The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-17
AFTER The COLLECTORS
Mr.. Gibbons Doesn't Like the Peaalty
Business.
SAYS THERE IS BULLDOzING
No Also Mskes . Streng and Eloquent
Plea for . Homeless Old Man Who
Would Not Retract Charges-Ap.
p!icatiOns for Relief.

John Gibbons Is after the tax collec.
tors with sharp stick. At the poor
board meeting yesterday he questioned
the legality of adding the $1.12 penalty
TO poor tax and asked the attorney Of
the board. John +. Scragg. for an opin.
lon on the matter. to be submitted at
the next meeting.
Mr.. Gibbons expressed the opinion
that the tax was illegal and at all
events the tax collector should not get
II. The poor board, the people say, has
been party to this kind Of robbery
long enough. lf poor man neglects
or Is unable to pay tax of 90 cents or
50, the collectors puts a penalty of S1.12
on this tax, 60 cents of which goes to
the collector, 40 cents to the deputy
collector, and cents to the alderman
anu the other cents goes for blanks,
etc. This. Mr.. Gibbons thought, en-
couraged collectors not to push the col
lections until after the limit of time
has elapsed, In order that they may
put on the penalty. They also bulldoze
poor people by threatening to send
them to the county jail II they do not
pay the penalty.
The other members OF the board did
not take kindly to Mr.. Gibbons views,
but, however, agreed to submit the
matter to the attorney of the board.
t"uscu u Lively Dcbute.
A case which caused some acrlmoni-
Gus debate between Mr.. Gibbons on the
one side and Mr.. Shotten and Mrs.
Swan on the other, was that of WILL
lam Fitzgerald, an old pensioncr OF the
British government who left the poor
farm five years ago owing to falling
out with Superintendent G. W. Beemer
and who now seeks to be returned
there. Fitzgerald, when a former in
mate OF the poor farm, was in the
X habit or coming TO Scranton to spend
the measley pittance OF 81 month
which the British government allows
him for having been wounded while in
the service of her gracious majesty.
On one of these occasions, while In his
cups, he made sensational charges
against Superintendent Beemer, and
when 1t came to the ears OF the poo
board authorities an investigation wa.
held. Superintendent Beemer was ex
onerated and Fitzgerald did not re
turn to the home. Since that time h,
has been wandering about. sleeping
wherever he could find a place TO resi-
| his head. In the summer time he has
| led hermits life at Gravel pond. H,
Is 65 years Of age and a cripple.
When 1t was apparent that the board
| was not disposed to give any relief to
one who had abused their charity, Mr..
Gibbons became eloquent in the cause
of the aged. crippled old soldier say
ing that even though the old fellow
had had some trouble with the officers
at the home it would be inhuman TO re-
fuse him a shelter and turn him adrift
| to die.
He Would Not Rctract.
| Mrs. Swan wanted to know II Fitz-
| gerald had ever retracted his vilNfca-
ton of Mr.. Beemer. Mr.. Gibbons re-
sponded that he had only that day
asked Fitzgerald to make a retraction,
| but the old man, while expressing re-
gret for his utterances, said he could
not retract them.
When there was still no disposition
to assist Fitzgerald, Mr.. Gibbons be-
came highly indignant. and turning to
his 'old friend" as he addressed him.
said: Go down TO Judge Archibald
and he will send you to the home in
spite of the board. He appoints this
great power that would turn you into
the streets, and he can send You TO the
home without consulting US"
Mr. Shotten was not in favor of being
overly indignant to the unappreciatlve
Fitzgerald, but finally agreed. as did
the others, TO admit him to the poor
| farm If he secured an order of relief by
| due process of law.
| Go ahead. old man, and see an ale
derman. and If you don't get an order
I'll send you up anyhow said the ag-
gressive Mr.. Gibbons. and Fitzgerald,
| the cause of all the trouble. hobbled
out of the room.
| There We're an unusually large num-
Der of applicants for relief. and six Of
the female suppliaMts were women
whose husbands had deserted them.