The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-28

for the Purchase of Hose-New !
Measures introduced.
Notwithstanding the ill-advised op-
position of Treasurer Robinson Poor
Tax Collector Farr will have the use
OF the quarters set apart for the poor
tax collector by the public buildings
committee of councils. now used by
Poor Tax Collector Finn and which
have been used by his predecessors
ever since 1893
The resolution directing the mayor
to enforce the resolution requiring the
city treasurer to sfEre the office with
the poor tax collector was favorably
reported, and unanimously. from the
public buildings committee at last
nights common council meeting and
the council by an overwhelming ma
jority approved the committees report
and adopted the resolution. The op-
ponents were in such a minority that
to avoid showing their strength, or
rather weakness, they refrained from
asking for a roll call
The resolution now goes to Mayor
Moir and he stated in an interview
with Tribune reporter that he would
not hesitate in enforcing it's mandate.
An ordinance transferring 81, 500 from
the appropriation for widening Mates
street to the appropriation for the
purchase of hose and providing for
the purchase of hose to the amount
of the transfer was introduced by Mr..
Zizelman of the fire department COM
mittee, and, after being modified to
some extent, passed on first and second
readings.
MR.. ZIZELMAN'S REASON.
In it's original shape the ordinance
directed the city clerk to invite sealed
proposals from the New York Betting
and Packing company, the Gutta Per-
cha and Rubber Manufacturing COM
pany and the Revere Rubber company.
Mr.. Calpin wanted to know the reason
for restricting the invitations to these
three particular companies and to this
Mr.. Zizelmon replied that 1t was for
the purpose of Fastening the purchase
of hose and to avoid receiving bids
from dealers who have an inferior
quality of hose, but a superior quality
of agents. In a word, he wanted to
safeguard the committee from buying
gold bricks.
Mr.. Wenzel and Mr.. Nageli Joined
Mr.. Calpin in opposing the restriction
, and when it appeared that the two
sides would possibly have a misun-
derstanding that might endanger the
ordinance President Keller offered
suggestion, by way of compromise,
that the number of invitations be in
creased to five and that no particular
| firms be mentioned. 1t was an un-
usual kind of proposition. he admitted
but something ought to be done, even
! if it was an unusual something, to
avoid the scandal that is given by the
| troop of hose agents who come tramp
! ing around here any time there is d
| hCse contract to be let.
Mr.. Calpin couldn't see how Mr. Kel-
! ler's proposition was going to help
matters, or how the scandal given by
| tie agents was going to hurt coun-
| ellis. Mr.. WenZel was not aware OF
any scandals in connection with the
| letting of hose President Keller said
he himself knew of no scandalous
| doings in this connection, but he mad
heard some rumOrs and rumors, he
vouchsafed, were often founded on
facts. And it ended there.
Mr.. Grier and Mr.. Calpin held a
brief whispered conversation and, when
it was concluded, the former hurried
TO his place and offered an amendment
in conformity with President Kellers
| compromise suggestion. Mr.. Wenzel
| proposed as an amendment to the
| amendment that the word five" be
stricken out. This finally prevailed and
the clause was made to read: THAT
the city clerk be directed to invite bids
from different manufacturers of rub.
Der hose"
MIR. KELLER EXPLAINED.
When the ordinance was ready fol-
the house President Keller offered the
information that he and Mr.. Chittender
had waited upon the Lackawanna Iror
and Steel company's officials with G
view of having them make good thei,
promise to join with the city in payinl
for the widening Of Mates street bu
being unable to get any satisfaction
agreed to allow the $1,000 to be uset
for the purchase Of much needed hose.
The 1900 in itself would not bt
more than half enough to make tht
necessary improvements on Mates
street and as there is little or no hop,
of getting another $500 either from
the city funds or the Lackawanna Irol
and Steel company, it was deemed un
wise to allow the money to be idle an!
longer and the mayor was told to TAX
it and turn it over to the fire depart
ment
The ordinance creating the cfTice o
assistant chief and fire marshal ant
doing away with the Offices of dlstrlc
chiefs and fire department clerk ais
passed first and second reading aftc
being favorably reported from the fir
department committee by Mr.. Zizle
man.
Ordinances for two sewer basins 4
the Thirteenth ward; for an addition
al permanent man for the Eagle hos
company; for an electric light at tn
corner of Gibson street and Prescott
avenue, and for a fire alarm box at tn
same corner, all Of which improve
ments are provided for out of the elec
trio light surplus of $4,000, which ha
already been attacked to the eXten
of $4,000, were passed on third reading
President Keller voted against each c
them in turn.
ON THIRD READING.
Ordinances for paving Linden stree
; between Monroe and Webster avenu,
and for narrowing Sanderson avenu
between Green Ridge and East MarkC
streets, passed also third reading.
The ordinance transferring $216 frol
the appropriation for repairing tn
Franklin engine to the appropriate
| for repairing the Franklin engine hous
was objected to by President Keller o