The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-23

directing legal action against councils
for failure to repair the asphalt pave
ments has aroused intense interest.
Speculation as to the result is of course
most prevalent among city officials
and members of the board but the mat
ter has stirred citizens generally in all
parts of the city and especially those
who make use of the Lackawanna and
Washington avenue pavements, ad-
mittedly two of the most disreputable
on the continent.
Two mistaken views prevail in the
city hall yesterday. One was in refer
ence to the board of trades sincerity
and the other concerned the part as
sumed by President Keller, of the
Board of Trade, common councilman
from the seventeenth ward; Mr.. Lam
sing, selectman from the seventeenth,
and President Sanderson, of select
council, representing the thirteenth
ward. All being leading Republican
councilmen and prominent members of
the board and present at Monday
nights meeting. it was assumed they
originated the prosecution movement.
AS a matter of fact they had moth
ing to do with the initiative nor did
anyone else except L. b. Sturges, who
made the motion that Mr.. Torrey be
directed as the boards attorney to Sc
cure indictments if possible.
MR.. sTURGES' IDEA.
The truth of this matter is known to
all the ninety persons at the meeting
| and who heard Mr.. Sturges's speech.
| He concluded his remarks with the
motion, suggested at the moment,
which has set the ears of the whole
city wagging.
Yesterday Mr., Sturges and other
| leading board Of trade members reit-
| Grated their determination to see the
| thing through. They propose to push
| 1t with energy and are fortified with
at least the moral support of every
| business man on Lackawanna and
| Washington avenues. There is no
| gainsaying that the men at the head
of the movement have the money, infiu-
ence and personal interest to suggest
| the probability that the prosecution
will be fought to a conclusion.
| Various views are held as to how
court would view the matter under GER
tain circumstances and assuming that
|
| jury. 1t is the commonly accepted op-
inion, however, that court would di-
| rect immediate assurance from colun-
ellis that repairs would be made. Court
| would be led to this demand by owe, =
whelming proof that the pavements
| were an outrageous menace to public
safety and source Of possible heavy
| damages against the city and extra
| tax upon citizens to meet such dam
ages.
| All the councilmen have not reached
the point where they are considering
how the result of the movement will
affect them personally. Early yester-
day their discussions were in relation
| to the boards honesty of purpose and
| their misguided opinions that Messrs.
| Keller, Lansing and Sanderson insti-
| gated the movement. Before night
however, there were few councilmen
who had not reached the conclusion
that they had better look to their
| fences.
| NO IMMEDIATE WAY.
An immediate way out of the diff
Guilty has not been offered. Only S.
900, less, comparatively. than in 1897
has been appropriated for asphalt re-
pairs for 1898. That amount would not
| pay for half of the demanded resur.
facing of Lackawanna avenue alone
The city is now bonded to the extent
of $642, 900, or about 100000 more thar
councils can provide according to law
The limit by vote of the people is about
S1,6OO,00O. If councils provided for ar
election to authorize a further issue OF
bonds, part to be used for asphalt
repairs, the election could not be held
the bonds could not be issued and the
contract for repairs could not be le
until long after indictments had beer
procured.
Under all the circumstances it is be
lieved that the only course is to gC
ahead with the proposed legislation
Immediately after the reorganization o
councils, for a bond issue; to TAX,
chances on damage suits against tn,