The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-04
GRIER'S RESOLUTION.
It Is Apt to Cause Some Debate at
the Next Meeting of the
Select Council.

There's going to be a fight in select
council over the passage of a resolu-
ton which Councilman Grer of the
Third ward, succeeded in getting
through the common branch last
Thursday night without much oppsi-
ton.
The resolution provides that the
controller shall transfer $526 from the
unexpended balance in the street light
ing appropriation for the year 1899
for the payment of eight new electric
lights provided for in ordinances pass
ed some time ago. Now, the last
clause of the appropriation ordinance
for this year directs that the city
controller transfer all unexpended bal
ances to the judgments and inciden-
tails account for the year 1900.
Therefore, it is argued that no bal
ance exists and none can accordingly
be transferred. A prominent council
man said last night: "The thing
don't like about this resolution is that
the resolution was drawn up in Depu-
ty Controller Hartley's handwriting.
1 saw it and I know his writing.
What business has he, knowing that
he has been directed by the appro-
priation ordinance to transfer all un-
expended balances to the judgment and
incidentals account, to look up for
any councilman and show him where
there are any balances remaining. I
don't think it was a proper thing to
do and you'll see when the resolution
comes up in select council that it will
be referred to committee with in
structions to find out if Mr.. Hartley
has done his duty in the matter or
not"
Deputy Controller Hartley, when
seen yesterday by Tribune man. and
asked for his side of the case, didn't
seem to think very much about the
matter at all. He showed a copy of
letter sent by him to councils on
April 49, or two weeks after the pas
sage of the appropriation ordinance.
In this letter he called the attention
of councils to the fact that there was
sufficient money remaining in the 1899
appropriation to pay for five lights
and that there was an extra appro-
priation sufficient for three lights In
this years appropriation ordinance He
asked councils what they were going
to do about it, after giving a list of
the electric light ordinances already
passed the same list that is contained
in Mr.. Grier's ordinance.
The communication vas referred TO
the light and water committee, but
no action on 1t was taken by that
body. Mr. Hartley also quoted another
clause of the appropriation ordinance,
which reads: "The city controller shall
not merge any appropriation made for
specific improvements in any year un-
| less such improvements have been
| completed"
Il contend" said Mr.. Hartley, "that
electric lights are specific improve
ments, and that, therefore, the last
clause of the appropriation ordinance
| has no hearing on the uneXpended
| balance remaining in the electric light
account. l sent this communication TO
| councils as you see some two months
ago but no action was taken on 1t.
"As to my looking the thing up for
Mr.. Grier and writing the resolution
admit that. The information was
public property ever since my w)m-
munication to councils, so that it didn't
require much looking up. Besides
I've just as much right to write reso-
lutions as has the city solicitor or the
city clerk, and they prepare them for
councilmen very often. AS to this talk
of investigating this office to see If we
do our duty here, guess we can stand
about all the investigation they can
give u.s."