The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-22
THE BOROUGH
COUNCIL MEETS
Lengthy and Important Meeting Held
Last Night.
DISCUSSIONS ON TAX DUPLICATES
Borough Solicitor Pomeroy Gives His opin-
ion on How Payments by the Tax Col
iector Shall be Applied n Warns
Council Against Designating
the Applications.

ieotor Shall be Applied and Warns
Council Against Designating
the Applications.
A lengthy session Of the Borough Council
was held last night, during which the mem
bers got into very spirited debates on several
important subjects, among them matters
bearing upon the FIRE department and the
public water works. The Councilmen in at
tendance at the meeting were Messrs. II. j.
James, Straughn, Boehm, Gable, Reese. d. r.
James, Hand, Mcclure, Coakley, Murphy,
Lally, Englert, Magargle and Schoppe.
Roads and highways were first considered
and Mr.. Boehm stated that during the past
week he had looked into the telephone
matter with the result that the Pennsylvania
Telephone Company gives assurances that
the borough officials may use the telephone
service to any part Of the county, at any
time, free of charge, provided the use is for
business connected with the borough.
When the reports of the finance committee
were called for Mr.. Straughn stated that the
committee had consulted with the Borough
Solicitor in reference to the settlement on
the 1894 duplicate aud the generations al
lowed by the County Commissioners to the
oAtohu VI Fou uh IoNuC6u Valuations ana mad
been advised that there was no reason why
the reduction should not be accepted by
Council in making settlement with Tax Col
lector Scanlan.
President James said he didn't think it
was right for reductions in valuations to be
made two or three years after taxes should
have been collected. Solicitor Pomeroy re-
piled that he would not say the Commits
sioners could legally do it, but if the borough
should refuse to make the allowance and a
suit should follow the Tax Collector might
make the claim that the demands were eE
cessive and show the reductions made by the
County Commissioner to prove it.
The Solicitor was then asked for his opinion
on the request Of Tax Collector Seaman to
have moneys collected in 1895 and 1896 to the
payment Of his 1894 duplicate. The Solicitor
said when the Tax Collector makes pay
ment to the Borough Treasurer he should
designate to the Treasurer upon which dupli-
cate he desires the money to be applied and
it should be so credited and if he does not
so designate, the Treasurer may credit the
payment as he sees proper. l don't think
the Council would have any power to in
struct, direct, or expressly grant permission
to the collector to apply the proceeds of the
1895 duplicate to the 1894 duplicate. That
should not be brought before Council"
The subject led to considerable discussion
in which it appears that if money collected
in 1895 and 1896 should be applied to the
payment of the 1894 duplicate and subse-
quently Council should proceed against the
bOndsmen for 1895 and 1895 to collect a bal
ance, those bondsmen might escape liability
by claiming that the money which should
have been applied to the payment of their
] duDlipntn had bnpu uea6 10 o,ofba- -,
debtness, and with the 1894 duplicate settled
the borough would be left without means to
collect the balance. The question is a vital
one, as a big balance is due the borough. If
it is to be considered that the 1894 duplicate
is settled, there is a credit of only about
So 200 on the duplicates of 1895 and 1895.
The matter was finally disposed Of by a
motion by Mr.. Sable to return the matter
back to the finance committee with ~instruc-
tions to ascertain from Mr.. Scanlan whether
the money he has collected is applied as
being paid as part money of 1894 duplicate,
was carried.
Mr.. Reese, of the fire apparatus committee,
then cast a little bomb that precipitated a
lively dicussion. After stating that the new
fire alarm boxes had been received and placed
Mr.. Reese said the fire trustees and fire
apparatus committee had met aud re-or-
ganized, but the full fire department did not
respond. The Phoenix representatives were
not present, and we didn't know why. The
matter was finally disposed of by a motion by
Mr.. Lally that the matter be laid over and
the chairman of the committee make another
effort to fully organize the fire department.
D.. r, James reported that the room and
stationary committee had made estimates on
fixing up the Council chamber and found that
individual desks and seats for the Council
men, linoleum, wall paper, slush tanks, etc,
would cost $50. No action was taken.
The claim Of A. ]. Womelsdorf for 5000
for making surveys, maps, etc, in connection
with the public water works was discussed
and the law committee was instructed to see
what settlement can be made and report at
the next meeting.
Mr.. Boehm stated that the superintendent
of the Schuylkin Traction Company had in
formed him that the company proposes ex-
pending about $4,000 next spring relaying
its tracks in town.
The claim of the Shenandoah Lumber and
Feed Company for S222 was again discussed.
The committee reported that the company
was not willing to put the partition at the
pumping station in the condition required
without extra pay. The committee was in
structed to follow the instructions at the last
meeting, namely have the work done and,
after deducting the cost, pay the balance to
the company providing the latter does not do
the work on thirty days notice,
The claim Of the GAINESVILLE Iron Works
for $525 for = hot water we'll, blowers, etc,
was next discussed. The company claims
tho apparatus was put i'm on trial and on an
agreement that if it proved satisfactory it
would be paid for, and if not the company
would take it out. Council claims the APP
paratus is a part of the plant and on motion
last night refused to pay the bill.
The claim of William McAdams, of Potts
Vile, for S629.50 for extra services in connec-
ton with the public water works was taken
up and it was decided to offer him S425 in
settlement for all claims.
A letter was read from O.. e. Titman, as re-
presentive Of ex-senator w, i. Torbert, ask
ing that Council fix a time to meet Mr.. Tit
man to discuss q proposition for a settle
ment Of the judgment ofS28, 800. Mr.. Torbert
secured Judgment forthe streams the borough
took for the public water works. On motion
of Mr.. Lally the matter was referred to the
water committee.
A bill Of the Shenandoah Water & Gas
Company for fire plug service was laid over
until the next meeting to give the water com
mittee time to consider it.
1t was decided to have numbered receipts
with stubs printed for use by the superinten-
dent Of the water works,