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

Under the provision of the city char
ter regulating municipal improvements,
the liens to secure the payment of the
assessments must be filed within sixty
days from the date Of the final APP
proval of the report of viewers. and in
case this is neglected the city is direct
ly liable to the contractor for the whole
expense of the improvement.
At last nights meeting of select
council the new city solicitor, 4. "A.
Nosburg, disclosed the startling fact
that in the case of the S33, 900 South
Side sewer, and the $12 600 Section G,
Of the Fifth sewer district no liens
have been filed and the sixty day limit
has long since expired. Another COM
muncation was received from City En-
gineer Phillips. stating that he had
stopped work on the Providence sewer,
Immediately upon learning Of the
irregularity.
How to deal with the dilemma proved
itself a most perpleXing question. Col
onel Sanderson led in the discussion.
His solution of the difficulty was to
refer the matter to the city solicitor to
secure from the property holders a
waiver of the irregularity. Mr.. Schnci-
der of the Eleventh ward, had this
same idea embodied in a resolution
dealing with the sewer on the South
Side. 1t provided that councils would
agree to the change i'm the speciiica.
tions, substituting brick wherever
thirty-inCh iron pipe was specified as
prayed for the property holders, con-
ditioned that the original contractors,
Dunn Bros, would consent, and that
the property holders would sign
paper agreeing to pay their assess
| ments as if the city had not by its
neglect mulcted itself for their share
as well as its own.
MIR. ROSS RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Ross presented a resolution Civ
ing Vincent O'IIora, contractor for Sec
ton {. OF the Fifth Sewer district,
authorlry to lay the 200 feet IF rIpc
he alraady has on the ground providing
| tlat n" will #gree that this pernus-
| sion will in no way affect the present
legal status of the matter, an /. thar in
| case Ire property holders will nat
agrcc to "dlcase the city from the re-
| sui s 10 It's rnglcct, the contractor will
| not come rpcr the city for th4 work
| to be done under this permission.
Colonel Sandersons motion, Mr.
! Schneider's resolution and Mr.. Ross
| resolution all passed after lengthy and
animated discussions, in which, among
| other things, reference was made to
| the power of the city to hold the for
| mer city solicitors bondsmen for the
| loss the city will be put to in case the
property holders decline to sign the
| waiver.
| Only six votes were mustered to the
support of a motion to suspend the
| rules for the purpose of confirming
| Mayor Moirs nomination of Roland
| Thomas to succeed j. }. O'Boyle as
| street commissioner, and by a similar
| division the consideration of the ap-
! pointment was prevented from going
| to its appropriate committee, the COM
| mittee on streets and bridges, of which
| Colonel Sanderson is chairman, and
| sent to the committee on light and
water, which has as its chairman, H.
| Y. Fellows, who voted against Mr..
| Thomas. and who is himself an as
| pirant for the position.
| Mr. Finn wanted to know the rca-
| son for making this departure, and in
| reply to his query, Mr.. Kearney, who
| made the motion, said; mo reason,
only that we want it referred to the
| light and water committee. That's
| all"
Mr. Chittenden contended that the
| chairman should name the commit
| tee to which the matter should be re-
| ferred, but Chairman Williams would
| not agree with him. arguing that
| council had the right to designate the
| committee.
VOTE ON THE MOTIONS.
The vote on the motion to confirm
the appointment forthwith was as fol-
| lows:
Ayes-Messrs. Ross. Thomas, James,
| Chittcnden, Sandcrson, McCann.-G
Nays-Messrs. Finn, Kearncy Roche,
| Melvin. Wagner, Schneider, Shea Eel
| lows, Schroeder, O'Boyle, Coyne, Mean
| drew, Williams.-l3.
| Absent-Mcssrs Lansing, Frable.-2,
on the motion to refer to the light
and water committee the division was:
Ayes-Messrs. Kearney. James, Roche
| Melvin, Wagner, Schneider, Shea Nc
| Cam Fellows Schroeder O'Boyle, Coyne,
| McAndrcw.-l3.
Nays-Measrs Ross, Finn, Thomas
| Chittenden, Sanderson, Wiliams.-5.
Nominations for district fire chiefs
were submitted by Mayor Moir as fol-
lows
First district-Thomas T.. Jones, Liber'
| " Hose company to succeed Joseph
| Brtlcy, also of the Iibertys.
Second dstrict-Harry Greenwood. Of
the Franklin Engine company, to sue
coed Albert +. Lewis, Of the Columbia
| Chemical Engine company
Third dstriCt-Andrew Phalcn, of the
Nay Aug Engine company, to succeed
| Michael McManus, of the Crystal Engine
| company.
Fourth district-Charles Smrell, of the
| william Connel Hose company, to sue
coed Charles Wirtz, Of the Neptune En-
giue company.
Fifth district-Michael Gcrrlty. Of tn,
| Eagle Hose company, to succeed james
j. O'Malley, deceased, also of the Eagles
Charles T.. Robinson, of the Relief En-
| gine company, to succeed Charles Ray
| nor also of the Reliefs, who was re-
| Gently made a permanent man.
The appointments We're referred u
the fire department committee.
The fire department committee
through Chairman Finn recommended
that George f.. ConnOr be reinstated
as engineer OF the Crystal company, an
! investigation having satisfied the com
| mittee that he was not to blame foI
The disabling of the steamer, for which
! Mayor Moir dismissed him. Mr.. chat
tenden and Colonel Sanderson wanted
! to know who was responsible and Mr.
Finn said that the DANA ges resulted from
an order issued by the chief and ap-
proved by the fire department commit
tee directing that the engine should be
placed in a shed i'm the rear Of city