneers without license,
was referred to committee.
Mr. Keller introduced an ordinance
for the grading of Webster avenue,
between Mulberry and Vine streets.
MI Morris introduced a duplicate
fender ordinance. The original was
not reported by committee.
The Penn avenue paving ordinance
In the Select Branch.
Mr.. Lauer introduced resolution
which was adopted and which is sub
stah,ially as follows: Whereas, the
newspapers have reported the ex-
change by the sinking fund commits
sicners of $4,000 of AZ per cent. city
ponds FOR $4,000 of 6 per cents; and.
whereas it is the duty of councils TO
Keep advised of such transactions. It is
resolved that the city controller is di-
rected to submit to councils a state
ment showing the details of the bond
exchange.
Members Roche, Chittenden and
Williams We're appointed a special COM
mlttee to investigate the account of
Richard Thomas, delinquent tax col
lector for the years 1873, 1879 and 1880.
a report of the taxes committee indi-
Gated that according to the books Of
the controllers department Mr.
Thomas Is several hundred dollars in
debted to the city, while Mr.. Thomas
has receipts to the amount of about
SSOO more than he Is credited with on
the books of the treasurer's depart-
ment. 1t was upon Mr. Roche's sug-
gestion that the special committee was
appointed.
Appointments by the Mayor.
The following appointments by the
mayor were confirmed: John ]. Evans
to be inspector of sewer contract work
in the Fifth district; w. j. Shiffer to
be inspector of the Franklin avenue
paving contract. Appointments were
were referred to committee as follows
Thomas H. Phillips to be supernten-
dent and Patrick Mcmahon to he po-
liceman Of Nay Aug park; T. II. Jones
to be inspector of sewer contract work
in Section Il of the Thirteenth district.
The city solicitors bond, furnished
by James l. Blair, Alfred Hand and
James Fl. Torrey was approved.
The board of trades resolution re-
questing that appropriations for street
repairs be placed in charge of the street
commissioner instead of the councilmen,
as at present, and which had passed