The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-21

City Controller Esdras Howell, who
has recently pleased all the minework-
ers in the county by certifying, before
the proper time, the contracts for two
large sewers, so that the striking
miners of the Mt. Pleasant mine could
be put to work upon them. is without a
doubt the most good-natured man in
the entire city. If anyone doubts this,
just let them be in his company for
just about three minutes and they will
have all their doubts dispelled.
He has never been known to engage
in any conversation for a longer period
than five minutes without laughing,
and his laugh is as sincere and as
hearty as ever a laugh can be. In fact,
he laughs himself through life. If you
meet him on the street, in the street
car, or in the barber shop, he can't even
say good morning" or good evening"
without laughing. and there's not a
pleasanter home in the city than his.
The controller is only a little bit over
four feet tall, but he has managed to
make himself a pretty big man in
municipal affairs. He has taken de-
termincd stand on good many points,
and he hasn't budged from any posi-
tion he has taken until compelled to do
so by court. 1t is generally conceded
that there has never been a more care
full audit of city accounts than under
his direction. New systems have to a
large extent been introduced into the
office since he assumed mis- position, and
these have tended to greatly facilitate
the work Of supervision and to lessen
the possibility OF mistake.
1t will be remembered that the con-
troller secured the Democratic nominal
tion very easily. and there are rumors
already afoat that he will be the next
Democratic candidate for mayor.
John II. Phillips. who was elected to
NIL the uneXpired term of the late D.
/. Phillips on the Scranton board OF
control, as the representative from the
Fifth ward, is one OF the hest known
men in West Scranton, where he has
been a resident all his life. He has
been letter carrier in this city ever
since the free delivery system was in
augurated and is one of the most act
i've workers in the ranks of the mail
carriers.
As a delegate to the national con-
ventlon Of letter carriers, held at
Toledo in 1898. Mr.. Phillips was in
strumental in bringing the convention
to Scranton in 1899, and to his efforts
much Of the success of the celebration
here last year was due. Controller
Phillips is an unassuming young man.
courteous, conscientious and hard
working official, and Is in every way
m I,tti
ing upon him through the untimely
death of his brother.
Mr.. Phillips is past president of the
Robert Morris lodge of Ivorites, mem.
ber Of Hyde Park lodge, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, and is prominently
identified with city politics. He is a
Republican, and has never held pub
lie office before He will be the SUPER
intendent of the sub-postoffice which
will be located in West Scranton in the
near future. 1t will be a position of
great Importance, and will call for
display of the executive ability he is
so abundantly supplied with.
Some few men really do not like to
see their names in print, and occupy
ing a very prominent place in that
very pronounced minority is the acting
sheriff of Lackawanna county, Frank
Ryan. That is the principal reason
the public seldom sees any refer
ence to him in the newspapers, ex-
cept when his name is essen
tial to an item of news. He is one of
the most popular men regularly en-
countered by the reporters, and IL
would be a matter OF real pleasure to
them to occasionally vent their appre-
citation of his favors in a pleasant per-
sonal paragraph or two, but an early
realization OF the fact that this sort of
thing is far from being to his liking
results in the reporter having to be
content to mention him only when
there Is an actual necessity for so
doing.
For the purpose OF broadening his
acquaintanceship. newspaper notice
would be a waste of space. He knows
and is known by everyone, it might be
said, worth knowing in all the region
round, and among his closest "cronies"
are some of the countys most promi-
nent citizens. This is especially true OF
the old-timers, and scarcely a day
passes that some of them do not drop
into the sheriffs office to Join him in a
reminiscent chat, or a discussion on
current events. He i. a veritable mine
Of information on local persons and
things, and his knowledge is remark
able for its completeness. This, coupled
with an interesting way he has of
spinning a yarn, assures him eager
ears, when, with his invariable well,
do you know, sir?" he wheels around
from his desk and begins a yarn and
takes turn in a discussion.
Hon Nelson II Underwood 1,ptiI ,a-