The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-13
THEY MUST REMAIN
ON THE COMMITTEE
designations Of Messrs. Wenzel and
Thomas Are Not Accepted.
SWEENEY SAYS HE IS SURPRISED
That wenzeI Is the Father OF
the Vice and immortality Committee
Movement and Now Lacks the Back
Bone to Face the Music--City
workmen Must BE Citizens--An-
other War Threatened Between the
Two Branches of Councils.

Two Branches of Councils.
Common councils meeting last night
did not develop the real racy time over
the vice and immortality committee
matter that was expected. Messrs.
Thomas and Wenzel handed in their
designations, they were referred to the
committee from which they wished to
resign and that was about all there
was TO it,
When Mr.. Wenzers resignation was
before the house Mr.. Sweeney got in
what he doubtless considered q solar
plexus by making the statement that
1t was Mr.. Wenzcl who had introduced
the resolution asking for the appoint
ment of the committee, in the first
place. 1t surprised him very much, he
said, with all the sarcasm he could
command, that the gentleman from the
Tenth should refuse to act on COM
mittee which he was responsible for
creating. 1t was because he was lack
ing in backbone, MIR. Sweeney aver
red, that he refused to face the work
laid out for the committee.
Mr.. Wenzel denied having introduced
the resolution providing for the ap-
pointment of the committee and said
further that no such resolution had
ever been regularly introduced. "The
chairman found it on his desk and had
II read; no councilman was responsible
for it," continued Mr.. Wenzel.
THE gentleman is mistaken" said
President Nealis. 1.-The chair has a
distinct recollection of Mr.. Wenzel
walking up to the desk and handing
up the resolution in question"
mo such thing" rejoined Mr.. Wen
eel, and the discussion rested at that.
The designations were referred to
committee on a vive voce vote that was
apparently almost unanimous. The in
tention of the Democrats is to keep
the designations in pigeon-hole and
compel Messrs. Wenzel and Thomas to
figure as members of the committee,
even If they do not serve actively.
The letters of resignation were as fol-
lows:
Mr.. P. J. Nealis Chairman of Common
Councils:
respectfully decline to serve as a men,
Der of the committee on vice and immor-
ality. Simon Thomas.
To the Common Council of the City of
Scranton.
Gentlemen: I most respectfully beg to
resign my position as member of the
committee on vice and immortality. My
reason for so doing is that / have not
the time to devote to the work of the COM
mittee, nor am l sufficiently we'll ac-
quainted with the methods to be pursued
to accomplish the object for which the
committee was formed. Yours respect
fully, Edward F. WenZel.
NONE BUT CITIZENS.
There was quite lively tilt over the
select council resolution forbidding the
employment on city work of any but
American citizens or those who have
declared their intention of becoming
| American citizens. AS the measure
was originally introduced 1t barred out
all excepting full-fledged American cit
| liens. Mr.. Chittenden hitched on the
| intention clause and 1t passed as
amended. When it came up last night
| for concurrence Mr. Moir made objec-
ton to the intention" amendment and
moved to strike it out. He argued thai
it was the easiest thing in the worlo
| for an alien to declare his intention Of
| becoming a citizen but there was moth.
ing to prevent him from always re.
naming an intended citizen. There
fore the purpose of the law was subjec
| to easy defeat.
Mr.. Gilroy said he couldn't under
stand Mr.. Moir's motive, but to his wa,
of thinking the motion was ridiculous
The courts have decided, he said, tina
a contractor can hire whatever labo
he chooses and it is useless for councils
to attempt to dictate to them.
Mr. Mcir said he had no hidden mo
tive in making the motion and intimat
ed that the. gentleman from the Sew
enth was talking at random when h
spoke about the courts, "The Pittsbur;
courts" Mr.. Moir said, ,"have sustaine,
the position / take and in that cit,
there is not single alien employed Oh
municipal work. What court, let m
ask the gentleman from the seventh
made the decision he refers tor" MI
Gilroy did not answer for a time an
Mr.. Moir rejoined, "Of course, ther
was no such decision ever rendered.
well yes there was" broke out MI
Gilroy. THAT question was decide
here when Muldoon & Bowe were work
ing on the Linden street bridge abut
ments."
Mr.. Moir was not prepared to contro
vert this assertion so the discussio
ended there. Messrs. Gilroy, Sweene
and Sheridan were the only member
to oppose Captain Moirs amendmen
and the resolution will now go back {
select council with the Intention
clause annulled.
The resolution granting the Columbi
Construction company until Oct. Is,
two months extension of time, to com
plete the Mulberry street contract, wa
passed after little hesitation, Messrl
Thomas, Walker and Regan votin
against 1t. Nessrs, Grier and Flana
CHAN spoke for the extension sayin
that as the asphalt plant had arrive
it was evident the company irtende
to go ahead in earnest.
A resolution extending the limit G
time for the collection OF taxes fror
Sept. to Oct. /, was introduced by Nj
Gilroy and approved. Resolutions wel
also passed calling for p=--- - sewer
on Won Storch avenue and Honesdal
street, and on Penn avenue, betwee
Larch street and the Fourteenth dis
trict main sewer; for the repair of til
Fourth district main sewer.
CONCURRENT MEASURES.
Select council measures concurred /
were: Authorizing an expert inspectio
of the boiler and machinery of I'll
Franklin fire engine; fixing Oct. 8 9
the day for the firemen's parade
| aNA aFflt tY,or 10 TNa,, o .,