The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-18

Democrats, but IL SmoOthed Out
the Appropriation Muddle--win
Report to Councils Thursday Night.
The much abused appropriation or
dinance will speedily be adopted by
councils. That much was determined
at last nights conference committee
meeting of five Republican members
from the select branch and as many
Democratic members from the lower
branch.
The two divisions began the session
with a pronounced suspicion against
each other and it was nearly an hour
before an agreement on one Of the dis
puted items. Then 1t developed that
each half of the committee was dis
posed to come to an understanding and
by 10 o'clock seven items, the small
number that have tied up the city's
finances for seven weeks, were so re-
duced or increased as to satisfy both
the Democratic and Republican men,
bers of the conference.
The chief credit for the final straight
ening out of the muddle-as far as last
nights meeting is concerned-is due
Commoner Morgan Sweeney. one of the
five Democratic conferrees, and Sc
lectman Charles Wagner, of the Re-
publican division. The former, after
a half hours useless wrangling and
debate among all present, announced
in neither low voice nor measured
words that he and his colleague were
willing to concede dollar for dollar and
meet the Republicans half way, but
they would not overstep the boundary
line an inch. Mr.. Sweeney's attitude
brought out a disposition to come to
an agreement and finally Mr.. Wagner
permitted $125 to be taken from an ap-
preparation for new electric lights iE
his ward, the Tenth. One hundred and
twenty-five dollars may seem a small
part of S343,54S contained in the ap-
propriations, but just such insignif-
cant sums have tied up the city's
finances until now.
SPECIAL MEETING CALLED.
Following the committees agreement
it was decided by the Democratic five
to sign call for a special meeting of
common council Thursday night, the
night of the select council session, and
to submit their report. Select coun-
ell and the common branch will, it is
and Immediately proceed to start it on
its final passage.
Only $l,23S.75 was taken from three
items and transferred to four in order
to bring about the agreement. 1t re-
quired, however, just two hours to
perform the work. The changes made
were as follows:
Additional electric lights in the Tenth
ward reduced from $500 to Sl75; $25 appro-
priated for an iron fence on the Railroad
avenue culvert and $50 toward an addition
al electric light in the Second ward.
For reconstructing the old Center street
station house reduced from 5000 to 81, 900;
$1,000 appropriated for a new house for
Cumberland Hose company.
For Fifteenth ward street repairs, re-
duced from $993,75 to 1886; Fourteenth ward
street repairs increased from $685. to $Sl2.
The changes as made leaves $4125
more appropriated than there is pro-
vision for. This sum will on Thursday
night be deducted from some general
item over which there has been no
dispute.
Messrs. Thomas (chairman), Schroe-
der Durr, Ross and Wagner were the
select council Republican, conferees.
and Messrs. Grier '(chairman), Flana-
Democrats, the conferees from the low
er branch. Common Council Clerk
| Mahon was chosen clerk of the COM
mittee.
A BLUE BEGINNING.
There was a deadlock at the start
when Mr.. Grier and MIR. Thomas each
received five votes for chairman of
the joint committee. Mr.. Sweeney
saw a way out of the difficulty by
proposing and putting into execution
a drawing of cuts. Mr.. Thomas drew
| the losing cut. announced himself as
satisfied with the result and Mr.. Grer
| assumed the chair.
| Mr.. Sweeney gained the first recogni-
| tion and moved the appropriation of
| 81 900 for a new house for . umber-
land Hose company. For a half hour
the Democrats argued for and the Re-
! publicans against it. Before vote
was taken it was evident that it would
be a tie and Mr.. Sweeney excitedly
announced the position of the Demo-
Gratis He remarked that not one con-
cession would be made to the Repubn-
| cans if the latter We're unwilling to
| concede anything. The Democrats
We're present to give dollar for dollar
! but it might just as well be understood
that they would not go one inch over
| the halfway line.
| This explanation of the Democratic
| plan of action removed the suspicion
among the Republicans that some
| choice item would be secured by the
| opposition and that they would then
! dictate what should be granted the
members from the select branch. 1t
! served to urge them all to seek for a
! practical way out of the deadlock and
| individual searches were made for an
| item that could be reduced to meet the
! increase of $1,000 suggested by the
Democrats. The $4,000 for renovating
the Center street station house was hit
upon by Mr., Flanagan and was agreed
| to.
The other changes were then made
with little or no trouble. the unusual
length of the session being due to a
consideration of what items should be
cut to meet the demands of the two
factions. Mr.. Wagner first established
a feeling Of brOtherly love and confid-
! ence by agreeing to permit a reduction
of the appropriation for new electric
lights in his ward.
| Both sides were backed in an effort
to approve Mr.. Gilroy's motion to in
crease the salary of mayors clerk from
$500 to $1,000. 1t was voted to make
the increase and then came a half-hour
search to find the necessary 800. The
Democrats did the searching but as
fast as was suggested an item for cut
ting the Republicans would show that