The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-02

CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE
FRANCHISE - ASPHALT REPAIR
PROBLEM WAS QUICKLY DIs-
POSED oF-NoRTH MAIN AVENUE
PAVING ORDINANCE PASSED.
In common council last night only
six votes were mustered against the
streets and bridges committee amend
ments to the Lackawanna Telephone
company franchise ordinance. The
committee amendments were adopted
and the ordinance passed second read
ing as amended. The committee
amendments virtually nullify the
amendments to the ordinance made
in select council.
The ordinance was first reported by
Mr.. Jackson, chairman of the streets
and bridges committee. The report
was favorable under conditions which
would be presented, Mr.. Jackson said,
when the ordinance was called up in
it's regular order. When that point in
the proceedings was reached, the ordi-
nance passed first reading on Mr.. Oil
vers motion. When he moved its pas
sage on second, Mr.. Jackson offered
the amendments for adoption as
whole.
Mr.. Walker moved that the amend
ments be tabled. The seconders were
Meesrs. Reese and Coleman. The mo-
tion was lost by the following vote Of
Is to 6.
Ayes-Messrs. Reese, Walker Gilroy,
Wrth, Coleman, Norton.
Nays-Mcssrs. NJ. Morris. Gricr, Grif-
fths, Calpn, Zitzelman, L. Wenzel Mon
ahan, jackson. G. Wenzcl, Oliver, kel-
Ter, +. Morris, Sheridan, Cusick, Mor.
That was the only aye and nay vote
recorded and the measure passed sec
ond reading as amended.
NEW AMENDMENTS.
The new amendments provide that
1000 feet of Conduits shall be laid with
in three years instead of requiring con-
duits within n radius of 1000 yards
from the court house; the clause re-
quiring the company "to connect such
wires and cables underground with
subscribers" is stricken out; the bond
was fixed at $20,000 and the sale or lease
clause stricken out. Sept. !, 1899. was
designated as the date on which the
company should be equipped to serve
at least 500 subscribers; the rates shall
be $36 annually for business telephones,
$24 for residences and $50 for a resi-
dence and business place combined.
After the motion to table was lost
and a counter motion made to adopt
the amendments, Mr.. Zitzelman said
he was willing to take chances on the
| integrity of the men comprising the
Lackawanna company. The company
would be anxious to put its wires
underground to escape the pole tax anG
| to get better service.
Mr.. Walker then made a ten minutes
| speech and was the only member tC
! debate against the amendments. Hi!
main arguments were: That the com
| pany was, in his opinion, organized fol
| speculative purposes; that certain
| members who one year ago voted tC
| compel the Central company to lay its
| wires in COnduits were now seeking tC
| exempt the new company from the
| same thing.
| Mr.. Oliver said the select COunCi
| amendments We're intended to "freezt
| out" the Lackawanna company. They
| We're unjust in view of the bond o.
| $4,000 and the expressed intention %
| the representative men interested il
| the company to build and operate
| The Central company had not had
| franchise for sixteen years, as Mr.
| Walker had stated; the franchise Wat
obtained only a year ago and to ge
| IT the agreement TO lay certain
| measurement of COnduits underground
was only a means. The public hat
| suffered, he said from the presen
| Company's poor service but would b.
| benefited by competition,
Mr. Jackson, chairman of the street.
ana bridges committee, explained thc
| care and labor with which the commit,
tee had conducted its consideration o.
| III" franchise. 1t had been aScertdine(
that the people wanted better ant
| cheaper service. The bond of the Lack
aWanna company, a bond four time!
as large as that demanded of the ole
company, was pretty good assurance
that there would be no selling out.
MIR. KELLER'S REMARKS.
Mr.. Keller called attention to the ne
tition signed by over three hundred
men asking that the franchise br
granted, Who We're councils serving
the people or a corporation? he asked
He was not afraid to charge that thu
ordinance was loaded with amend
ments in select council for the purpos
of killing it.
Messrs. Zitzleman, c. Wenzel an
President Moir also spoke, favOring tn
committee amendments. The latte
said that select councils 1000 var
| amendment was prOhibitorY If nothin,
else was. Business men, of the centra
city, with whom he had talked had al
most without exception favored tn
granting of the franchise.
A few voices were heard to say "no'
when President Moir put the motion
to adopt the amendments as who'll
and to pass the ordinance as amended
but an aye and nay vote was not de
manded.
| Quick work was made of the asphal
repair problem. The pavemcnts com
mittee reported a resolution that al
bids be rejected. that the street com
missioner direct the Barber Compan,
to do the work and that the city con
troller Countersign the warrants fO
the payment Of the same This wa
based on the opinion of the city sole
itor that the contract with the Barho
company does not expire until NoVCm
her B. that the repair work cannot b
done by any other company until afte