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


Moir last night the following nomina-
tions:
John II. Walker to succeed p. ].
Hickey as chief Of the fire depart
ment. term expired.
F.. j. Widmayer to succeed T. n. Gull
len as food and milk inspector, term
expired.
John McColligan and Thomas Col
Inns, now acting as extra patrolmen,
to fill the two new positions on tn"
police force provided for by the esti-
mates ordinance.
Frank Henderson, as inspector OF
West Market street pave.
James Johnson as inspector of
Honesdale street and Won Storch ave-
nue. sewer.
The police appointments were con-
firmed forthwith unanimously, but the
others were referred to committee.
A motion to suspend the rules to
confirm forthwith the nomination of
Mr.. Walker received only eight Of the
required two-thirds vote, or fourteen.
The vote was as follows:
Ayes-Messrs. Ross. Williams, James,
Chittenden, Wagner, Sanderson, Eel
! lows, Lansing--S
Nays-Messrs. Finn, Kearney, Thomas,
Roche, Melvin. Schneider, Shea. Schroc-
der. O'Boyle. Frablc, Coyne. McAndrcw.
-12.
Absent--Mr Mccain.
On the motion to forthwith consider
the nomination of Mr.. Widmayer, the
division was as follows:
Ayes-Messrs. Ross, williams, James,
Chittenden, Wagner, Schneider, Sander
son, Fellows Schroeder, Lansing-10.
Neys-Messls. Finn, Kcarney, Thimas,
Roche, Melvin, Shea, O'Boylc, Frable,
Coyne McAndrew--10.
The Chief Hickey matter precipitat-
ed controversy that occupied nearly
an hour Of the two hours and ten min
utes that the council was in session
1t was precipitated by the following
communication from the mayor:
MAYOR ATTRIBUTES CAUSE.
Mayors Office, Scranton, May 4. 1899.
| To the Honorable, the Select Council.
Gentlemen: At your last meeting April
| 20, L sent in a communication, announc-
| ing that the term of p. ]. Hickey, as
chief of the fire department, had expired,
and likewise named a successor. For
some reason, probably pressure of bust
ness, this communication was not consid-
cred by you. / therefore deemed it my
| duty to take action at once. for two rea-
| sons: First, Mr.. Hickey's term had ex-
| pired, and, second, / have official infor-
nation from the controller that Mr..
Hickey, as chief of the fire depart
ment, had largely overdrawn his appro-
| priations Of last year and created there
| by an appalling deficiency in that de-
partment
While am cognizant of the fact that
| that the appropriation was being over
drawn, still Chief Hickey was culpable
| in allowing his appropriations to be
| overdrawn, and further he knowingly
| incurred claims against the city on his
| own responsibility and without the con-
| sent or knowledge of councils.
Such action on the part of the head Of
any department is not only reprehensibe
| but against the law. On page 90, city
digest of laws, we find the followng
Amy head of any department who shall
incur any liability beyond the amount
| appropriated shall be liable to removal
| from his office" Being aware of this l
| believed 1t to be my duty to ask Chief
| Hickey to retire as his term Of office
| had expired, and l placed the department
| in charge Of the veteran firman, George
| Suydam who is now acting chief pending
your action in confirming a successor to
| Chief Hickey. Respectfully yours,
James Moir. Mayor
The communication, on motion of Mr..
Finn, was received and filed, and the
matter slumbered until new business
| was reached, when it was caused to
| erupt by a resolution offered by Mr..
| Frable, directing that the horse and
| wagon of the chief engineer of the fire
department be placed in the custody
of "Chief" L. ]. Hickey until such
| time as his successor was duly quail
| fed.
| RULED 1T OUT OF ORDER.
| Chairman Williams ruled the reso-
luton out of order. Mr. Chittenden, in
this connection, criticized the action
| of the joint fire department committee
in usurping the power OF the mayor
| by designating a certain man to act as
chief OF the fire department.
Later Mr.. Frable introduced another
resolution directing that the horse and
wagon be placed in the custody of p.
j. Hickey for the use of the fire de-
| partment. Mr.. Williams ruled it out
of order on the ground that it was
the same as the preceding one.
After a lengthy debate the matter
was brought to an end by Mr.. Frable's
| appeal from the decision of the chair.
| Mr.. Schroeder did not take kindly to
this extreme measure and moved to
! adjourn. Rather than cause an ad-
| journment Mr. Frable, at Mr.. Roche's
| solicitation, withdrew his appeal