The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19

Loaded for Bear and Business.
Short but Busy Session Of the
Lower Branch.
One of the most important meetings
that select council has held in many
day was that of last night. The Citi-
zens' Street railway ordinance was
killed, John Fitzsimmohs' appointment
to become captain of police was ad-
versely treated, the Dunn paving con-
tract was taken up from where court
had pinioned 1t and received such treat
ment as to make its friends fear for its
welfare. ex-Patrolman T. v. Lewis
claim for wages during his suspension
was ignored and a whole lot Of other
important matters We're dealt with.
The biggest surprise Of the evening
was the killing of the Citizens railway
franchise without voice being raised
against the slaughter If we except the
father of the measure, Mr.. Finn, who
half-heartedly cast the single ballot
that prevented its death being recorded
as unanimously agreed to.
The railway committee, to which the
ordinance was referred for investiga-
ton, spent Tuesday In going over the
conflicting routes under the pilotage of
the Traction company and on Wednes-
day evening got together for about fif-
teen minutes and glanced over a paper,
typewriter, and faultless as regards
grammar and punctuation, to which
the following report as presented last
night bears a remarkable resemblance:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
To the Select Council:
Your committee to whom was referred
the annexed ordinance, beg to report ad-
versely upon it for the following reasons:
First-The company would not be au-
thorized to build any part Of it's road until
| it obtained the consent of Dunmore bor-
Ough. To pass this ordinance now, would
tie our hands completely as to all these
| streets, until such time as DunmOre bor-
| oush should choose to act 1t would be 4
clear case of the tail wagging the dog.
| Second-Many of the streets or portions
of them proposed to be occupied by this
| company, are already occupied or author
| lied to be occupied Ivy other companies.
We do not understand that the law allows
us to authorize two companies to lay
| tracks on the same street.
Third-This ordinance provides that the
| company will use $500 feet of the track
Of other companies on Lackawanna and
Franklin avenues. This exhausts their
power to use other tracks than their own,
| but under this ordinance they propose TO
| occupy other streets on which there are
already tracks laid down. To do this they
must either build another track, or use
the track of the other company after hav-
ing already used their limit Of $500 feet in
other places. AS we understand 1t, either
| Of these would be illegal.
! Fourth-As. the privileges asked for in
| this ordinance seem to involve a violation
of law we think the legal rights of the
company should be settled before the city
acts. The company should present an or
dinance that on the face of 1t at least does
not appear to be violation Of law.
| Fifth-We do not think We should sur
render control of these streets to await the
pleasure of the borough of Dunmore, or
during protracted litigation in the courts
1t will be time enough for the city to act
after these other questions are settled.
| Sixth--Cn many streets rights for double
track are asked where already one track is
laid. We do not think that there should be
three tracks on any street, even II II
| snOuld, be legal, which 1t is noe. For In.
stance! on Spruce street, from Washing
| ton avenue to Adams avenue; on Roaring
Brook bridge approach and the bridg,
to Pittston avenue from River stree,
to Hickory; on Adams avenue, Mat.
tes street to Cedar avenue from
from Lackawanna avenue to River
| street; on Swetland street from Chest.
nut to Ninth street; on Gibson street
from Washington avenue to Adams
avenue; on Washington avenue from Glib.
son street to Ash street; on Green Ridge
street from Washington avenue to Wyo
ming avenue. Respectfully yours.
ii. T. Fellows, Chairman.
THEY DID NOT SIGN 1T.
The other members of the committee
Messrs. Robinson. Ross. Schroeder an(
Burns. did not attach their signature!
to the report but by their consent to 1t.
death evidenced their stand in the mat
ter. 1t was on motion by Mr.. Durr
seconded by Mr.. Manley, that the repor
was adopted.
AS announced in yesterdays Tribun,
the Republicans caucused before tn,
nesting to decide finally what actor
they would take regarding the appoint
ment of John Fitzsimmons to succeed
Joseph Taylor as patrolman and t,
eventually become captain of police
They agreed to a man not to vote fo
confirmation and when the nomination
came from the police committee tn
Republican ten were found solidly ar
rayed against it.
The matter was disposed of in shor
order and without any discussion. !
majority of the committee, Messrs. Finn
Chittenden and Wagner handed in al
adverse report and Messrs. Coyne an,
McAndrew. the Democratic members o
; the committee presented minority rec
ommendation that the appointment
, confirmed. Mr.. Coyne moved the adop
tion Of the minority report and 1t wa
( lost on a tie vote:
| Ayes--Kearney, Clarke Roche, Robin
/ son, Manley, Mccain, Burns, Frablt
) Coyne, McAndrew-1O.
, Nays-Ross, Finn. Thomas, William.
e Durr, Chittenden, Wagner, Sandersor
, Fellows. Schroeder-10.
r After the result was announced TIL
greater part of the large crowd whic
filed the spectators reservations file
out, sadly. showing that the appoint
ment was the most interesting to thei
. of the many interesting matters whic
Z came up last night.
! CALL UP FOR RECONSIDERATION
Later in the evening Mr.. Chittendel
forgetful of the fact that action o
an appintment can not be reconsideret
called up the Fitzsimmons nominatio