The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-12

Position Indefinitely but Is An
xious to Get Down on the Floor
Again-The Retiring and New
Chairman Of the Select Council.
Prof. Grant, the Principal Of the
High School, and the Work He Il
Doing for That Institute.
Chairman Luther Keller Of common
council expects to relinquish the ga,el
the first Monday of next month to w.
v. Griffiths. the Republican member
from the Fourth. who has been chosen
by his party caucus to stand for the
Craftsmanship. Mr.. Keller retires from
the chain because OF his belief that he
would be of more service TO his con-
stituents on the floor. iIc could con-
tinue In the office, 1t Is safe to say.
as long as he would desire to act in
that capacity and the Republicans
continue in control, for even If his own
party would not be willing to name him
he could secure an election by effecting
a combine of the Republicans who
could be counted to vote for him
against all odds, with the Democrats,
who, If they have to have Republi-
can, would prefer Mr. Keller, who mas
proven at every opportunity presented
that politics are at the best secondary
with him in councilmanic affairs.
AT last Fridays meeting, during a
discussion of Mr.. keller's conduct as
chairman during the two years he has
served, Mr.. Grier, leader of the
Democracy. paid him the compliment
Of, Hes the fairest chairman we ever
had" These who were in the group
carrying on the discussion would not
agree that Mr.. Keller was always
right in his decisions. and some of
them made bold enough to say they
suspected he was sometimes intention
ally wrong, but every one agreed that
when he did err he erred on the right
side.
Richard II. Williams, who retires
from the Craftsmanship of the select
council, is now about to enter upon his
fourth term. which, If completed. will
give him a record of sixteen continuous
years in council. He sized up we'll in
filling the chair that has been gracel
by such able city legislators as Mr..
Chittenden and Colonel Sanderson.
c. F. Wagner. the gentleman from
the Tenth, whom the Republicans have
slated to succeed Mr.. Williams, is a
third termer and one of the big men
of the councils. He is a man of good
judgment, well up in parliamentary
tactics. and can be relied upon to do
what he thinks is right. even at the
expense of offending those who would
put politics first in considering which
way to jump.
Mr.. Wagner Is one of the ablest par
liamentarians in the upper council
and will be. we'll equipped for any
emergency that may arise during the
torrid debates which the grave city
fathers now and then indulge in. AT
such times 1t requires a cool and re-
sourceful man to get council down ia
normal temperature. Mr.. Wagner can
be depended upon to prevent council
from getting the bit between its teeth
while he is in the chair.
Everybody that knows anything ir
this city knows about the business and
commercial side of Dolph b. Atherton
the wide awake secretary Of the Scran.
ton Board of Trade, but few outside
of the members of the Thirteenth regi'
ment know much about his military
side, for he has military side and ar
exceedingly busy one at that.
Secretary, or as he Isl termed in the
military world, Captain Atherton. Is
the adjutant Of the Thirteenth regi'
ment and adjutant is a position thai
is no sinecure-at least that's what
everyone says who has filled it. The
adjutant of regiment is the com
manding officers right hand man. HI
issues all regimental orders, receives
and classifies reports and arranges al
the intricate detail work of the or
ganization. Captain Atherton fills thi!
position with as much success as III
fills that Of secretary of-the Board o
| Trade, and that's saying a good deal
With his full six feet two inches h
makes a splendid figure in uniform an
is exceedingly popular with all tn
members of the regiment, whether Off
GERS or prlvates, on account Of his evel
temper and general amiability; tina
amiability that makes book agent
seek him out and pounce upon hin
with all the persistency Of their tribe
The new head Of the High school
Prof. Grant, is q man who Is not MAX
ing very much of fuss. but no one !
| to Judge from this that 1t Is becaus
of any lack of activity on his part
His six-foot -four of robust manhoo'
is one big bundle of energy. and he !
using it with full force and excellen
direction In the interests Of his charge
Prof. Grant has a wide reputation
among pedagogues as an organizer an
Judging from the reports that com
from the High school his reputation i
this respect Is not likely to suffer an
by his coming here.
He came to this city TO take charg
of a school that had made most woE
derful progress in the few years 1T ia
been established. and at once shove
his capacity of taking up the tas
without causing the slightest commo
ton in the school or disarranging tn
school work. Since he has been I
charge he has maintained the hig
standard Of the school and from tim
TO time has introduced reforms tina
improve discipline and permit of tn
work of the students being done wit
less confusion than ever before. Pro
Grant is firmly impressed with the ide
that the Scranton High school has
great future before 1t and that tn
Office of principal offers great oppol
tunities for usefulness.