The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-19

tract for paving Mulberry street for
the reason that they wanted to look
into the matter before taking final ac-
ton. 1t was referred to the paving
committee. The vote to refer to COM
mittee was as follows:
Ayes Messrs Finn, Kearney. Williams,
Clarke, Roche, Durr, Manley, Mccain,
Fellows, Schroeder, Burns, Frabe Nc.
Andrews-13.
Nays-Messrs. Thomas, Chittenden,
Wagner, Lansing, Coyne-5
Absont-Messrs Ross ana Robinson,
President Sanderson did not vote.
When the resolution came mp Mr..
Lansing, with Mr.. Chittenden as sec
onder moved to concur in the action
of common council. Mr.. Manley. sec
onded by Mr.. Roche. moved to amend
that it be referred to the paving COM
mittee in conjunction with the city en-
gineer.
Mr.. Lansing said he hoped the amend
ment would not pass. The sentiment
of the council was almost unanimous
in favor of the low bid when the matter
was originally introduced. owing to
some technical changes which the city
engineer had made in the specifications
it was found impossible at that time to
award the contract.
The city engineer was required to
restore the specifications to the usual
form and the city clerk instructed to
advertise for new bids. There is no
question but that select council would
have awarded the contract to the Col
umbia company then if it could have
done so and there is no reason advanced
why its sentiment should have changed
in the meantime.
ACTION OF COMMON.
The paving committee of common
council, he went on to say, had con-
Quoted a most thorough and search
| ing investigation of the question and
several of the members of select cOun-
Cil's paving committee sat with them
| by invitation. After satisfying them
| selves thoroughly on the subject the
committee made unanimous report
| faVoring the Columbia bid and common
council after rigid inquiry and Il thor
Ough discussion, almost unanimously
approved of the committees reCOmmen-
| dation. Many of the select councilmen
| attended the meeting and heard the
| whole debate.
| The cOunCilmen representing the three
wards affected by the resolution want
| the Columbia pave; so per cent. of the
property holders of Mulberry street
have signed Il petition for it; it will
| save them $4,000 and in the matter of
responsibility of the bidder there Is no
question, all of which, Mr.. lansing
| cOntended warranted them in passing
| the resolution without unnecessary de-
| lay. Mr.. Lansing also called attention
to the fact that the pave can be guar
anteed for ten years for $2.2O yard
and for fifteen years at a price much
| lower than the Barber bid. Mr.. Coyne
echoed Mr.. Lansings sentiments and
added that there was no reasonable
| excuse for referring.
What is the reason for having the
| resolution referred?" asked MIR. Chit
tenden, addressing himself to Mr.
| Manley
Mr. Manley, in answer. said that he
| was a member of the paving commit
tee and so was Mr.. Roche and neither
of them had attended the meeting of
the common council paving committee
because they felt they had no business
there. While it might be true that the
| matter had been satisfactorily eX-
| planned to some of the members, it
1
tion of others, and they proposed that
it should be.
ARGUED AGAINST DELAY.
Mr.. Chittenden argued against delay,
saying it was dangerous because of the
short time that the present council
has to live. These arguments We're
unaVailing.
The board of trades communication
conveying the resolutions advising the
paving of the central CITY alleys and
courts; suggesting the changing of the
names of these highways to streets
instead of courts. etc; and suggesting
that the tax on telegraph ana other
poles be increased from so cents to 81
| was read and referred without discus
sion to the streets and bridges commit
tee.
EX-Patrolman T. V. Lewis offer tC
settle his $225 claim for $3.50, which
common council approved of, was re-
! ferred to the judiciary committee. The
ordinance providing for the construc
tion of a lateral sewer on Washington
avenue, between Stafford Meadow
brook and Beech street passed thirG
reading. Adjournment was made while
Mr.. Frable was endeaVoring to have
his plumbing inspector ordinance called
up. Adjournment was made until mex
Friday night when the appropriation
ordinance will be considered.
COMMON COUNCIL.
In common council the busines!
transacted was rather common place
There was an apparent effort to hurr!
| through number of ordinances in or
t1 OF : !,
councils reorganize two weeks hence.
Mr.. Nealis reported for the specia
committee appointed to ascertain th
status of the work of viewers on tn
Lonergan court lateral sewer. He re
marked that two of the three viewer
had submitted a majority report to tn
city solicitor and that IL would be a
once presented to court for confirma
tiOn. a minority report might b
forthcoming, but there was no prob
ability that it would be fayorably con
sidered.
The appropriation ordinance wa
subjected to another twisting by Nh
Nealis and Mr. Reagan and was thel
passed in its amended form ON seconc
reading. on motion of Mr.. Neals tn
item of $i,650 for repairs of asphal
pavement was reduced to $4550, an,
the 800 thus gained was added to tn
$500 estimated salary of the mayor
clerk. Mr.. Reagan's amendments pre-