Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-30

-of the
MOMENT.
Subjects IN Which, tile Citizens of
FIeeIa'ad and Surroundings
Are Interested at the
Present Time.

1t seems hardly amiss at this time to
| call attention to the necessity of some
improvements to the Public park for the
coming summer. Public sentiment de-
mands that this ground should be i'm
proved. The season of revenue from
the picnic ground will soon be at hand
| again, and if it is lawful that revenue
should be charged for the use of the
ground by citizens of the town, it would
seem only reasonable that the money
thus obtained should be expended on
improvements to the place. 1t may be
said that the picnic ground is not worth
the price charged for its use, and out
side OF that there is nothing in the park,
in its present state, that makes it of any
value to the public. The borough coun-
ell should take the matter up 1t is
something which admits of serious con-
sideration.
The auditors of Foster township, who.
u week ago completed their examination
OF the various officers accounts for the
last year, have been compelled to con-
tlnue the course of their predecessors in
surcharging the accounts of the SUPER
ViSors. In 1891 the two supervisors of
the township each charged 80 per dav
for their own services, So per day for
their own horses, and hired their minor
sons at Sl.50 per day, all of which was
contrary to the law. When the ac-
counts of the officers, containing these
figures, were presented to the auditors.
the latter refused to approve them, and
surcharged the wages of the supervisors
@5 per cent and refused to allow the
account of the minor sons at all.
t t t
This was course which the superyi-
Sors had not anticipated, and it is hardly
necessary to say that it reduced their
earnings for the year considerable.
They never admitted the correctness or
the lawfulness of the auditors stand.
and took the matter to court to have it
set aside and have their own figures re-
stored. However, their claims were
rejected, and they were compelled to
bear large expense incurred in the
prosecution of the matter, as well as
stand the reduction in their earnings.
/ t /
Yet, in the face of these circum-
stances, the supervisors of the succeed
ing years have repeatedly charged the
unlawful rate for their own services,
and have been repeatedly surcharged
by the auditors, and still the old game
goes on. There appears no difference
in the supervisors accounts year in and
year out, with the possible exception
that the late officers have not been
known to own horse. 1t would not be
surprising if the persistency of the super
visors would ultimately result in restor-
ing the old rates, as the little schemes
of eVading the law, however meagrelv
developed as yet, are nevertheless be-
ginning to crop out.
/ /
Freeland, as a patron of first-class
theatrical performances, established a
slight reputation through the few good
plays which were seen at the old opora
house, and it is gratifying to note that
TINS Is in fair way to be augmented by
the increased interest aroused in the
new playhouse. Thursday nights per-
tormance was good test of the desire
of the public to put the town on level
with our neighboring city in the theatri-
cal line, and it may be said to have been
fairly successful. With performances
such as this, it is not likely that much
trouble will be encountered in restoring
the enthusiasm for the stage which once
existed here.
whenever fire occurs in town there
is always some animated discussion
among business men in regard to the
unfortunate situation of real estate ON
account of the very unsatisfactory CON
ditions of insurance. 1t is hardly likely
that there is another town in Pennsyl-
Vanla where the insurance rates are so
high On Centre street the rate charged
is so enormous that many business men
are unable to keep up with it, and are
compelled to run the risk of total loss
in case of fire. In other parts of town.
"H'i' ''''i"i pipPci 1icS uTe OWneu Dy
one person, the owner can better afford
to have building burned down every
year, than to keep up the high insur-
ance. This is decidedly unjust condi-
tion, when the fire record of the town is
considered, and when the facilities for
lighting flames are compared with those
in other places.
/ /
In llazleton, where frame buildings.
as in Frecland, are the rule, and where
the water supply is not nearly so great
as it is in Freeand, and where fire appa-
ratus is little more than equal, thus put
ting the two towns about on par in the
matter of fire protection, the rates of in
surance are scarcely one-half of those
charged here. The large companies,
that are losing hundrpds of dollars n,