The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-01

ORDINANCE TO BE REPORTED
THIS EVENING.
City hall contained three important
common council committee meetings
last night in anticipation of this even
inS's adjourned session of that branch
OF councils. The streets and bridges
committee considered the Lackawanna
telephone franchise; the pavements
committee had before it the asphalt
repair muddle, and the joint fire de-
partment committee discussed the pro-
posed new rules.
The unfair amendments loaded by
select council on the telephone fran
Chise ordinance were ripped into un-
recognizable shape by the committee,
all Of whom were present as follows:
Chairman r. B. jackson, Joseph oliver,
NJ V. Morris, II. +. Morris and c. L.
Wenzel.
After disposinE of some lesser meas
ures Attorney George S. Horn was
asked to indicate the wishes Of the
company, of which he is an officer He
did so briefly and retired with Man
ager Wayland after stating that the
company wanted privileges neither less
nor greater than those enjoyed by the
Central company. The new company
was not organized for speculation; it
proposed to operate as soon as coun-
ellis gave it the right under fair con-
ditions.
THE CONDUITS.
The select council amendment re-
quiring conduits within 1000 yards of
the court house in all directions was
struck out. In it's stead the committee
will recommend that the company be
required to lay 1900 feet of conduits
within three years. The old company
was recently given a year to build 1000
feet, but the difference is thought fair
considering the fact thar the old COM
pany had many miles of poles and
wires on the streets when their con-
duit measure was adopted.
Another select council amendment
requiring the company "to connect
such wires and cables underground
with subscribers was relegated to the
oblivion it deserved. 1t was contend
ed that bright lawyers would dispute
the Interpretation of the clause: that,
IN any event, the LaCkawanna COM
pany should be privileged to use out
side wires for connections to the same
extent as the Central company.
Instead Of the $4,000 bond required
under the select council amendment.
the amount was fixed at $4,000, and
the amendment clause preventing Il
lease or sale was stricken out. The
bond and a new amendment requiring
service to at least 500 subscribers by
Sept. !, 1899 We're judged ample pro-
lection for the city, as in the improb-
able event of sale or lease the same
obligations would operate. The select
council amendment fixed upon June I.
1899, for the completion of the system
Ihe Central COmpany'S conduit bond
was $1,000, half of what is required in
the present case.
with the foregoing changes the or
dinance will be reported in common
council tonight. The section provid-
ing that conduit plans and routes be
approved by the city engineer and con-
structed under his direction, was not
changed.
ASPHAL TANGLE.
The pavcments committee meeting
ended in disagreement. There were
present Chairman Reese and Messrs.
Keller, +. f, Wenzel and NJ. V. Nor
ris pba ,,,,,,;+,.o III /, ~,
rrnoo.aI, .,,'''..'ee 80. iiau pelore II the
t,a,i, ,l,, w., 'nc asphat
i,,,,,,,,,,,. "'' ti"I W thr heSStone
I,,ri'1, ,,.,,,. "., t'"" 'H"t "l the
tnntio,, - " 't'' Ilai"ls 'le pro-
an opinion reached yesterday by the
,Tha n,,i,ia,, .,...-
''''ii" '"e o"lhS'
David II, Reese, Esq, Chairman of Paw
InS Committee common Council
80, I nt III reply 10 your inquiry Of
thot tbn tor,,, lig S'E II ls my OPINION
Barber Asnh1It pa,ino ',,rI ,,,,,,,,, WIN , e tie
repairs of asphalt extends rro,, 49,, ,,,o
,Sp TCp D. LIN iHS' TO november D. 1875; also that
ana IS operative when the certificate of
the Guy CohtlolIer Is attached thereto;
, 'ul l,nci, th'' II Is lne duty of the city
said contr,ct ".''.'' MS co''li4ate TO the
The opinion rehearses at length the
reason for lis several conclusions and
says that the city controller can be
compelled by mandamur to sign war
rants for repair work done by the
Barber company at the street commits
sloners direction.
In the face of so hat-footed an opin-
ion, Mcssrs. Wenzel and Morris de-
clncd to abide by it ana left the meet
ing, thus breaking the quorum. They
did this after a resolution had been
offered aiartinp oil Iil,