The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-30
ASPHALT CONTRACT
UP TO THE MAYOR
CoMMoNERs PASS APPRoPRIA-
TIoN ORDINANCE FINALLY.
They Also Kill the Scranton Tele-
phone Company's Ordinance by
Vote of 10 to 2-The Lackawanna
Telephone Ordinance Which Was
Defeated Two Weeks Ago Is Rein
troduced and Referred for Print
ing-Reasons Are Given for oppos-
ing the Telephone Ordinance.

The asphalt repair contract is now
up to the mayor. The ordinance re-
appropriating the S17,520 TO meet the
contract was passed finally In common
council last night. 1t received thirteen
of the seventeen votes and at least two
of the four absent members would have
voted for it had they been present IL
their positions on the question have
not undergone a radical change within
a very recent period.
Mr.. Morris, of the Eighteenth, was
the only member to discuss the much
discussed measure. He made jab at
the giant octopus" by suggesting that
the ordinance be held over until the
city had had sufficient time to prop
erly consider the other propositions for
repairing the streets, especially the
municipal plant idea. The black
monster" however, survived the jab
The vote was:
Ayes-NIessrs. Reese, Grier, Grifiiths,
Calpln, Ruane, Zzemann, Tewkesbury,
Monaghan, Harvey, Wenzel, Smith, Gu
sick, keller-13.
Nays-Messrs. NJ. V. Morris, Walker,
It. f. Morris, Nerton-4.
The Scranton Telephone Company's
ordinance was called up on third read
ing by Mr.. Calpin, after the asphalt
measure had been disposed of, and Ii
was given all but sixteen of the eigh-
teen votes that were cast. Not salts
fled with killing it, motion was made
by its opponents to reconsider It and
the motion was defeated so that II can
never be cNlled up again.
When Mr.. Tewkesbury moved to pass
the ordinance on third reading, Chair
man Keller put the motion before the
house and leaned back in his chair to
hear the discussion. There was no dis
cussion forthcoming, albeit, and Mr..
Keller was constrained to make a
speech himself.
MIR. KELLER'S REASONS.
He was not satisfied, he said, with
the clause in the ordinance regulating
the laying of wires underground within
the fire limits. The fire limits was
an indefinite boundary, he thought. 1t
would be a grave mistake not to care
fully and thoroughly safeguard the
city's interests in this matter. He was
not opposed to the ordinance. but could
not bring himself to vote for it in it's
present indefinite shape.
Mr.. Zizelmann explained to the chair
man what the fire limits" are and Mr..
Calpin said good word for the ordi-
nance and contended that there was
nothing indefinite about it, but on the
other hand, was a clear, concise meas
ure offering most liberal terms to the
city.
Mr.. Tewkesbury called attention to
~ 4 IA
that as fast as the fire limits were ex-
tended the wires within the limits
| should be put underground.
Mr.. Keller questioned the correctness
| Of this, citing the clause, 'if such ac-
| ton be necessary or convenient for the
| public" The clause ought to be made
| mandatory, Mr.. Keller said. He also
| said the ordinance should he given more
consideration. He himself had not had
| opportunity to even read it over before
| last night.
Mr.. Calpin thought this was an un-
| fair statement, inasmuch as the ordi.
nance, although only reported from
committee last Thursday, had practic.
ally been in the hands of the council.
men for three weeks.
Mr. Keller reiterated his assertion
that he had not had opportunity to read
the ordinance previous to last night.
SOME OTHER OPINIONS.
Mr.. Zizelmann was heartily in favo
of the ordinance, but was opposed t
railroading any measure through coun
ellis. Mr.. Wenzel said ditto. Mr. Kel
Ter would have it understood that h,
was not opposed to the measure. N,
one more than he realized the neces
sity of a better telephone service. H
could not, however, vote Tor the meas
ure in it's present shape.
Nine members voted for the meas
ure, but seven of them, Messrs. Grier
Walker, Calpin, Rpane, Monaghan, T
f. Morris, changed their votes after /
was seen that it was defeated. TIL
vote as finally recorded was as follows
Ayes-Messrs. Tewkesbury and Nor
ton-2.
Nays-Nes srs Reese, NJ. " Morris
Grifiths, Zizelmann, Harvey, Monaghan
Wenzel Coleman smith, Cusick, Calpir
Walker T. F. Norris, Grier, Keller
| Ruane-lG.
Absent-Mcssrs, Nagcli, Phillips, Wat
kins-3.
Nov, Mr.. Chairman" quoth MI
Grier, ito give them chance to amen
the ordinance. move that we recon
slider our action" The motion was los
on a tie vote.
Ayes-Messrs. Grier Walker, Calpir
Ruane Zizelmann, Teewkesbury, Nor
Afghan, Norton, Keller-9.
Nays-Messrs. Reese, NJ. V. Morris
Grifiths, Harvey, Wenzel, Coleman, +
+. Morris. Smith, Cusick-9.
IS STILL WITH US.
Under the head OF new business NJ
| NJ. V. Morris re-introduced the Lack
awanna telephone ordinance. whic
two weeks ago was treated as wa
the Scranton ordinance last night. /
crler to evade the law forbidding tn
e-introduction of an ordinance tha
has been defeated the measure wa
changed about slightly. 1t was referre
for printing.
Under the head Of new business OF
dances were introduced appropriatin
$4OO to settle d. A. O'Connor's damag
claim; providing for electric lights
the Second ward: providing for IL
laying of flag stone sidewalks G
Wayne avenue. between Market an
Parker street, and on William stree
between Brick and Meylert avenue
and a resolution to repair the Cryst
steamer.
Another Case of Rheumatism Cure
g..