The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-16

repairs. Councils have done their duty.
It Is a pertinent question for us to ask,
who is to blame?" Somebody is re-
sponsible. Who II Il?
John Jermyn answered: The may
or, Of course"
"Can any one inform us," queried
Mr.. Connell, why the mayor does not
execute this contract, as requested and
directed by the joint councils"
ia like to answer that question"
spoke up ex-Councilman Joseph Oil
yer, and murmur Of applause came
from the West Siders.
The mayor has not been directed to
sign that contract. A vote of the ma
jority of each branch OF councils is
required, and on the resolution in ques-
tion select council gave only ten votes"
This was followed with loud cheers
from the West Siders.
Chairman Keller interrupted long
enough to call attention to the fact
that a copy of the resolution request
ing the mayorto sign that contract was
in Secretary Atherton's possession and
1t was marked Adopted May 2 1899,
by Joint Councils. r.. II. Williams,
chairman"
Resuming, Mr.. Counell said: "Judg-
ing from the applause, there are per-
sons here who are opposed to Colonel
Boies' resolution. ! arm satisfied they
do not know all there is to this af-
fair. If they did. / have no doubt
many of them would be Of a different
mind
MAYOR KNOWS THE REASONS.
There were statements made to me
nv Ttia
whom I implicitly rely, to the effect
that there are reasons not generally
known for the delay in the execution
of the repair contract The mayor
knows the reason. He knows why
this delay occurs The public will
know why, if this paving isn't pro-
Ceeded with at once"
Long continued cheers followed Mr.
Connell's address. Then Colonel San
derson took the floor and rehearsed
the history of the asphalt repair legis-
lation from the beginning to end.
Select Councilman Chittenden next
spoke. He said he was an advocate of
a city plant, but as that is an impos-
sibility he considered the Barber con-
tract the best available solution Of the
question. The mayor. Mr.. Chittenden
a majority of both councils had voted
for that resolution.
Isn't it the duty of the mayor to
replace a contract lost by a city offic
ial?" Colonel Boies asked.
yes" said Mr.. Chittenden, but you
understand this was complicated by
Mayor Bailey's action in vetoing the
appropriation"
Mr.. Connell-"That didn't vitiate the
contract, did it? AS I look at it, all
that was necessary was to restore the
appropriation"
Mr.. Keler-"The Barber company's
attorney says they are willing to pro-
ceed without new appropriation, be-
ing satisfied that Bailey's veto was in
effective"
Mr.. Connell--"Is that contract Will
ated? Or is it a valid contract?'
MIR. Chittenden--"A part Of it was de-
clared illegal by the court"
Mr.. Connell--"Yes. but that was the
old contract. A new one, to conform
with the councils decision. was drawn
up and executed. What is the neces-
sity Of n new VOte?''
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures mayor,
you know"
new mayor. we don't have to renew all
our contracts, do we?"
Mr. Chittenden-"T know that, but I
in his position"
Mr.. Connell-"This isn't matter of
sympathy. 1t Is a purely business
/ proppstiOn.'
Mr. Chittenden-"WeI. then. as q
e IA ,.i,r
wouldn't sign the contract either, un-
der the present circumstances. without
the assurance of councils that | had a
majority of each branch behind me-"
SHOWED SOME FEELING.
Mr.. Chittenden and Mr. Connell dur
ing their dialogue, kept their feet and
talked directly one to the other. MIR
Chittenden made his last remarks
somewhat feelingly and sat down.
Mr.. Connell continued standing and
said: 'The great trouble is that there
is too much politics in this thing.
make this statement without qualifl-
cation. There is altogether too much
hid under the seat"
Mr.. Jermyn was asked TO give his
views. He did so briefly and to the
point. "Our bad paVes," he said, "art
sacrificing property from fifteen tC
twenty-five per cent, We must have
them repaired. We want the mayor
TO sign that contract. l don't know
that ] want any municipal plant, if the
manner in which the streets are clean
ed is a criterion of the way they would
be repaired under city ownership of a
repair plant"
After making comments on the way
the city is governed, Mr. Jermyn said
II can run this city as it is being rur
now 100000 year cheaper than it is
being run at present. IN put up $500.
900 in the First National bank In the
morning to back up what l say
CHEERS and laughter).
Mr.. Atherton told of two industrie.
being lost through the condition of the
streets. MIR. Oliver argued that the
Barber company was neglecting re-
pairs it had been ordered to make by
the Gas and Water company in order
TO make the streets look as bad az
possible.
At this juncture Mayor Mor came
in and at the suggestion of C. +. Whit
temore he was asked to take the floor
II didn't come here To talk said Hi!
Honor. Il merely wanted to hear wha
was going on. will say though that
am waiting for the legislative branch
of the government TO act. When th'
proper time comes 1 will sign the con
tract, if ii is all right. l have not beeI
instructed 10 sign it as yet"
If that is the case" said Mr.. Con
nell 1.-The mayor is certainly exonerat