The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-02

Mr.. Lansing Of the street and bridges
committee reported favOrably on May
or Bailey's nomination of Joseph ray
lor to be inspector of the Providence
pavement at last nights select council
meeting. A long debate followed
motion to confirm.
President Chittenden asked If there
had not been some legal action insti-
tuted against the beginning of the
work. Mr.. Ross said there had not
been. Mr.. Wagner said Mr.. Ross was
incorrect and argued against confirm
alton until the matter was out of court.
Messrs. Williams, O'Boyle, Kearney
and Roche argued for confirmation,
the latter suggesting the adoption of
a resolution providing that the inspec-
tor receive no pay until the work was
started.
The nomination was confirmed by
vote of IS to /, President Chittenden
alone voting against 1t.
A brief communication from the city
solicitor informed councils of the courts
opinion in the case of Henry Koehler
versus the city, that the petitioner was
liable for only the cost of the pavement
in front of his property. The recon-
mendation Of the city solicitor that an
appear De tdke1l, was duODleu'
QUINCY AVENUE PAVE.
The proposal of the Barber Asphalt
company as follows was the only one
for paving Quincy avenue, between
Pine and Gibson streets: For grading
and paving, $237 per square yard; for
straight curb 46, So or 60 cents per lin
cal foot; for circular curb, 9S cents per
]neal foot; for resetting old curb, q
cents per lineal foot
President Chittenden called the at
tention of the paVements committee,
to which the proposal was referred,
to the fact that the proposal was high
er than the price mentioned in the
petition, s2.10 per square yard
1t was later explained that the pro-
posaI was higher because of the Scran-
ton railway company's intention to lay
a double track. This would throw We
hicular traffic upon a limited section
of the pavement, necestating a deep
er concrete base than was provided for
by the original specifications.
The following resolution relative to
employing assistants in the city asses
sors department was adopted:
That the city assessors are =
authorized to employ clerks to
assist in making up the assessment for
1899; ascertain the rames and residences
and occupation of all persons within the
respective wards of the city liable TO
assessment together with the personal
property owned by each liable to assess
ment, also all transfers and alterations In
real estate, together with the number of
dogs, etc. and ownership of the same.
The compensation of said clerks to be Z
cents for each assessment and 10 cents
for each dog, the expense to be included
in the deficiency appropriation for 1899.
LETTER OF EXPLANATION.
Accompanying the resolution was the
following letter of explanation from
the assessors:
We respectfully call your attention to
the fact that no appropriation or provis-
ion has been made by your honorable
bodies for the purpose of emplying help
to prepare the city assessment for 1898.
In the past, councils have deemed II
advisable to employ help for the purpose
OF visiting each house to ascertain wheth-
er there had been any changes in own
ership of real estate or whether assess
ment on personal property or occupation
were correct We assume that city coun-
ellis have not concluded to discontinue
this practice, which surely has consid-
cradle merit and which prev ents the con.
fusion which must necessarily arise in
case the errors in personal property and
occupation are not corrected.
1t IS evident that it would be impos.
sible for the board of assessors to visit
every house in the city in the time al
lowed.
We therefore request that YOU take
such action on the accompanying reso'
luton as TO you shall seem best.
The mayors nomination of Thomas
b. Potter to be police patrolman was
on motion of Mr.. Roche, taken from
the table and confirmed.
An important action was involved in
a select council resolution introduced
by Mr.. Roche providing for the ap-
pointment of a special committee OF
three to confer, in connection with the
city engineer, street commissioner and
city solicitor, with representatives OF
asphalt paving companies and see il
some plan cannot be suggested fol
pavement repairs this year payments
to be made later.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Mr. Lansing, of the pavements com.
mittee, remarked that the committee
mad last night prepared a similar res
olution but including only the three
city officials. He had, however no oh
lection to the passage of Mr.. Roche''
measure, 1t was adopted. Later Mr.
Chitttenden appointed Messrs. Roche
Lansing and Ross on the committee.
Mr.. McAndrew's resolution that S14
900 for the purchase of Tripp's wood!
be included ia the bond ordinanc,
committees report, was adopted.
Mr.. O'Boyle's resolution that an item
providing for $4,000 for a site AM
building for Eagle Hose company, wa
adopted.
Rules and regulations for the fir
department, adopted by the board o
fire engineers, We're introduced for con
trmatjon by Mr.. Thomas and rererret
10 committee.
Mr.. Williams, chairman of the sewer
and drains committee, introduced
resolution providing that the propose
of ". III. O'Hara to construct Sectio
jected. Accompanying the resolutio
was letter from Mr.. OHara. 1t RI
ferTed TO his proposal submitted O
May 25 and said the price Of labor an
material had increased since then; thf
the cost would be further increased
pavement was first laid; that II
amount of the bond required, $500
and the fact that he would have
wait long period for the city's shal
of the cost, betwecen $4,000 and 500
would nut him to unexpected eNpens