The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-09
Chief WAS TURNED DOWN
Common Council Takes Sides with
the Crystals.
WHOLE DAY OF DISCUSSION
Joint Fire Department Committees Reso'
luton Of the Afternoon Killed By Com.
mon Council Ia tho Evening Time
Extended for Collecting Taxes.


at its previous meeting. when 1t re-
fused to pass the ordinance providing
for the purchase OF the apparatus
owned by the company and in use In
the engine house.
Yesterday afternoon a meeting eX-
traordinary of the joint fire department
committees was held in Mayor Connelrs 8
office to take some action on the con-
duct Of the Crystals during the past
week. when they removed their per-
sonal belongings out of the house and
thereby greatly incapacitated them
selves for active service. AS result
Of this meeting the following resolution
was agreed upon:
Resolved, BY the common council the
select council concurring. and II Is hereby
resolved by authority Of the same. that
the chief engineer Of the fire department
be. and hereby Is instructed to notify the
Crystal Engine company to vacate its
house, the city being desirous Of obtaining
possession Of the premises. Be 1t further
Resolved. That the chief engineer Of the
fire department is instructed to appoint
two men to do fire service there until
such time as councils can make provision
py ordinance FOR the Increase.
Mr.. Robinson's idea.
Robert Robinson, chairman of the
common council fire department COM
mittee, was not of the same mind as his
colleagues and as a minority report
drew up the following:
The undersigned. a member Of the fire
department committee Of city councils Of
the city OF Scranton, Pa. begs leave to re-
port In the matter Of removing Of goods
and chattels from Crystal Hose company.
The said company gave notice to the
members Of city councils that they de.
sired to withdraw their interest in the
goods and chattels used by said company
and offered to sell them at a reasonable
price to the city. This they have a right
beyond dispute to do. The councils, after
ample deliberation, introduced an ordi-
nance providing for the purchase Of said
goods and the said ordinance was voted
down In common council without any ex-
PLANTATION saying why such action was
taken. thus casting q slur on the COM
pany. If the councils had informed the
company that no funds were available at
present and that 1t would be attended TO
when the next annual appropriations were
being made. the company would not have
been offended, and such hasty action
would not have been taken. As it stands
the councils are more to blame for its in
discretion than the company
The goods and chattels now having been
removed and that nothing can be said
against the efficiency of the company, and
that the said company has always been
reliable In service, I respectfully recon-
ma hot fha
be instructed to purchase such goods and
chattels as may be necessary for the use
of said company and athat no further no.
tice be taken Of this little difference of
opinion regarding their action or rights.
Under the head of reports of commit
tees Mr.. Robinson offered both the res
olution OF the committee and his own
minority report, but Chairman Grier
decided that they would have to await
until new business was under consider
alton before they could be brought up.
When this order was reached Mr.. Rob-
inson presented the joint committees
resolution, but before his minority re-
port could be put before the house the
majority resolution was killed by such
a decisive vote that he decided not to
introduce 1t at all. The ordinance pro-
viding for the purchase Of the Crystals
goods was called up by Mr.. Sweeney
after a motion had carried to recon-
slider the action of the previous meet
ing, and a lengthy discussion followed
the effort to pass it on third and final
reading.
From Many Staudpoints.
Mr.. Morris wanted to defer final ac-
ton on the ordinance until such time
as a committee could examine the goods
and decide whether or not they were
worth the price asked for them by the
company. Mr.. Sweeney believed that
the proper city officials. as provided by
the ordinance, were capable of deter
ming that question and fought for i'm
mediate consideration Of the measure.
Mr.. Zeidler, in whose ward the COM
pany Is located, spoke in favor OF refer
ring action for week or so, saying
that he believed that the Crystal COM
pany intended to have a meeting to
show their appreciation Of the councils
action, and felt assured that the city
would receive a favorable proposition
from them. "They are gentlemen"
said Mr.. Zeidler, land all they ask Is
to receive fair and gentlemanly treat
ment."
Captain Moir also asked that action
be postponed and this was finally
agreed upon. President Grier ap-
poin ted as a committee to examine the
Crystals paraphenalia, Messrs Lotus.
Moir and Robinson. At this juncture
Mr.. Sweeney suggested that the men,
bers of the Crystal company. with
whom the gallery was filed, should be
given a hearing, but owing to the late
ness of the hour, and the raft of busi-
ness to be gone through with, this sug-
gestion was not favorably received.
On motion Of p. ]. Nealis, the SWEET
land street approach to the Linden
street bridge passed third and hnai
reading, Messrs oliver and Seamans
being the only men to vote In the neg
ative.
Accompanying the auditing commit
tees report was an adverse recon-
mendation on the bill of $S2.23 Of Food
Inspector Richard Thomas for the care
and keeping of his horse. The negative
report was adopted. A resolution was
afterward adopted directing the city
clerk not to draw warrant for this
claim.
In response to the resolution directing
the street commissioner to ascertain
how many, II any, aliens were en-
ployed by contractors on city work, and
also how much they were paying la
bOrers, Mr.. Kinsley reported that he
had received no reports Of aliens being
employed and that the pay for laborers
ranged from $1,25 up.
MIR. Kinsley Has His Troubles.
Mr.. Nealis took exception to Mr..
Kinsleys communication, stating that
he had personal knowledge that reports
Of. aliens being employed had been re.
ceived by the street commissioner and
furthermore the pay In some cases was
r.. L.