The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-13

Each branch of councils met last
night, and in the common body the
meeting developed several measures of
Importance and one period of iiNclincsS
The latter was i'm connection with the
award of contracts for furnishing coal
for the fire company quarters and pu-
lice stations. Every coinmuner was in
his seat.
Contrary to expectations the fire de-
partment committee made no report
on the resolution of select council
awarding the coal contract 10 James
kearney. His bid was $3.50 cents per
ton for egg, chestnut and stove coal
and SLIGO for pea coal. The bids u
Devine x Mcclure were $50 Tor egg,
chestnut and stove coal, $l.6S for pea
coal and go cents for buckwheat. The
select council resolution was adopted
last week but since then their had
been considerable lobbying in the in
terest of Devine 4 Mcclure.
Mr.. Seamans, of the Thirteenth.
urged some kind Of q report from the
committee and suggested that while it
was being prepared, IA recess be taken.
Chairman Noone and Mr.. Moir of the
committee. pleaded time hut report
was requested. The committee retired
and We're absent about fifteen minutes,
sounds of loud argument coming in the
interim from the retiring room. Mr..
Zeidler, who had been requested by
President Grier to occupy the chair.
had his troubles in trying tn keep order
in the council chamber during the com
mittees wransle.
TWO REPORTS PRESENTED.
Members Moir. Wenzel and Thomas.
of the committee, finally appeared with
majority report approving select
councils resolution and the kearney
bid: Chairman Noone and Mr.. Gordon
presented minority report faroring
the bid of Devine & Mcguire.
Mr. Seamans made motion. second
ed by Mr. Keller that the majority re-
port be adopted and Mr.. Grier motion
that the minority report be adopted.
Mr.. Keller and MIR. Grier each claimed
the privileges of the floor. The minor
ity motion was put and lost by the
same vote which carried the majority
motion as follows:
Ayes-s. Thomas. Reagan, Gilroy. Flan-
aghan Moir, Wenzel. =. Wirth. Sweeney
seamans, Nealis., Oliver. Zeidler, Keller
Nays-Loftus. Gordon, X. Thomas,
Noone. McGra.l Grier: total. i.
During the progress of the parlia-
mentary fight. Mr.. Grier was most ac-
tive in advocating the cause of the
minorityites. but failed to convince
tHt IltH tildt ttt i'NN IN
Mcclure bids We're. in substance. as
low as the one of kearney.
Mr. Oliver revived his Lackawanna
avenue viaduct ordinance which last
year was presented in the select
branch. 1t appeared In its Identical
FORM was read and. on motion of its
father. referred without debate. to the
committee on streets and bridges.
INCREASE OF DEBT.
The ordinance provides for 'increas-
ing the city debt for the purpose OF
procuring land for. and constructing Il
viaduct parallel with West Lackawan-
ma avenue from Seventh street to Ninth
street, and submitting the question of
such increase to Il vote of the electors
thereof" The ordinance indicates that
the properties contiguous to the south
erly side of the avenue are to De used
and that the city issue bonds to the
amount of Sl50,OoO to cover the cost.
The proposition of William Streator
and Norman Leech, two influential
farmers, to provide for $1,000 an alter
native turnpike to South Abingdon was
thought To have disappeared in an or
dinancc covering the matter and which
was referred several weeks ago to COM
mittee. The ordinance was reported
favoraby last night and passed two
readings but with an amendment sug-
gested by the city solicitor. The
amendment stipulates that before
payment of the 81 800 by the city the
work shall have been passed upon by
the street commissioners, and that the
city solicitor shall have certified that
the property has been properly dedi-
Gated to the city.
Mr.. Nealis introduced a resolution.
which was passed, reminding the clerks
of councils that they should enforce
the rule which provides that papers on
passage shall not >a)e taken from the
committee boxes or from the posses
sion of the clerks, except for the pur-
pose Of immediate examination. Mr..
Nealis explained that the measure was
no criticism of the clerks but was for
the purpose OF abolishing a custom
that had caused annoyance and trouble
because of the absence of current pa
pers when they were most wanted.
Before adjournment number of
measures of minor Importance passed
third and first and second readings.