The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-05

give us some reason for adopting this
resolution. How do we know ofiicially
of any guilt?
MIR. Chittenden-There; that's just the
position the mayor placed me in; that's
the point.
Mr.. Durr-Well. now If the investgat-
ing committee didn't make a report, how
are we going to take 1t upon ourselves to
say that the man was found guilty? That
why moved at the last meeting that Mr..
Chittendens resolution be referred 10
committee. The resolution doesn't say
anything about It. The committee hasn't
reported and there's nothing to act 'oi'
Mr.. Chittenden-No, the mayors COM
mittee didn't decide but | did.
Mr.. Durr-Why didn't you say so in
the resolution? Why don't you say now
what your decision is?
Mr.. Chittenden-Is 1t possible that any
body like this is in doubt about matter
of this kind? 1t is sufficient to know that
the most specific evidence against these
accused parties was never denied on the
stand by either of them. If the testimony
was untrue why didn't they swear so?
Mr. Chittenden remarked that the
funds of the street department for the
fiscal year ending April had been en-
tirely exhausted and that deficiencies
were being piled up"
Mr.. Lansing-I agree with Mr. Coyne
that no one who has read the inVestiga-
tion testimony can say the office was not
badly, If not dishonesty, conducted. 1t
is our duty to stand UP and express our
selves. AS Republican and one who
recommended the street commissioner
and knew him many years, | am EN-
barassed ITO believe true such charges
preferred against public officer we
should show the chief executive of this
I.,it, If,,t fn.1 slhn GlIp a
A VERY PRETTY SPEECH.
Mr. Durr-Mr. Lansing made very
| pretty speech, but 1t isn't explained yet
| why nobody reports the findings of that
| committee referring to the mayor ana
| his advisorsl. l insist that we are taking
| q good load on our shoulders to say we
| have reason for passing the resolution
| when the committee will not make re-
| port to us.
| Mr.. Lansing-The author of the resolu-
| ton has fully stated the position of the
men who sat and heard the evidence.
| Never before have such charges as were
made on examination remained unan-
swered if the charges were untrue
| There's not a clean thing about this bus-
ness: we all know it. There's no commit
tee to report, so why should we stand on
| a technicality?
| Mr.. Coyne-Theres another reason for
action. The testimony urges haste when
| 1t contained the charge that $500 was paid
| for the issuance of a permit to sell wares
on the streets and that some of the money
was used in councils. /, for one, 'Will
protect myself in any outrageous charge
| like that.
Mr. Chittenden-You're mistaken about
that, Mr.. Coyne; that was denied by the
council for the defense; it was one of the
few absolute denials they made.
Il am member of the laws and ordi
nances committee" said Mr.. Williams.
land want something to say in this
| matter. If you won't let the commit
tee consider the resolution then you
| should force a report on the testimony
| why haven't you got any backbone?'
turning to MI. -Chittenden. There's
| no doubt about the street commission
er's guilt, but why don't you and the
commmittee say so and then we can
| act"
| QUESTION! SHOUTED MCANN.
Question: question:" shouted Mr..
| Mccain with an expression showing
anger at the length of the argument.
Hold on" exclaimed Mr. Chittenden,
as he hurriedly arose to reply to Mr..
| Williams, Il raise a point of personal
| privilege. The mayor never allowed
the question to come TO a vote. He was
the only one who had any decision in
the matter. We We're fooled around
and scarcely ever got together and
when we did vote was put off.
Before this is settled / want to cor
rect q report that l am an enemy of
Mr.. Kinsley's; | am not. | take this
position because l am right Another
thng-since he went into office there
has never been one foot of street per-
manently improved and not one yard
of pavement properly cleaned"
There followed several calls of "ques-
ton" The motion to adopt the resolu-
tion was put.
Several members refrained from vot-
ing but the only voice heard in the
negative was that of Mr.. Durr. There
were no calls for the ayes and nays.
Thus ended the most spirited period
in councils for some time. Mr.. Chit
tenden had throughout the debate
fought hard for the passage of the
measure, and on that account at least
did not deserve Mr.. Williams remarl
about a lack of backbone which was
more humorous than otherwise under
the real consideration of things.