The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-06
TAYLOR SCHOOL CASE.
Arguments Heard Yesterday by the
Judges with Reference to olt-0ther
Cases That Were Heard.

In argument court yesterday the case
of the Taylor school board, similar to
the one of the Scranton board, was
argued by Attorneys |. II. Burns and
John NJ Harris for the board of six
and by Attorney G. COmegys for the
present organization Taylor borough
has had a board of nine directors since
it was incorporated in November. 1898,
and at the last election six electors
ran on nomination papers for school
director under the board of six law.
They got only half dozen votes, but
as they had no opposition, that was
sufficient to elect them.
Mr.. Burns appeared in the case spec
tally. He is attorney for a board of
six in Olyphant borough, and he took
part in the Taylor case as it is farther
advanced on the list, and the one will
decide the other,
The argument AGAINST the present
organization is along the same plane
as that advanced in the Scranton case;
that the constitution provides that the
school district and the municipality
must he maintained as two separate
and distinct entities, and that the di-
rectors of the school district must be
responsible to the whole district.
Mr.. Burns scored the ward system
of choosing directors. He said it was
one of the worst and most baneful
systems imaginable. 1t placed in the
way Of a man the ability to serve on
school board if he controlled the agen-
cies in his own ward; big or little as
the ward might be he had equal power
Mr.. Burns argued also that the act
is defective in it's title.
Mr.. Comegys made an eloquent argu-
ment against disturbing the present
| system. He said the more he praC-
tiCes law and the more his experience,
the more he is CONVINCED that words
are expanded so much that they mean
| almost anything. on the fine shades
| of meaning of words, attempts are
mada to declare laws unconstitutional.
| lie said the ward system is a good sys-
! TEN. Il is en- American system, and
| it should not he disturbed just because
| it appears that an argument can be
| lodged against the constitutorality of
! the act from the application of words.
! From the remarks made during the
| course of the argument it would seem
that the court is Of the opinion that
| the board of six is the proper body to
! govern the school districts in bCroughs
| as we'll as cities.
The case of the Washbu"n MOen
Manufa cturing company against the
! borough of Olyphant was continued
until May 2&. The rule was made absO-
lutte in the case of Berry Wisner
LOhman g. Co. w. NJ. j. Norton; and in
the case of the Nonotuck Silk company
vs. NJ. j. Norton. The rule was dis
| charged in the case of MOrganstein q
Robinson against Adolph BresChei
Mr. Burns argued to strike off the
! nOn-suit in the case of Mary Cole
against the city Of Scranton. City So.
licitOr Mckinley appeared for the city
The equity suit of l.. \. Coray
against John S. Jenkins was argued il
the morning. The defendant is charg,
ed with attempting to defraud the
plaintiff out Of valuable property o
railway stock and coal land. The do
fense claims that the allegations are
absurd and not specific.