The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-11

The estimates committee last night
after only three meetings, completed
its work on the appropriation ordin-
ancc. This is a record breaker in the
matter of time consumed in drafting an
appropriation ordinance.
The committee started out with $375.-
S97 &c to provide for and only $780,, 1850
to do it with. At the two previous
meetings the committee cut off $5O,O99.
When the meeting began last night
there was still $22, ,S4S26 to top off.
This was effected by whole slicing
right and left. The salary of the clerk
of common council was cut from 5000
to $500 The $4,000 appropriation for
repairing the new bridges was cut in
half. A cut of 81 900 was made in the
$1,000 item for cleaning sewers and
drains: $1,000 was taken OFF the $4,000
for cleaning asphalt pavcs; 500 was
knocked off the $1,500 for special re-
pairs on Elm street, Mulberry street,
near the park, and Jackson street in
Kcyscr valley. $3.50 being allowed for
Elm street, $3.50 for Mulberry and $500
for Jackson street
Ten per cent. was cut pro rata from
the ward appropriations, thereby saw
ing s1,59J.
Incidentals in the police department
was cut from 5000 to 500. The pur-
chase of hose item was reduced from
900 to $500. Delivery stations for
the library were estimated to cost 81
400, but only $1,000 was allowed. and
$1,000 was taken from the $4,000 for
judgments and incldentals IN the gen
eral city account
1t was in the deficiencies account
that the big cuts were made. All told
it was estimated that $22, 246.95 would
he wanted for this item. The commit
tee couldn't see it's way clear to pro-
vide that amount and decided to ignore
the most of them, allowing them to
bring judgments ard be charged
against judgments and incidentals.
Such of them as are departmental over
drafts are to be paid out Of this years
appropriations for the items against
which the deficiency is chargeable.
THESE MUST WAIT.
The deficiencies that were entirely
ignored We're: Treasurer's department,
&G.25; maintenance of city hall. $2757;
ward appropriations, $4S9 GO: judgments
approved by city solicitor, Si,2l699;
viewers costs, S4,4i7S9: miscellaneous
general city,, $2514G; opening Price
street, $500. For the $l,391.4l deficiency
in the street commissioners depart
ment, $1,000 was appropriated, and for
the S4,33i.46 deficiencies in the fire de-
partpept an allowance of $1,000 was
made. These allowances were made
with the understanding that labor
claims were to be preferred.
The salary of the assistant city clerk
was raised from 5 900 to $1,000; $500
was appropriated for repairing the
Franklin and General Phinney steam
ers, and 500 allowed for repairs to
engine houses.
Hon. j. a. Scranton ana a. P. Bed
ford. chairman and secretary respec-
lively of the park commission, were at
the meeting TO press their demands
for liberal appropriation for park i'm
prOvements. Mr.. Scranton said that
other cities can afford to take care
of their parks, and he didn't see why
this city should not do so. The plans
adopted for the Improvement Of Nay
Aug park call for an expenditure of
100000. The park commissioners pro.
pose to make these Improvements grad
ually. During the coming year inn
provements costing $4,000 are in view.
The commissioners would like to have
that amount, Mr.. Scranton said, in
addition to what has already been ap-
propriated.
Originally the commissioners asked
for $20,029 for all the parks. The COM
mittee cut this down to $4,000. The or
dinance as finally approved leaves the
appropriation at $4,000. OF this amount
$3.50 is for Nay Aug park Mr.. Wag-
ner and Mr.. Keller tried to transfer
to Nay Aug park the $1,50O taken from
the ward appropriations, but We're not
successful.
Mr.. oliver preCipitated a tilt with Mr.
Keller by moving to cut $1,000 off the
s17,52O for asphalt repairs. Mr.. Keller
said that this appropriation was to
meet the contract made with the Bar
Der company and could not be cut.
MUST REPAIR ASPHALT.
Mr.. Keller followed this up with o
speech criticizing the action of coun-
ellis in the past, in neglecting to repair
the asphalt streets.
"They have got to be re-paved this
year if we have to leave everything
else CO." said Mr.. Keller with feeling
and emphasis
"Oh, l don't know" Mr.. Oliver re-
torted. There are other streets"
Then the gentleman from the Fif-
teenth made the statement that one
sixth of the total city revenue is de-
voted to the repair and cleaning of as
phalt streets and intimated that this
was not as it should be.
Mr.. Keller replied by calling Mr.. Oil
vers attention to the fact that property
holders on the asphalted streets had
invested over half a million dollars in
this Improvement and with the under
standing that the city would keep the
pavement cleaned and repaired. If it
took half the city revenue to do this,
it would have to be done, Mr.. Keller
contended, as those property holders
expect. and justly, too that the city
will keep faith with them.
Mr.. Wagner thought that the s12, ,0OO
item for cleaning asphalt could be cut
in half, this year, considering the fact
that many Of them will be torn up by
the repairers during the greater por-
tion of the summer and can't therefore
be cleaned.
SHuh man NellSI dshSu street COM
missioner what he had to say to this.
Mr. O'Boyle said $4,000 was little
enough and that it would be simply a
waste Of money to attempt to clean
fourteen miles of street with $4,000. The
| item was allowed to stand. Mr.. San
| derson made a speech against cutting
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