The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-02-07
MEETING OF COUNCILNEN !
Considerable Important Business Was
Considered Last Night.
THE BOND CONTRACT IS DROPPED
Council Prepares to Amend the Ordinance
Providing For the Issue so That
Four Per Cent Bonds without
Premium May be Given.

A regular meeting of the Borough Council
was held last evening with good attendance
of members and considerable business was
transacted within short time. 1t was quite
late when the meeting opened, owing to the
arc light in the room refusing to work, and
the Councilmen preferred to wait until it
could be put in operation rather than strain
their eyes under the solitary 3-candle power
incandescent that does service over the desk
of the Chief of Police
Messrs. Welsh, j. j. Reilly and p. j. Mul-
holland appeared and asked that permission
be granted the National Social Club to hold
monthly athletic exhibitions in Ferguson's
theatre in order that the club may raise
funds to help it erect building of its own.
The request was granted.
Jesse b. Davis ,,gain appeared and asked
that Council do something to abate the
nuisance caused by water backing over
properties on East Lloyd street from the
creek that is being filed with coal dirt
Mr.. Davis said the water was also flowing
over public highways and he believed that
Council could gain more by proceeding
against the p. & r. c. & |. Co. than indiyid-
uals could.
Councilman Boehm said that the sanitary
committee understood the matter thorough
ly, but under advice from the Borough
Solicitor the committee has no power to act.
Borough Solicitor Pomeroy stated that
from what he had learned of the case the
| borough had no authority in the case. If
the creek overlowed by reason of any OBJ
struction on any of the public roads it might
be responsible; but if the flooding is due to
an accumulation of coal dirt in the creek the
] DANA Ia, ,tl,,
quarters. 1t is private property.
In the absence of Councilman r. J. James
chairman of the Finance Committee. Presi.
dent Mcclure stated that Gay x Co.. the
Philadelphia bankers, had backed out of
their contract to take up the refunding bonds
This led to n discussion as to how the bonds
| should be disposed of and several Council
men and the Borough Treasurer said the
bonds could be readily disposed of mt per
cent. Mr.. Scanlan, the Tax Receiver, stated
that an official Of one Of the local banks had
informed him that the institution would
take the whole issue, but the rate of interest
was not specified. Mr.. Pomeroy called
attention to the clause in the ordinance
giving the old bondholders first choice ON
equal terms. The matter was disposed of by
Councilman Straughn's motion that an
amended ordinance providing for the issuance
. OF the bonds at per cent, be prepared for
presentation to Council next Tuesday evening.
Owing to the balance in the treasury not
being sufficient for the purpose, all bills ON
the secretary's table were laid over until the
next meeting.
Fire Marshal John LeaIy recommended
that 600 feet of hose be purchased and that
the hose carriage of the Columbia Company
be repaired. Councilman Reese said the
carriage was so much in need of repair that
it was a question as to whether or not it
would be cheaper to buy new one.
Councilman d. R. James, Of the Lamp and
/ Watch Committee made report ON the
complaint of William Usal against Policemen
! TOsh and Lee At the last meeting of Coun-
ell Usal appeared with DR.. Bordner and
complained that while ON his way to the
dentists office with his wife he was arrested
and fined ON charge of being a party to a
disturbance at u wedding. Usal alleged
| that he had nothing whatever to do with the
disturbance and wanted the fine and costs
refunded.
From the report made by Councilman
James ii appeared that USal was arrested for
indecent exposure of his person and the
officers arrested him at Il place to which resi-
dents of the vicinity had repeatedly called
were watching and caught Usal at II o'clock
at night. Usal's wife was with him and
confirmed his story that he was on the way
to the dentists office when the arrest was
made, although she admitted it was II
o'clock at night. The evidence brought in
nothing about wedding. The report re-
commended that the action of the police be
sustained
Councilman Straughn stated that the law
committee had investigated the claim of
John T. Lee for SIS damages to his wagon,
sustained by his horse having been frightened
/ by hog roaming on West Centre street and.
after consultation with the Borough Solici-
/ tor, had concluded to make no recommends
ton.
Borough Solicitor PomerOy supplemented
| the report with a statement to the effect that
/ the borough was not liable The direct cause
of the accident was a hog and, while there
/ is an ordinance against hogs roaming at large
on the streets it is merely a police regula-
tiOn and the borough is no more responsible
than 1t would be if person was struck by a
base ball while boys were playing ON street
or Knocked down by a cOasting sled. If the
damage had been caused by any defect in the
street the case would be different. The
borough prohibits by ordinance stray hogs on
the street and was not responsible for the
action of the hog in Mr. Lees case, nor had
it notice that the hog was roaming
The Sanitary Committee has not succeeded
in securing new site for dumping ground,
but is negotiating with the p. & X. G. & |.
Co.'s land department.
Councilman Gable reported that the water
committee recommended that the borough
supply water for all the schools, except the
one ON Main street, free of cost, the School
Board to bear the expense of making connec-
tions. The recommendation was adopted.
The water committee and superintendent
reported that the water works are in good
condition and working nicely. The committee
was instructed to consider the claim OF
William McAdam of S629,5O for extra sen,
vices and report ut the next meeting.
claim Of Christ Schmidt for s. for damage