The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-09

The members of common council
were last night thrown into a state of
excitement by the discovery of the
supposed theft of the rules for the
government of the fire department.
The rules had already caused consid-
cradle feeling, but the controversies of
the past have no comparison with the
disorder which ruled at the meeting
last night after two hours had already
been spent in an unusually brisk ses-
sion featured with strife and feeling
more intense than common.
1t was nearly IL o'clock when the
meeting adjourned, and, to cap the
climax of the nights excitement, a
copy, which had been substituted for
consideration in the absence of the Or
iginal fire department rules, was also
taken from the clerks desk at the con-
clusion of the meeting by some one
whose identity is unknown.
The rules, which would occupy two
or three columns in print, passed select
council and We're partly read in the
lower branch. The latter body is sup
posed to contain tie vote which would
prevent their approval there. Last
night, however, Mr.. Grifiths, one of
and they were called on for passage
by those favoring them.
Clerk Hatton retired for the purpose
Of procuring them from the files in his
office. He returned with the informa-
tion that the rules were not there.
President Moir was informed that
Chief Hickey, who was present, had a
copy and the former consented to a
recess while the copy was procured.
Meanwhile President Mor relegated
the chair to Mr.. Keller.
MIR. KELLER'S RULING.
An attempt was made to have the
copy considered in the fifth order of
business, under which concurrent mat
ters, papers from the upper branch.
are acted upon. Mr.. Keller ruled that
the copy could not be acted upon in
that order, as it was not the original
had not been acted upon by select
council and, if considered at ALL ac-
ton should be taken on it under the
| sixth order, introduction of ordinances
and resolutions.
A debate Of fifteen minutes followed
Mr.. Keller refused to change his decis-
ion and surrendered the chair to Pres
ident Moir who had been seated at
| the clerks desk during the latter part
of the argument.
After President Moir was in his seat
| the same debate ensued, but he con-
| firmed the rulings of MIR. Keller In
| each particular. 1t was then 1926
| O'Clock and, according to the rulings
| Clerk Hatton, under instructions from
| the chair, began reading the copy. He
had not progressed far when Mr.. Oliv-
er offered an amendment. Then more
| argument enSued as to whether the
| reading should be seriatum or in whole
| AT times half of the members were
seeking recognition or attempting to
debate the question.
A motion to adopt the whole by title
| was ruled out of order. Even at this
| point some of the members lost track
| of the proceedings and imagined actor
| was in the fifth order on concurrent
| measure which had passed the select
branch, whereas there had been nc
| appeal from the rulings of the regu.
| lar and of the temporary chairman
that the copy must be considered as
| new business under the sixth order.
| Mr. Gilroy appealed from the presi
| dents decision that the rules coulC
not be adopted by title. His follower.
! were slow in asserting themselves
however, and a motion to adjourn wa!
put and carried in the midst of grea
| disorder.
COPY DISAPPEARED
Few members left the council cham
Der without waiting to participate II
the post-session argument, in the
midst of which Clerk Hatton an
nounced that the copy of the much
abused rules had met the fate of tn,
original-disappeared BY this tim,
everybody had become tired of the ex
element although all but three or fou
of the members were still present
They received Clerk Hattons an
nouncement with laughter or mutterec
eXclamations that would not look vel
in print, according to whether they ha,
been for or against the rules.