The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-21

HeIeCl 'OunCll met In regular session
last night, and the common branch in
adjourned session. Both had very
lengthy meetings and many measures
OF more or less Importance were con-
sidered. Nothing was heard from the
street commissioner fight in select
branch. although Nominee Thomas was
on hand during the session watching
for it to come up.
The action OF city Treasurer Rob-
inson in opposing the resolution Of
1892 assigning the poor tax collectors
quarters in the treasurer's office. was
brought before councils by Mr. Chit
tenden in a resolution directing the
mayor to enforce the resolution in
question. Accompanying the resolu-
ton was a communication from John
f. Scragg, solicitor for the poor board,
reading as follows:
To the Honorable. the Select and Com.
mon Councils.
Gentlemen: For the convenience of the
public and in order to facilitate the coll
lection of poor taxes, the councils, by a
concurrent resolution, approved April |,
1873, authorized the use of a portion OF
the city treasurers office for the collec-
ton of poor taxes.
Under this resolution, and hitherto
without complaint the poor taxes have
been collected from the city trcasurers
Office since the time of its approval until
now.
IT'S a CONVENIENCE.
The convenience of that office, the col
lection there of city and school taxes. and
the general knowledge that poor taxes
may be paid there, are of such material
advantage to the public that it is desir-
a In ~ hp
taxpayers to pay their poor taxes IN
| that office be continued.
The collector of poor taxes is now
ready to proceed with the collection Of
| this years taxes, but the city treasurer
maintains that the resolution above re-
fcrred to is not binding on him and re-
| fuses to give this official quarters there
Appended is a copy of the concurrent
| resolution Of councils governing this mat
| ter all of which is respectfully presented
Tor the consideration Of your honorable
| bodies John +. Scrarr
Attorney for Poor Board.
Scranton, Pa. July %. 1899.
| Resolved, BY the Common council the
| select council concurring, that the Joint
public buildings committee be and they
| are hereby directed to provide space in
| said city trcasurers Office for the proper
| accommodation of tho said poor board ;
| all expenses to be paid by said board.
Select council approved Mr.. Chitten-
den's resolution, but when it went over
| to the other branch it was referred to
] the committee on public buildings. Mr.
Mccain advised against the resolution.
| saying it was superfluous, as the 1892
| resolution is still operative, and that
| If it was hung up in common council
| it might have the effect of deterring
the mayor from acting under the 1892
| resolution, despite the fact that it is
| his duty to enforce it without directions
| from council
| The resolution eXOnerating the Young
| Mems Christian association from 1898
| and 1899 taxes on its lots, on which the
| ruins of the burned building stand,
| was reported favorably from the judic-
| iary committee. but on attention being
| called to the fact that the property
| changed hands on July |, the resolu-
| tion was amended to cover only 1898
| and half Of 1899 and then passed unani-
| mousy.
FROM MIR. VOSBURG.
| Accompanying the resolution was a
communication from City Solicitor Vos-
| burg, addressed to Chairman Lansing
of the judiciary committee, setting
| forth that it was legal to exonerate the
| property in question, under decisions
| to the effect that where a property is
used partially for charitable purposes
and partially for rental the portion de-
| voted to charitable purposes can not be
| taxed. Messrs. Mccain, McAndrew,
| Melvin and Wagner opposed the reso-
| luton at first but when it was amend
| ed, withdrew their opposition.
Because of the vacancy existing by
| reason of the death of District Chief
| Charles Wirth the nomination of
| Charles Simrell for the South Side dis
trict was selected from the others now
| i'm the hands Of the committee and
| unanimously confirmed. The other five
| nominations were allowed to remain in
| committee.
| The following communication from
| Mayor Moir explains itself;
| To the Honorable. the Select Council
Gentlcmen:, Some Time ago / sent a
communication to you removing George
| Connors, as engineer Of the Crystal
Steamer company, for cause, viz: Al.
/ lowing steamer to become disabled
| through neglect Your committee tC
| whom the matter was referred, believed
| Nj ConnOr was not to blame, as n,
merely ubeycd orders from his superiors
The fire department committee and The
then chief being out of office cannot he
held responsible for the wanton destruc,
tion Of city property Amounting to nearly
$500. which We have i'm this case. AND
while | still believe, ana Mr.. Connor al,
mits that he was partially TO blame, un
der the circumstances I have no desire
to appear harsh or prejudiced against
| {. -.
reappOint George COnners engineer of tho
reh0hilitatCd CT! !stal steamer, subject {,
your approval Respectfully submitted,
James Moir, Mayor
The nomination was considered forth
| with and confirmed.
| APPROVAL WITHHELD.