The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-13
LUTHER KELLER
ON THE LIBRARY
SPOKE AT LAST NIGHTS MEET
ING OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Opposed the Resolution Directing
That Library Claims Come Before
Auditing Committee and Showed
That at Present Vouchers Are
Paid Only After Receiving Four
Distinct Signatures - Contended
Also That the Deed of Trust Takes
Library Out of Councils Hands.

Common Councilman Luther Keller
succeeded last night in having the reso-
luton providing for the auditing of all |
public library claims by the auditing |
referred to special COM
mittee to act in conjunction with the |
city solicitor. He also made a lengthy |
speech against the resolution, in which |
he introduced arguments that could |
not be refuted by any of those favor |
ing the measure.
After claiming that the resolution is |
a positive reflection upon the present
excellent management of the library,
he stated that he had gone to Mr.. Mel
win, who introduced 1t, and asked for
his reasons for so doing. There were
three or four offered by that gentle
man, he said, the first being that as
at present arranged, lone man runs the
whole thing. the librarian"
Mr. Keller then produced voucher,
or warrant, upon the treasurer for n
payment of a bill and showed that it
had upon it four signatures, that OF
Librarian Carr, that of Rev. Rogers
Israel, chairman of the library COM
mittee; that of Thomas Dale, chair
man OF the finance committee, and that
of Alfred Hand. president of the board.
After passing through the hands of the
first three gentlemen, Mr.. Keller said
that the warrant had to pass the whole
board of trustees before it could be
paid. This, he said, didn't look like
zone man running the whole thing"
Another point that Mr. Melvin had
t. .i,,A
library should be run the same as every
other city department. There was
some grounds for this argument, Mr..
Keller contended, but not a great DEAL
He produced the ordinance passed by
councils, accepting the deed of trust
for the library property from the AL
bright heirs. He showed that in this
ordinance, and in the deed of trust
itself, there is a clause which reads,
"the library shall be managed and con-
trolled by board of sixteen trustees"
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE.
He claimed that this clause in itself
practically does away with the whole
question and amended the original mo-
ton to read that the matter be re-
ferred to a special committee in con-
junction with the city solicitor. Mr..
Grier. who had made the motion to
concur spoke against the amendment
very vigorously, and said that If coun-
ellis appropriated the money they
should see how it was spent. When
asked to explain how the clause in the
deed, mentioned above, could be bridged
over, he admitted that he couldn't
argue along that line.
Mr.. Calpin favored the passage Of
the original resolution, arguing as had
Mr.. Grier. Mr.. Zizelman stated that
every month the auditing committee
received a statement of the money eX-
pended out of the library appropria-
tion and though ii was not itemized it
should be sufficient. Mr.. Keller's
amendment to refer to committee was
carried by the following vote, those
voting in the negative being all Demo-
Gratis
Yeas-Reesc GrifHths, Godshan, Zizelman,
Tewkesbury, Nagcli Wenzel, Watkins, Keller, T.
+. Monis-l0
Nays-Gricr, Calpin, Ruanc, Phillips, Calvin,
Coleman, Cusck, Norton--s.
Mr.. Grier thereupon arose and made
the rather astonishing statement that
as no special number of members was
provided in Mr. Kellers amendment,
that therefore the whole council COM
prised the committee, and he wanted
the matter brought up again. Chair
man Griffiths ruled that the matter
| lay at the discretion of the chair, and
accordingly appointed the following
committee Messrs. Keller, Tewkes-
bury, Zizelman, II. F. Morris and Cal
pin. Thus was the incident closed, fol
| the present at least.
| Mr.. Watkins introduced, as had beer
| anticipated, the ordinance providing
for the issuance of s273, ,2O5.Sl worth oI
sewer bonds. He introduced an accom-
panying resolution providing that the
city clerk on the passage " the or
dlnancc, print the same in the news
papers of the city. This resolution was
adopted.
TO MOVE HOSE COMPANY.
Mr. Wenzel introduced a resolution
providing for the removal Of one of thu
North Scranton hose companias from
| West Market street to a position at th'
corner of North Main avenue alt
Providence road. This was introduced
he said, in behalf of NJ. V. Morris, wht
was absent. Mr.. Grer moved tina
action be postponed until Mr.. Morris
is present to explain the resolution
The motion TO postpone was adopted.
The following resolutions were in
troduced and passed:
Bv Mr.. Godshall-Permitting George Cooper t.
connect with the Hyde Park avenue sewer.
BY MIR. Wenzel-Directing the city clerk q
advertise for bids for furnishing rubber and COZ
ton hose.
BY Mr.. Reese--Providing for a partial rclcls
of the bond of the Grard Construction company
contractor for the Providence pavement
Mr.. Calpin re-introduced a llcens
tax ordinance, which is practically tn
same as last years. A number of tn
minor provisions of the latter, how
ever, are left out. The ordinance pro
yiding for the filing of the approache
to the Bloom avenue culvert was ne
ported favcrahly upon by committe
and passed two readings.
New ordinances were introduced a
follows:
By Mr.. Nagei--Providing for the narrowing
the roadway and widening of the sidewalks o
Prescott avenue, between Olive and Ash streets
By Mr.. Phillips Providing that the Scranto
| Railway company snail DC compeleu 10 sprhh
all unpaved streets over which their tracks. m
at least twice day for a space eight feet eac
side of the same and providing for a penalty
s25 for a violation of the first provision.
By r. +. Morrs-Proyiding for a sewer q
Railroad avenue.
By Mr.. Uusick-Providing for the constructic
Of stone sidewalks on both sides OF Fig stree
between Pitston and Stone avenues.
- N cTND1N