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

referred Select councilman Il. L. Mel
wins ordinance fixing the price 10 be
charged for water, again failed to re-
port at last evenings meeting Of Sc
lect council, but this time Mr.. Melvin
wouldn't listen to any excuses and sue
ceedcd, after about half hours heat
ed discussion. in having the measure
taken from the committees hands.
| When the committee failed to report
Mr.. Melvin sprang Indignantly TO his
feet and moved that the ordinance be
taken from its hands. Then Mr.. Chit
tenden, the chairman of the ccmmit-
tee, arose and said:
| This committee needs more time
to consider this ordinance, which J.
must say is very crudely Drawn up. If
We want to fight this matter out in
the courts / would suggest the draw
| ing TIP Of Il new ordinance entirely.
| The committee has SO far been able
to gather that the complaints against
the water rates come only frcm those
to whom metre rates are charged ana
not to private parties.
This ordinance, by fixing the metre
rate at 13 cents per thousand gallons
to consumers using 100000 gallons or
less a year, aggravates the very point
that the board of trade and other in
| terested parties want lcssened. The
board of trade has asked that uni
torm rate Of cents per thousand gall
Ions be granted small manufacturers"
MIR. MELVIN'S ARGUMENT.
Mr. Melvin said in reply that as
metres had been introduced in busi-
ness places it would Only be another
step to Introduce them in private
dwellings. AT any rate" said he,
there should be no more dilly-dally-
ing on the Part of a committee, tho
matter should be brought before coun-
ellis "
Mr.. Sanderson, a member of the spe-
cial committee thereupon took the
floor and said that great care should
be taken in the preliminary consid-
Grafton Of such an important measure.
He said that the city solicitor had
stated that councils couli fix the rates
at reasonable" figure.but he thought
that the definition of what reason.
able" rates were might be difficult.
Mr.. Sanderscns remarks prompted
Mr.. Roche, also a member of the com
mittee, to make brief speech. He
said that the committee had been
wOefully negligent in its duty. having
was surprised to hear Mr.. Sanderson
who had not attended either one Of
these meetings. get up and talk in
favor Of keeping the matter in the
committees hands.
Mr.. Melvin's motion to take the ordi-
nance out of the committees hands
was adopted almost unanimously. The
gentleman from the Eighth made no
attempt to bring it before council.
Clerk Lavelle early in the evening
began to patiently read the mayors
message and had about half finished
when Mr.. Roche moved that it be re-
ceived and filed which motion was
. agreed to. The lengthy communica- =
, tion from the city controller referring
to the rather reckless methods prevail
ing Of late in councils was also read
and ordered filed. The report of the
sinking fund commissioners was read
and received.
. UNIFORM WIDTH OF RIVER.
A communication from the city en-
gineer was read requesting councils to
establish uniform width for the
Lackawanna river and to at once stor
: the dumping Of ashes and culm into
that stream. He further stated that a,
: the present time the ashes were in
some places three feet deep in the river
bed causing an overflow of the waite,
which damages valuable property. Tho
, communication was read and received
r but no action was taken.
A communication from Mrs. Mar.
{ garet Cafferty, of 431 Phelps street
was read, stating that her property
had been damaged by an overflow OF
!, water from the street and reQuestinl
a committee from councils to view the
place with view of awarding hel
damages. The matter was referred tc
the city solicitor in conjunction with
the sewers and drains committee.
A The mayors communication, dated
Nov. 49, was read calling the attention
of councils to the necessity of number
; ing all the houses and marking all thu
q streets in the city. Chairman Viii
> liams appointed as special committc,
to consider the matter. Messrs. Nc
, Andrew kearney and Thomas.
The following common council resolu
tions were concurred in: Directing tn.
- removal of an electric light at the cor
. ner OF Clearview and Sumner avenues
!, and its re-erection Of a fifty foot pole
authorizing the sale of the houses, etc.
on Wyoming avenue condemned by tn,
. viewers.
A resolution introduced by Mr.. Me-!
win. granting permission to the Scran
ton Illuminating. Heating and Powe
. COMPANY to construct water mail
over the southern span of the Linde,
street bridge was adopted.
SEWER ON WYOMING AVENUE.
: The ordinance providing for the con
struction of a sewer on the portion o
Wyoming avenue about to be openet
and other points passed third readin,
as did the ordinance providing for tn
grading Of Bloom avenue in the Thir
ward.
Mr.. Schneider introduced an ordin
ance providing for the construction O
a sewer in the Eleventh ward and tn
measure was referred to its prope
committee. Council then adjourned
after much discussion, to meet mex
Thursday evening, number of tn
members considering that the press O
business rendered such meeting
necessary.