The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-18
COUNCIL
MEETING !
The Tax Duplicates Were the Leading
Topics Under Discussion.
Mr.. SCANLAK ASKS FOR FIGURES.
Mr.. James Endeavors to Have Additional
Counsel Employed in the Adjustment
Of Tax Affairs, But the Motion
Fails For Want OF a
Majority.

regular meeting of the Borough Council
was held last night with the following MEM
bers in attendance Messrs. Mcclure James,
Straughn. Lally, Shoemaker. Brennan, Neis-
Swenter, Hand, Murphy, Harkins
Tax Collector Scanlan appeared and asked
Council to grant the additional cxonerations
he asked for some time ago on his duplicate
of 1885 and then give him statement of his
account, showing the payments made on the
1895 and 1896 duplicates
Mr.. Hand said the collector could get the
statement as to the 1895 duplicate from the
figures already published, but Mr.. Scanlan
stated that the figures were not correct. Mr..
James wanted Mr.. Scanlan to state how much
he considered he owed the borough, but this
he declined to do.
Mr. Straughn moved that the Finance conn
mittee give Mr.. Scanlan the information
desired, and the motion was carried.
Edward Bowling complained that in laying
new pavement in front of the complainant's
property the Chief Burgess did not put it
down to proper grade Mr.. Dowling has
since paid for the work. The matter WAS
referred to the Survey committee
Mr.. Brennan stated that the roads an d
highways committee left crossing on West
Cherry street unfinished. Referred to the
committee.
Instructions were given for the Borough
Solicitor to prepare a warrant for Tax Collec-
tor Bur! for his 1898 duplicate.
Mr.. Straughn stated that in February.
1897 he submitted to Council a write q
opinion by A. w. Schalck. Esq, on the sam
question that is raised by Mr. Scanlan's s
bondsmen on the ls95-96 tax duplicates. Th e
secretary was instructed to look up tn p
opinion and give 1t to the finance committec,
Borough Solicitor Burke reported that he,
In pursuance of Councils instructions, satis-
fed the judgment entered on Mr. Scanlan' s
tax bond of 1894. He also issued execution
on Mr.. Scanlan's tax bond of 1895. and
directed the Sheriff to proceed to sell The
final hearing in the cases of Mrs. Mary Mellet.
on the tax bonds of 1895 and 1885, will be-
held next Tuesday, or Wednesday.
Mr.. James moved that John +. Whalep
Esq, be retained by Council to act on thu
1895 and 1896 tax duplicates until the busi-
ness is adjusted. The vote was to 4 ana
the motion was declared lost for want of A
majority. Messrs. James, Neiswenter and
Brennan asked to be recorded as voting i'm
favor of the motion.
Mr. James stated, while the motion was
under consideration, that he had a conversa-
ton with County Commissioner Stauffer an,l
Oounty SOLICITOR Bechtel, in which the y
stated that they would give the borough all
the assistance they can in the case of Mrs.
Mellet, but would not pay pro rata share
for the employment of additional counsel.
The fire apparatus committee was in
structed to have a test made of the fire plugs
and put them into condition for the winter
The tax exoneratiOn lists were not con-
sidered at the meeting, as some of the ward S
were not ready to report. In making an in
formal report for the Third ward, Mr..
Straughn said he had been unable to find an
amount abSve little over 500 upon which
to hold Tax Collector Burke, and vet the
personal generations for the ward includ-
ing deaths, removals and foreigners that can
not be located by the collector amount to
S433, and the double assessed properties to
Sl44-a total of $577. He thought number
of names should be strick en- off the duplicate
which was made under the triennial assess
ment of 1895, since which time many have
died and Others removed from the ward or
town. The assessors, Mr.. Straughn thought
should be requested to put on the duplicate
only the names of those they know are living
in the borough. This, he understood, has
been done by the present assessors, in making;
the triennial assessment this year from which
the 1893 duplicate is compiled