The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-05

The 1898 appropriation ordinance Is
something that will receive immediate
attention. The joint estimates COM
mittee which will draft the measure Is,
in part, appointed, President Moir, Of
common council, having named his
committees at yesterdays reorganiza-
tion. President Chittenden has not Sc
lected his committees for the upper
branch, but he will announce the select
estimates committee today.
The joint estimates committee of the
new councils will meet at once, pos
sibly tomorrow evening, and report a
rev appropriation ordinance to select
council Thursday evening. 1t will then
be referred for printing and can be
passed finally on April 21 by the lower
branch.
In it's general makeup the appro-
priation measure which died yesterday
was not Objectionable to the Republi-
cans. 1t contained. however, several
items fagrantly devoted to local pur.
LOseg and which can be reduced or
eliminated. There are, too, several de-
partment items which will be reduced.
Ore item in particular to feel the
proving the sewer system in the Fourth
district, the Seventh ward, for which
$500 had been set aside. The city
engineer recently estimated that S6l1
would cover the cost of urgent repairs.
For new outlet at the river he esti-
mated $2,100. 1t is proposed to reduce
the whole item to about $500.
The $1,000 appropriated for a new
Cumberland Hose house is to be taken
away entirely. Two items appropriate
ing 5000 for repairs 70 the Neptune en-
gine house and horses for that COM
pany will probably be cut to $500. Sew
eral minor items set aside for certain
departments will be reduced to the ex-
tent of several hundred dollars.
Then total of at least nearly $4,000
VIII he obtained. Most, if not all, of it
will be given the street department for
repairs to asphalt pavement.
In addition to taking from the dead
appropriation ordinance the 81 900 for a
new building for Columbia Hose COM
pany, it is probable that an attempt
will be made in councils to disband the
company. "Disband" is, maybe, an
the result would be the same as far as
the company's identity with the fire
department would be concerned. Ger
tain members Of the councils say the
company is an organization unneces-
sary to the efficiency of the city's fire
service, but it is believed these coun-
cimen would find their task of dis
/ bandment most difficult one.
/ Now that the new councils are fairly
in swing, speculations will arise as to
the prospects of bond ordinance, or,
rather, the kind of a bond ordinance
/ contemplated. In preparing the ques-
/ tion for vote by the people councils
! must so provide by ordinance. 1t rests
| with councils primarily to determine
! whether parks, sewers. pavement re-
pairs, street improvements or general
improvements are to be specified on the
ballot or whether all these are to be
! voted upon. 1t is probable that the
ordinance providing for the vote will
/ include all these propositions.
Such at least it is believed, would
best suit the taxpayers, who could vote
for one or all the proposed issues and
councils would be guided by the result
1t could be provided by previous ordi-
nance that the three or two issues re.
! ceivng the most votes should he fol-
lowed by bond issues for those specific
purposes. 1t would probably result in
preference for sewers, parks and
pavement repairs in the order named
according to the opinion of well in.
formed and unbiased city officials.