The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-27
ESTIMATES BILL
IN COMMON COUNCIL
PASSES TWO READINGS AFTER
AN ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE.

Mayor elect Moir Assails the A, phalt
Repair Contract and Tells How He
Was "Buncoed" Into Supporting
the Measure Before Election-Says
Now That 1t Is Damnable Meas
ure and Full of Corruption-Mr.
Keller Says "Bosh" IN an Indirect
Way to Mr. Moir's Remarks.
Common council met Saturday night
in adjourned session and passed the
annual appropriation ordinance on two
readings. 1t then adjourned to Tues
day night to pass it on final reading.
The meeting was an extremely lively
! one. a redhot speech by Mayor-eect
Moir on the asphalt repair contract be-
ing the main feature.
The fun opened with a motion by Mr..
Walker to take 81 500 from the $1,000 ap-
preparation for the repairs of sewers
and drains and transfer it to the re-
pair of the Hyde Park avenue sewer.
Mr.. Keller moved to lay the amend
ment on the table.
WI. w amer NdulFu " MAKE an eN-
planation, but the chair ruled him out
of order on the ground that a motion
| to table was not debatable Mr. Grier
! tried to put in q word, but the chair
| would not recognize him. Mr.. Grier in
| sisted upon talking, but the chair in
sisted just as strongly that he shouldn't
! talk.
Chairman Moir threatened to adjourn
7 the mpgtinU If (,riat- II -
| side. Mr.. Grer made some retort about
"bossism,' and the chair. with some
show of anger said that if there was
a sergednt-at-arms at hand he would
have Mr.. Grier removed.
CHAIR WON OUT.
The chair finally won out, and the
vote on the amendment was taken. The
amendment was lost and the chair
thereupon declared the whole ordinance
lost on the ground that if an amend
ment is tabled the measure itself is also
! tabled.
There was no end of confusion follow
ing this ruling. Members rushed hither
and thither, all talking at once and all
demanding to be heard Mr. Grier sue
ceeded in securing the attention of the
chair and moved to reconsider action
on the amendment. This was done and
| then a motion prevailed to not adopt
the Walker amendment
GAVE MOIR THE CUE.
Mr. Keller then attempted to bring
the ordinance up on first reading, but
T. +. Morris got ahead Of him with an
amendment to transfer the item of $l7,-
500 for asphalt repairs from the city
| nnpinnar'c fap,,tr1apf 20
commissioners
This was Captain Moir'S cue for a
rabid anti-asphalt speech. Calling Mr..
Keller 70 the chair, he took the floor
and proceeded to assail the Barber
company and the asphalt repair con-
! tract in no uncertain terms.
He had been "buncoed" into voting
in favor Of the contract he said. but
now that his eyes had been opened, he
wanted to set himself right before the
public. He believed the asphalt repair
ing could be done for half of $l7520, and
was himself in favor Of u municipal
plant for asphalt repairing such as
Wilkes Barre has.
COUNCILMEN WE'RE BADGERED.
Last summer when the asphalt repair
matter was before councils, the Mayor
elect went on to say. the councilmen
We're SO badgered that they could not
make use of their common sense Mr.
Roche introduced an ordinance looking
to the repairing of asphalt streets foI
$4,000 year, but Notwithstanding that
it was perfectly practicable and legal
ordinance, it was killed.
TO enter upon this contract would
bankrupt the city, Captain NIuir pro-
tested. Something should be done tC
call a halt to the Barber company. He
had an idea as to how this company
maintained its hold on the city coun.
ellis and II was a crying shame. he said
that the company should be allowed tC
prey upon the public and BULLDOG,
everybody. The contract was a damn.
able measure, full of corruption, and he
wanted to put himself on record against
it,
Mr. Keller. who introduced the ordi.
nance providing for repairing asphalt
streets by contract, replied to Captain
Mor's speech in equally virulent terms
He was surprised, he said, to hear The
mayor-elect admit that he was buncoed
and would like to see any company tha
could place him in position where h,
would have to admit that he had beer
Tie then went on 10 say that Captain
Moir's talk about the repair contrac
being a big steal was ridiculous Th,
city could not repair the streets for $50
600 II year, he contended. The contrac
vas advertised and the Barber com
/ pany was the lowest bidder. He ha,
given the subject careful study and wa
satisfied that the bid was 4 very rca
sunable one. The vote on the amend
mcnt was then called and resulted il
l its defeat by this vote:
AMENDMENT DEFEATED.
l Ayes-Messls Walker, Zizlemdn, Nag
eli, Wirth. Jackson. Oliver. r. J.. Nor
ris, Moir--S.
Nays-Messrs. Reese, NJ V. Morris
Grier Gritiths, Calpin, Glroy, Mona
: CHAN, Wen2el, Coleman, Keller, Sheri
!, dan, CUsick-l2.
The ordinance Was called up on see
= ond reading and passed by a vote a
II 10 :, Mr.. NaGeli changing over