The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-20

The contemplated discussion on the
organization of the citys fire de-
partment didn't transpire last night
as the fire committee failed for a Sec
ond time to report on the Chittenden-
Vaughan ordinance providing for
number of changes in the existing or
der of things.
Chairman Finn, of the committee,
promised at the last meeting to report
last night, but he did not do so. Mr..
Chittenden stated that the members
of the fire committee had agreed to
confer with the special committee con-
sisting of Messrs. Vaughan, oliver and
himself for the purpose of seeing If
some kind of a truce could not be
patched up and that, therefore, he
would not insist on taking the ordin-
ance out of the committees hands.
There was, however, a wee little bit
of an argument on the ordinance pro-
viding for the appointment OF two per-
manent men for the Niagara and Lib
erty Hose companies. Mr.. Finn, the
father of the measure, called it up on
third reading, whereupon Mr.. Chitten-
den moved that action be indefinitely
postponed.
There's no use in doing that" said
Mr.. Finn, we've got the money on
hand, and I think it's about time that
we North Enders got some considera-
tion from the gentleman from the
Ninth and other central city council
men"
CHITTENDEN OBJECTED.
There is absolutely no reason why
we should pass this ordinance now"
be able to stand the extra expense
this year, but how about next year?
We all know that the assessments
made by the assessors at present are
entirely too high and that If many
property owners go into court they
can succeed in having thGSr taxes re-
duced one-half in many instances.
They're going to do this, too, in the
near future, many OF them. Then, the
steel mills are going to move away
right away and that means a reduc-
ton of our revenue just $4,000 a year.
We can't afford to appoint any extra
permanent men,"
Yes we can, too" said Mr.. Finn.
"These companies are the only COM
panies in the city now having only
one man"
mo they're not, either" said Mr..
Vaughan, quickly: we've got the most
efficient company in the city in my
ward with only one permanent man.
That's the Century, which responds to
more alarms than any company in the
city" The motion to postpone was
lost by the following vote:
Yeas-Chttendcn, Schneider, Shea, McCann,
Clcmons, Wagner-6.
Nays-Finn, Costello, Thomas, James, Melvin,
Iidstone, Oliver o'Boyle, Vaughan, Coyne, Nc
Andrcw-ll.
The ordinance then passed third
reading. Mr.. Thomas Immediately called
up his ordinance providing for an extra
permanent man for the Franklins and
transferring money for his salary from
the judgments and incidentals appro-
priation.
POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Chittenden raised a point of or
der that the ordinance was out of or
der, as there is no money left in this
appropriation. The chair ruled the ordi-
nance in order, contending that coun-
ell had no official knowledge that the
appropriation was exhausted. Mr.. Chit
tenden then moved that action be in
definitely postponed and, to his great
surprise, it was adopted.
A communication was read from the
city solicitor, recommending that a
new ordinance and a new estimate be
prepared for the Nineteenth sewer dis.
trict, the only bid received having been
a great deal higher than the present
estimate, which was prepared in 1898.
The matter was referred to the sewers
and drains committee in conjunction
with the city engineer and city solic.
itor.
Mr.. James introduced an ordinance
providing for a sewer system in the
Sixth ward. and Mr.. OBoyle intro
duced a similar measure providing for
one in the Eighteenth ward.
The following resolutions were intro
duced and adopted:
BY Mr.. Lidstone-Providing for a fire
hydrant at the corner of Wyoming
avenue and Larch street.
BY Mr. Oliver-Directing the chief of