The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-03
West SIDE BELT LINE.
1t Mas the Principal Item Of Busi-
ness in Select Council.
OLD.TIAE FRANCHISE NIGHT
Mr.. Lauer and Mr. Roche Dclve In
Ancient uistory-were Suspicious
Of the Amendmsnts Clear.
ing Up business.

No end Of discussion was provoked in
select council last night by the efforts
Of Messrs. Lauer and Lansing to amend
the resolutions granting franchise ON
Ninth street. between Lackawanna ave-
nue. and Swetland street to the Valley
Passenger Railway company. which
thoroughfare Is To be a part of the
route Of the proposed new belt line to
the West Side.
Mr. Lauer first offered an amendment
to include Swetland street from Ninth
TO Main in the franchise. In stating his
reasons for Offering this amendment he
explained that the Traction company
proposed to lay tracks on Swetland
street on the strength of the old cross
town franchise which he contended had
lapsed as far as that street was con-
cerned and II the company was al
lowed TO do this Ii would be an admiS-
sion on the part of the city that the
crosS-town franchise still held good,
which was thing not to be desired by
the city as the street car company
could then take possession of every
street in the city covered by an old
cross-town franchise.
| Mr.. Roche halted Mr. Lauer with the
remark that his history was faulty; it
was the Valley Passenger company
which had the franchise, and while II
| Is true that the franchise lapsed 1t was
revived by an ordinance about eighteen
months ago. Colonel Sanderson raised
the point that Mr.. Lauers resolution
would give both companies privilege to
| lay tracks and as there is scarcely room
for one track It would not be advisable
TO give the company chance to lay
two. which chance 1t might take advan-
tage Of The Valley Passenger ordin-
/ rand chnuipo hot NT,.
ancient history was correct whereupon
Mr.. I.auer withdrew his amendment
Next Mr.. Lauer introduced and had
passed a number Of amendments which
in fine provide that the proposed road
shall be completed and operated within
eight months instead of completed
within two years" as originally provid-
ed He also had the word Its" stricken
out Of the line which read "and shall
issue transfers to all its connecting and
intersecting lines" II being the belief
Of Mr. Lauer that the its" referred to
the Valley Passenger company's lines
and not all the lines of the Traction
company.
MIR. LANSING'S AMENDMENT.
The other West Side councilmen were
getting somewhat anxious about the
fate OF the resolution fearing that IL
might be amended to death or made 30
Objectionable to the Traction company
that 1t would not be acceptable to them,
when Mr. Lansing caused u cold chill
to run down their backs by Offering an
amendment compelling the company to
grade and pave the streets which il 1.
proposed to occupy
Mr.. Williams was on his feet in q SEQ
and with the remark that 1t seemed to
MIN that the central city councilmen
wanted to kill the resolution and de
pr1Ve the West Side of decent street
car service. He said II was unfair to
ask the street car company to pave
the whole OF the street as it was build
Ing this line at the request of the West
Side board OF trade. Mr.. Mccain
thought likewise and Mr.. Roche added
that the question Of paving had been
agreed upon, 1t being the intention of
the Fourteenth ward councimen to give
half the ward appropriation to macad-
amize the streets. the Traction COM
pany paying the balance.
Mr.. Lansing explained that he had
no intention Of doing anything to kill
or impede the progress Of the resolu-
ton. He firmly believed that the Trac-
tion company was In all fairness bound
to pave the street, as it Is narrow
street and by placing its tracks there it
will make it almost impossible. unless
1t Is paved. A ballot was then taken
on the amendment to force the COM
pany to pave and 1t was lost by vote
of 13 nays to 8 ayes. The resolution
was then approved.
THE FROTHINGHAM PORTICO.
Street Commissioner Kinsley COM
municated to council his action In the
rockingham porticO matter. and asked
for instructions as to what he should
do. BY resolution introduced by Mr.
Chittenden he was directed to arrest
MIR. rockingham and have him fined
three times. and If he then continues tc
maintain the nuisance, tear down the
pOrtico and sue Mr.. rockingham 70,
the expense.
Mr.. Clark came in with q resolution
directing the proper fiscal officers OF
the city to draw warrant in the sum
of $2OS.06 In favor of Police Officer r.
V. Lewis to reimburse him for the time
he was suspended from the police force
pending the investigation into the
Lewis Gleason fracas. There was j
general howl against the resolution
and Notwithstanding Mr.. Clark's con.
tention that 1t was a parallel to tn,
Mills case. the resolution was referred
to the judiciary committee, which
means that 1t will not in all probability
be heard from again this fiscal year.
The joint streets and bridges com.
mttee, which had In hand the investi.
cation of Muldoon 4 Bowe's claim fol
extra work on the bridges brought il