The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-07
HAS SET THEM Thinking
Councilmen Aghast at an Opinion by
City Solicitor Torrey.
A GREAT MUNICIPAL CHANGE
According to MIR. Torrcy, tho City Coun'
ellis Have No Need OF IN Auditing
Committee While We Havc
City Controller.


from the city councils came up at the
meeting Of select council last night.
In the months of October. November
and December of 1894 a bill Of $477.7O
was presented to councils by Mayor
Connell for detective services. Coun-
ellis refused to pay the bill and last
night an opinion on the matter was re-
ceived from City Solicitor Torrey.
The city solicitor takes the view that
the city clerk Is the one empowered to
draw warrants as soon as bills are sent
in approved by the heads of depart
ments, without and not requiring the
consent or approval of the auditing
committee. If there is anything wrong
with the bills the city controller is the
proper person when the warrant
reaches him for countersgnature to
investigate and find out the defect.
Following out the advice laid down
in the opinion City Clerk Lavelle. at
the instruction of the mayor, drew
warrant for the detective bill.
The city clerk read communication
from himself stating that fact to coun-
ellis and giving also the written opinion
of the city solicitor. The opinion is
long one. but the paragraph in which
the whole matter Is summed up Is as
follows:
City Solicitor Torrcv's Opinion.
"It has seemed to me ever since be-
came familiar with the operation Of
the city government, that as to all ap-
propriations made directly to depart
ments, 1t would be much simpler less
confusing and more conducive to regu-
larity, and more convenient for persons
having claims against the city, If war
rants went directly from the heads Of
departments to the controller. More
over, the practice of passing bills
through the auditing committee and
councils has a tendency to weaken the
feeling of responsibility which ought to
rest upon the controller to thoroughly
investigate every claim against the
city, and there is liability to the feel
ing that the bills having already been
investigated and passed upon, they may
be approved or countersigned without
much examination.
"The law very carefully places the
entire weight of responsibility for all
this upon the controller, and furnishes
him with the power to examine wit
nesses and makes him and his bonds
men responsible for the proper dis
charge of the duties, none of which
statements are true of the councils or
their committees"
Mayor Connell also sent a communi-
cation and asked under the opinion to
have a warrant drawn for the payment
of the bill. The opinion of the city So
licitor, If adopted, will virtually do
away with the auditing committee.
The opinion was referred to the judici-
ary committee after short debate.
and on motion of Mr. Lansing a war;
rant was ordered drawn for the amount
of the bill.
That Canavan Proposition Again.
It was agreed to accept the PROPOSE
ton of Stephen Jones, who agrees to
accept s., 200 for his claim against the
city. A letter was read from John p.
Canavan, of New York. renewing the
proposition to sell to the city eighteen
and three4fourths acres of land adjoin-
ing Nay Aug park for the sum of S2G,-
100. Mr.. McCann introduced an ordi-
nance permitting the Peoples Street
Railway company of Luzerne county to
move it's street car tracks from the side
of Robinson street to the center of the
street. The ordinance was referred to
committee with instructions to return
1t printed If a favorable report be made
upon 1t.
File of select council No IA, which
Is the ordinance creating a board of
public works and enlarging and regu-
lating the powers of the street COM
missioner, was reported favorably last
night by Mr.. Chittenden, chairman of
the streets and bridges committee. The
full text Of the provisions of the ordi-
nance were given in The Tribune two
weeks ago, when 1t was reported by Mr..
Chittenden and sent back to the COM
mittee to have 1t printed after shearing
away all clauses that might be uncon-
stitutional The ordinance passed first
and second readings with q minor
amendment by Mr.. Chittenden.
An ordinance on third reading passed
for the purchase of land for opening
of wyoming avenue between Phelps
to Ash streets. The land was ordered
purchased from ]. E. Swift and Brid-
passed on final reading were: For the
reconveyance of lot in the Fourth ward
sold as the property of Charlotte Bor-
sci, to the estate of John r. Davis;
providing for the construction of
main sewer on Washington avenue
from Stafford Meadow Brook in
northeasterly direction to Beech street:
and providing for the placing of
heater in the Franklin Engine house.
Contract for Furnishing Hose.
Mr.. Durr, chairman of the fire depart
ment committee, reported favorably
the resolution passed by common coun-
ell awarding the contract for furnish
ing hose to the fire department as fol-
lows: To the Gutta Percha and Rub
Der Manufacturing company, 200 feet of
3-ply, 2k-inch hose; to the Eureka Fire
Hose company. 40 feet of Paragon
Brand 2h-inch hose. The resolution
passed and the contract contained
therein were awarded.
A number Of dog tax generations
and the following resolutions were
passed: Directing the chief engineer
to erect two fire hydrants. one at Re-
becca avenue and Washburn street, the
other at Van Buren, avenue and WASH
burn street; requesting the city soli-
citor to present written opinion
as to whether the exemption of
occupation tax of volunteer fremen
applies to paid members Of the fire de-
partment and salaried officers of the
city; providing for awarding the con-
tract for laying sidewalks on certain