The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-05
Mention of Some
Men Of The Hour

ROBABLY about as hard working
and as thoroughly conscientious
. an official as may be found in the
municipal building is Assistant City
Solicitor David ]. Davis. Upon him de-
wolves the large amount of intricate
detail work connected with the city
solicitors office. such as the filing OF
liens, etc., and to this Mr.. Davis gives
his time and attention from the time
the Office is opened in the morning un-
til 1t closes at night.
He is uniformly courteous and
gracious in his treatment Of the nu-
merous visitors to the Office and that
means more perhaps than it seems for
it's sometimes very difficult to soothe
down the rutl1ed temperament Of an
irate property holder who thinks his
sewer assessment too high, or to eX-
plain the intricacies of municipal law
and its bearing on the citizen to some
dear old lady who. though she owns
property, knows more about knitting
socks and other things than she does
about such matters.
AS an evidence Of how much Mr..
Davis services are appreciated. it
might be mentioned that after decid-
ing that there should be no increase
in salary for any official during the
coming year the estimates committee
reconsdered its action and gave him
an increase of 5000. He is prominent
in military circles, being adjutant Of
the Third battalion. with the rank Of
FIRST lieutenant, and is one Of the most
popular officers among the rank and
file in the whole command.
nNE of the men who will take a
prominent place in the next select
council is d. w. Vaughan. who was
elected to represent the Nineteenth
ward in that branch Of the city legis-
lature at the last election. Mr..
Vaughan is no stranger to councils.
He represented that ward before and
did 1t well, although some of his con-
stituents did not take kindly to the
fiagstone sidewalks he was instrument
tai in having them lay. They thought
, they could get along without them as
we'll as not, and because of his enter
prise they told Mr. Vaughan he had
better not harbor an ambition to sue
| ceed himself.
He had tired Of councils at any rate
! and dropped back into private life
| again without a murmur. Now he has
been called to serve his neighbors
again. The blessing that good side
walks are to any community Is now
realized in the Nineteenth and Mr..
Vaughan Is asked to help convey
further blessings on his ward. He is
an able, quick-witted Gebater and dur
ing the heated sessions Of the next
select council d. w. Vaughan will
be one of the men who will have great
weight in shaping legislation.
4 L. FRANCOIS, or "Alec," as he Is
a familiarly called, who was re.
AAe elected school controller from the
Second ward at the last election. II
one Of the most popular resident.
of North Scranton. and the fac
that though he Is a Democrat, n
has many Republican friends. wa.
evidenced by the fact that he hat
over 100 votes more than the Demo
cratic candidate for common council
for whose election the Democrats Were
working tooth and nail. Mr.. Francois
first venture In city politics was made
some four years ago, when he ran fo
common council and was defeated b,
few votes. The following year he raI
for school controller against Charlie.
Won Storch. the retiring president o.
that body. and was elected by over 20'
majority in what has always been 4
strong Republican ward. The next yea
Mr.. Francois was himself elected presi
dent Of the board.
He was for many years interested II
the Scranton Beef company and wa
for time the general manager Of tn,
concern. He is now retired from activ,
business life. but has numerous prop
erty and other interests In this city
which fully occupy his time. He wa
one Of the organizers Of the Dime banl