The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-06

was dSdlH TeSurTecteu at last evening
meeting of the Joint auditing commit
tee of councils and its resurrection fur
nished the cause for an exceedingly
lively and animated verbal tilt between
Common Councilman James j. Grier,
OF the Third ward, and President II. f..
Paine. of the company, in which the lie
was passed on two separate occasions.
The company yesterday presented n
claim for $l90.S9, the same being for
work done by the company on that
portion Of the turnpike lying within the
city limits. In the months of September.
1896. and October 1899. The claim was
accompanied by an affidavit sworn to
by Mr.. Paine, stating that due notice
had been given the city before the work
was done.
1t was this claim that caused the ar
gument. After it had been read by
Clerk Morris, and before Mr.. Paine
could get a word in edgewise, MI. Grier
spoke something as follows:
WHAT GRIER SAID.
This city has been spending too
much money on that road itself to go
to work and pay over $3.50 at this time.
We've spent nearly $4,000 on that
little piece of road in the past ten
years and l can prove it, At this
point Mr.. Grier took a paper out of his
pocket and read the following list Of
amounts expended for the repair of
this road since 1890: 1S9O-93, s., 200; 1894,
$1,000: 1895, $569.16; 1896. s97O3l 1897.
$1,000; 1898, $4,000. He then resumed
And now Mr.. Paine comes in here
and wants $780, It's shame. Here
the city taking care Of three-quarters
of this road, while the company takes
care Of one-quarter, and yet takes in
toll averaging $500 a month";
II deny that the company takes in
that much month";" shouted Mr.
Paine.
And l say they do" shouted Mr.
Grier.
They DON'T
Yes. they do. That's probably call
ing you a liar but they do" responded
the gentleman from the Third.
Mr.. Paine thereupon explained to the
members that by virtue OF Supreme
court decision rendered some years
| ago. the company was empowered to
| repair the road within the city limits
| when necessary and charge the same
| to the city. providing that due notice
was given to the street commissioner
| beforehand.
Mr.. Paine said this had been done
and the claim was accordingly just.
| Mr.. Zizelman wanted to know why Mr.
Paine had not pressed the claim be-
fore. it being now four years old, and
he replied that he knew his money was
| safe, that the city was good for it.
HAS THE BULGE ON CITY.
That's it," said Mr. Grier. What
| does he care. he knows the city has
got to pay the claim. The company
has got a bulge on this city and they
realize it. AS an illustration of their
nerve, the fact might be mentioned tina {
after the city acquired the road, the
company kept two toll-gates in opera =
| tion."
Not at the same time" again shout
ed Mr.. Paine.
'Oh, yes. they did," vigorously re-
sponded Mr.. Grier. Don't think you
can sit there and scare me by opening
your mouth. You can't do it. You
Kept two toll-gates running at the
same time. one at O'Malley's and one
at Cusick's, and I know you did"
II say we didn't" said Mr.. Paine.
"And.I say you did," said Mr.. Grier.
THE councils Of this city ought to have
spunk enough not to allow any COM
pany to bulldoze the city like this one
has done for the past few years.
They presented Il claim for SO 100
some years back ana it would have
been paid only I happened to find out
an error of 5000 right here in this office
and though they got a judgment agains:
the city, that Judgment was 5000 short
of their original claim. That's a sampl,
OF the way they do business. just think
of it, after all the money paid by the
city for the repair OF that ward, they
come in here with a claim for $3.50. It's
simply outrageous"
Mr. Fellows thought that a petition
ought to BE- circulated and presented 4
TO the judges, asking for the condem-
nation of the remaining portion of the
| road.
CLAIM REFERRED.
Mr. Godshail finally moved that the
claim be referred to councils, and the
motion was unanimously adopted.
a communication from City Solicitor
Nosburg was read, stating that the
claims of Assistant Fire Chiefs Ger
rlty and Robinson, amounting to $3a
each, should be paid. Upon the strength
Of this opinion the claims were ordered
paid. after which the committee ad-
journed.