The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-15
Trouble Between the Assessors and
Board Of Appeals Get an Airing

Trouble Between the ASSESSORS u"e
Board Of Appeals Get an Airing.
Common council was made adjudi-
Gator, last night, In the contest be-
| tween the assessors and the board oil
appeals. City Clerk Lavelle's letter
setting forth the assessors refusal to
give up the furniture was read and
Assessors Jones and YoOs appeared to
give their side of the story.
The city clerk merely Informed coun-
ell that their resolution could not be
enforced, and asked further instrrc-
tions.
Mr.. Yoos argued that the assessors
needed the furniture. and Mr.. Jones
contended that councils could not leave
them unprovided for, as the new act
does not contemplate the abolition of
the board of assessors.
In answer to Mr.. Sweeney's question
as to what use the assessors had for
an office Mr. YOos replied that it was
necessary to have some place to meet
with the assistant assessors.
Mr. Oliver. Il member of the board of
appeals, at this juncture took occasion
to emphasize his contention that the
fight was not between the two boards.
but between the assessors and the
councils. Mir. Battle scored the board
of appeals for being the instiSators of
all the trouble, and accused them of
trying to upset the board of assessrs.
Then the real bone of contention was
thrown into the part by Mr.. Sweeney.
who introduced a resolution dispensing
with the services of the assessors clerk.
This was promptly laid on the table
on motion of Mr.. Robinson, the vote be-
ing to Z. Mr.. Oliver. at his own re-
quest, was excused from voting. Just
to show there was no hard feeling Mr..
Sweeney followed this up with an ordi-
nance fixing the salary of the assessors
at $4 a day for each day employed. in
stead of 81, 900 year, as now pre-
scribed, the ordinance to take effect
April l. The furniture matter was re-
ferred to he public buildings COM
mittee and salary ordinance was re-
ferred to the estimates committee, and
so the affair ended.
The question of opening up Iron
street to meet the projected free turn
pike from the city line to South Abing-
ton was referred to the streets and
bridges committee.
A communication was read from
Mayor Connell. City Controller Wild
mayer and City Solicitor Torrey. in
which they advised the acceptance of
the proposition Of Frank Shiffer to
settle his claim against the city upon
payment of $371.Sl. Shffer's attorney.
MI. IkilodCeS. tHpidlitu tlttt iiiS tiieiit
had q good claim for S6,607.73. but had
signed q release while insane. The
recommendation was adopted
A resolution, introduced by Mr..
Nealis, directs the controller to with
hold payment on the warrant of Y. @.
Rooms, the contractor who is building
the sewer in the Fourteenth ward, un-
til such time as the claims of his labor
ers are settled. This was adopted.
The property owners ION LuZerDe
street petitioncd to have the names of
Luzerne and Fellows streets reversed
as thev We're before the city engineer
changed them three years ago The
petition was favorably received.
There was a little flare-up at the
end of the meeting. Mr.. Robinson
wanted council to consider the resolu-
tion which Mr.. Manley introduced iii
select council and which had been sent
over for concurrence, but the chair
recognized Mr.. Zeidler. who called up
the ordinance providing for permansrt
men for the General Phinney and Nay
Aug Engine cOmnaries. Mr.. Robinson
picked uD his hat and overcoat and
left the room without asking to be 'eX-
cused, thereby breaking up the quorurn.
Chairman Grier became somewhat
wroth over this act of discourtesy
and then and there repealed the privi-
lege of skipping from one order of
business to the other and said that
hereafter business will go on in the
regular order as prescribed by the
rules. He also intimated that he
would prevent any member hereafter
from leaving the council chamber
without being excused.