The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-04

Select council had a wrestling match
last night with the case of William I.
Sproats, the deposed permanent man
of the Franklin Fire Engine company,
and after a close fight the result was
in favor of the removal of SprOats by
Mayor Bailey. Coupcilman Wagner
was in the chair in Colonel SandersOn's 3
absence.
On November 10 the mayor submitted
to the fire department committee Of
councils charges against Mr.. Sproats
of sufficient nature in the mayors judg-
ment to cause his removal. The
charges consisted of continued absence
from duty, abuse of his horses, insub-
ordination, and his own admission that
there could never be harmony In the
company while he is member.
Under the head of reports of COM
sented report from the fire depart
ment committee bearing upon the case
which read as follows:
AGREES WITH THE MAYOR.
Your committee on fire department to
whom was referred the communication
of the mayor in regard to the removal of
William 4. Sproats, permanent man for
cause beg leave to report that We have
investigated the charges preferred against
Nh. Sproats and believe them to be true.
We also believe that it would be a detri-
m.nt to the Franklin Engine company
and a tendency to create disorder and
confusion in the department 10 retain him
as permanent man for said Franklin COM
pany. We therefore recommend the ap-
proval of the mayors action in removing
said Sproats and that said removal date
from the approval of this report. Signed,
Ii. y. Fellows, Edwin Frable and W. NJ.
Finn.
a minority report was presented and
it read as follows:
In the matter of investigating charges
against William IT, Sproats for direliction
of duty as permanent man of the Frank
lin Engine company, we respectfully re-
port that after having heard the allega-
tions and evidence we find nothing therein
that would warrant the removal OF MI
Sproats. We believe that he Is efficient
and willing In the performance of his duty
and that there is no reason whatever for
his removal. We therefore recommend
that he be retained In said position as
permanent man and that the mayor be re.
quested to reinstate him. Signed, Fred
Durr and NJ. J. Burns.
Mr. Manly moved that the majority
report be adopted. Mr. Lansing raised
the point of order that the minority
report should be first considered, and
Chairman Wagner ruled the point well
taken. Mr.. COyne wanted to know
something about the charges against
SprOats. Mr.. Chittenden moved that
action on the matter be deferred until
next meeting to give Mr.. Coyne and
other cOuncilmen who desired, chance
to look up the evidence in the case.
This motion was lost on tie vote.
MAJORITY REPORT SUSTAINED.
The roll was called on the adoption
nf mi, nj nd
was lost by the following vote OF II
to 8: Ayes. Thomas. Williams, Roche,
Durr, Wagner, Schroeder. Lansing.
Burns. Coyne, 3: nays, Ross, Finn,
kearney, Clark. Chttenden, Robinson,
Manley, McCann. Fellows, Frable, Nc
Andrew, H. The vote on the majority
report was then taken and 1t was
adopted. IL to 3, the members voting
as on the minority report.
Mr.. Roche debated for few min
utes the point that the matter had not
come up properly He claimed 1t was
a matter for the chief of the fire de-
partment, the board Of engineers and
the chairmen of the fire department
committees to deal with. After the
case had been settled Mr. Durr intro
duced resolution providing for paying
Mr.. Sproats his salary for the month
of November. At recent meeting of
the Franklin company John r. Lowry
was unanimously chosen permanent
man of the Franklins, and he Is now
in charge until Mayor Bailey names
Sproats' successor.
Mr.. Roche introduced an ordinance
permitting the Central Pennsylvania
Telephone company to place all its
wires in the city underground. Mr..
Manley introduced the ordinance cre-
ating the Office Of plumbing inspector.
A communication was received from
Goldberg & Co., proprietors Of the
night lunch wagons, In which the firm
wanted to know II councils wouldn't
define the position of the city with re-
gard to lunch wagons; whether the dis
position Of councils is to look upon the
street cafe as nuisance or what. Gold
berg & Co. have eight wagons and they
have stands on private property for
four of these. 1t Is necessary for the
firm to know soon whether to expect to
be allowed to occupy the streets to
get further leases for the stands on pf-
vate property.
HIT THE LAWYERS.
Mr.. Chittenden made a motion to re-
fer the communication to the judiciary
and he added: II think the
city Ougnt 10 come 10 some UNDER
standing one way or another, and not
leave the question for the enrichment
of the law firms of the place."
Mr.. Coyne added that the base in
situation had gone out that not all Of
the money was believed to have gone
into the pockets of certain lawyers. but
it was suspected by some people that
the councilmen got slice of it.
A number of minor resolutions and
ordinances were introduced and re-
ferred to committee. Mayor Bailey
appointed John Mcnamara inspector
of the paving of Kressler court: and
he vetoed the resolution awarding the
contract for tagging and curbing Fig
street. between Prospect and Stone
avenues. to James McNally because the
ordinance on which the resolution was
drawn provides only for the setting of
curb and paving the cutters. The veto
was sustained.
Bids for constructing a stone arch
culvert over Leech creek on Bloom ave-
nue.. were read as follows: Peter r.
Mulligan, 1914: p J. Thornton. s79S: NJ.
]. Gibbons, sS25: NJ. A. Donahoe. $649.
They were referred to the proper COM
mittee with instructions to award the
contract to the lowest responsible