The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-19

more specific data was secured. Inc
investigation was starred, however, by
Councilman Wade NJ. Finn.
When Mr.. Finn learned that Mr..
Vaughan had decided to postpone tenn
porarily his investigation he went over
and asked him IL he would object to
his moving that an investigating COM
mittee be appointed. The gentleman n
from the Nineteenth said he would not
object
Mr.. Finn accordingly moved that a
special committee of five be appointed
to investigate the assessment, and the
motion was unanimously adopted.
Chairman Wagner announced the fol-
lowing as members of such commit
teee: Messrs. Finn, Thomas, Lidstone,
Vaughan and O'Boyle.
The viaduct ordinance passed first
and second readings after a little fight.
When it was called up by Mr.. Mccain.
Mr. Clemons took the floor and made
a brief speech, opposing the measure
on the ground that it provided for an
increase of the city's indebtedness be-
yond the limit fixed by law. "I've heard
the damages estimated from 100000
up" said he, but not from 100000
down."
AN AMENDMENT.
Mr.. O'Boyle at this juncture intro
duced an amendment providing for the
striking out Of the word Immediate
ly'' before the clause directing the city
clerk to advertise for bids for the con-
struction of the viaduct upon the pass
age of the measure and inserting the
following: Upon the passage of this
ordinance and when the damages to
property have been ascertained and ap-
proved by the city councils by a ma
jority vote of each branch thereof, the
city clerk shall advertise" etc.
Mr.. Roche remarked that the effect
of such an amendment would be the
complete modification Of the whole
question. Mr. Chittenden hoped the
amendment would be adopted because,
as he said:
This year the indebtedness has al
ready been increased $S50000 at 31s per
cent. and this means an increase OF
100000 at per cent The passage of
this measure as it is at present means
that the taxpayers will be soaked two
mills additional next year in the tax
levy" The amendment was finally lost
by the following vote:
Yeas--Ross. ChittondcE, Schneider, C!emons.
O'Boylc, Vaughan, Wagner.
Nays-Finn, Costello, Thomas, Williams, James,
Roche, Melvin, Shea. Lidstone. McCann, Oliver,
Schroeder, Coync.-l3.
The ordinance was then passed on
first and second readings, much to
the satisfaction of the large contin-
gent of West Scra1tonians who were
seated in the back row of seats.
Mayor Mor sent in the following
communication. regarding the police
removals:
ABOUT THE REMOVALS.
To the Honorable the Select Council
Gentlemen: I beg leave to remind You thai,
on May II, 1900, Police Officers NJ. f. Spelnlan,
!. y. Jones and John Pcuster were removed from
the police force for cause.
l recommended for your consideration as pa
trclmcn, Charles Miller, John Malott and Joan
Addyman. You took action in the case of Pues
ter, approved his removal, and confirmed the ap-
pointment of ]. Addyman. There are still two
vacancies in our police force and I respectfully
urge upon your honorable body to take action
on Malott and Millc:, the men submitted to you
for confirmation. Respectfully yours.
James Moir, Mayor.
When Clerk Lavelle had finished
reading the members looked around at
one another and smiled as the motion
was made and adopted to have the
communication received and filed.
Mr. Costello presented a resolution,
which was unanimously adopted, di-
recting the city solicitor to request the
three local judges to carefully examine
viewers bills in the future to prevent
eXorbitant charges.
He explained that he introduced the
resolution because of a recent viewers
bill which was approved by court and
which was very exorbitant. 1t was
for the assessment of seventy-fou
properties in the Eleventh ward for
sewer purposes, he said. The three
viewers We're each allowed ninety-one
days at $5 a day, or n total of $1,365,
for the assessment Of these seventy
four lots, all close together. This he
characterized as being pretty near a
steal"
Mr.. Clemons remarked that the city
solicitor should have gone into court
and filed exceptions to the bill before
the time limit for the fling of such
exceptions passed.
WILL RETAIN CHECK.
A communication was read from r..
A. Malone, of Lancaster, who was re-
Gently awarded the contract for the
big sewer In the Fifth, Sixth and Eigh-
teenth wards. He said that pressure
of business prevented his accepting the
check for 81, 500 be returned to him. AS
1,n ,hn alr i,,,,t I,
an emergency, council decided to re-
tain the $1,000.
Bids We're received for the construc-
tion of a sewer in the Second and
Twenty-first wards as follows;
p, +. O'Horo, S1.79 per lineal foot;
NJ. j. Gibbons, 1.65 per lineal foot; Ed
ward Healey e. Company. $lsl per
lineal foot.
They were referred to the sewer and
drains committee with instructions to
report forthwith, which was done, and
the contract was awarded to Nj. j..
Gibbons.
A number of bids for the painting
OF the Linden street and Roaring
Brook bridges were received and re-
ferred to the streets and bridges COM
miltee.
The following new resolutions We're
introduced and passed:
BY Mr.. Observation-Disclosures the
repair of the Columbia Hose house, at
a cost not to exceed $3.50.
BY Mr., Notwithstanding for a
fire hydrant at the corner of Gibson
street and Colfax avenue.
Mr.. Lidstone introduced an ordi-
nance providing for a sewer on Penn
avenue. In the Thirteenth ward.