The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-20

There's trouble ahead for Common
Councilman II. Il. Paine, If he attends
tonight's meeting of common council,
and it is safe to predict that he will
attend. It's all because of a state
ment he made at Monday nights meet
ing of the board of trade. during the
discussion anent the adoption of the
resolution favoring the passage of the
viaduct ordinance now pending in
councils.
The statement was to the effect that
at last Thursday nights meeting of
council "the general dispensers of the
wherewith for both companies Ohe
Lackawanna and Scranton railway
were on hand to see that enough votes
were secured for the passage Of The
ordinance"
Now, there are number Of the COM
mon councimen VINO think that this
statement was a serious reflection on
the honesty and integrity of them
selves and, in fact, on every member
of the branch. They consider that Mr..
Paine intimated that they have been
in the habit of accepting the where
with" from these alleged general dis
pensers," and they are determined that
he must explain himself.
WILL BE CALLED UPON.
From conversation with several coun-
cilmen, who were in and around the
municipal building yesterday, a Trib-
une reporter learned that Mr.. Paine
will be asked tonight to either deny or
affirm the published reports of his re-
marks.
If he af1irms them. then will come
the trouble. He will be asked to name
the dispensers" and will be likewise
requested to prove that they have done
any dispensing. If he fails to do this,
the plan Is to take steps to declare his
seat vacant.
The Act of May 90, 1889, contains
provision which reads as follows:
Each branch of councils shall have
power to vacate the seat of any of It's
members for misbehavior, official mis-
conduct or neglect of duty" and 1t is
under this provision that it is proposed
| by some to remove Mr.. Paine, If he
can't back up his statement with proof.
At least two of the Councilmen seen
! by The Tribune man were especially
wrathv at the new member from tine
! Ninth, and one of them voiced his
sentiments in pretty vigorous Language
! though he refused to have his name
! published. 1t may be mentioned, how
! ever, that he is one of the eleven who
! have been indicted by the grand Jury,
and that he has the reputation of not
being afraid to SAY things"
WILL MAKE IT HOT.
"Mr. Paine thinks" SAID he, that
| Just because we have been indicted by
| the grand jury we have got to bow
| down to him and keep still, no matter
what charges are made against us.
| Well, he is wrong there and he will
| find it out, too, if he dares to show up
| at tomorrow nights meeting. We will
make it pretty hot for him, you can
! bet.
I'm not afraid Of him. If there's
! any cowardly blood in my veins I'll
| open them and let it run out. I don't
! think there is. though, and he'll find
out there isn't. All we ask is fair
| play and an honest trial. but we want
! it understood that we're not going to
! allow these nasty insinuations to be
made against us.
Were going to demand the PROOF
| from him tonight, and if he can't sive
! it we're going to make an effort to
| remove him. and I, for one, think Wen
have all the self-respecting council
men on our side"
As Mr.. Paine is not in the habit of
| keeping especially silent, tonight COM
mon council meeting ought to be very
| lively.