The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-06

The latest councilmanic scheme, as
evidenced at last nights meeting of
the re-organized select council. is the
bringing of the Scranton Public library
under the direct control of councils.
Mr.. Melvin introduced resolution
covering this point and it was passed
despite the vigorous opposition of Mr..
Chttenden.
The resolution provides that hereaf-
ter all claims against the Scranton
Public library shall be paid only after
having passed through the hands of
the Joint auditing committee of coun-
ellis and after city warrants have been
drawn by the city clerk and counter
signed by the city controller.
Under the present regulations Liz
brarian Carr draws one-twelfth OF the
yearly appropriation out every month.
As soon as the resolution had been read
MIR. Chittenden spoke against it.
CHITTENDEN's PROTEST.
Il think this resolution is entirely
uncalled for" said he. There are now
only two departments in the city
which are not directly under the con-
troll of the councils. and it is a re-
markable fact that these two depart
ments are the most economically and
intelligently managed of any liz the
city. ] don't believe in bringing the
public library department into the
maelstrom of petty councilmapic pol
itics."
It's no more than right" said Mr.
Melvin, in reply, that the claims OF
this department should be audited just
the same as the claims OF every other
department. There should be no "a
voritism shown" Mr.. Roche spoke in
a similar strain, whereupon Mr.. Chit.
tenden said
"If this resolution passes we all know
that il viii not be six months before
some bill will be held up because some
ones second cousin didn't get the con-
tract" The resolution passed by the
following vote:
Yeas - Costello, Williams, Roche. Melvin,
Schneider, Shea Lidstone, McCann. Oliver.
Coyne-10.
Nays-Ross, Finn, Chittenden, Schroeder, Glen.
ons, Wagner-6.
The following bids were received for
the construction of the Schultz court
and Harrison avenue sewer: NJ. j. Glib
bons, $2.1S per lineal foot John j.
Fahey, s213 per lineal foot; p. j. Dona-
hue, $15.075 for the whole contract. The
| bids were referred to their proper
| committees, with instructions to intro
duce a resolution in council awarding
the contract to the lowest responsible
| bidder This course was pursued with
all bids received.
OTHER SEWER BIDS.
The following bids for the construc-
ton of the Meade avenue sewer were
read: John j. Fahey, $1.B5 per lineal
| foot C. NJ Maynard, s5,3s5 for COM
| plete job; p. F. O'Horo, $1.54 per lineal
| foot Donahue {: OBoyle, $l.39 per
| lineal foot: OMalley & Dunn, $4,000
| for complete job; V. II. OHara, $1.49
per lineal foot; j. P. Donahue & Co.,
| S1.70 per lineal foot, or $5,372 for COM
| plete job.
The bids for the grading of Taylor
| avenue We're as follows: Hugh Gill
more, $265; c. NJ. Maynard, $36S.32; p.
j. Mahon, $272. The bids for city print
| ing during the coming year We're also
read.
A resolution introduced by Mr.. Finn
created some little discussion. 1t pro-
vided that the salary of Permanent
man Harry May be fixed at $50 q
| month. as that was the intention Of
council when it appointed him. Mr..
| Oliver thought that as other firemen
only get $50 the first month, this was
| showing favoritism, and Mr.. Chitten-
den voiced the same sentiments. The
resolution was finally referred to COM
| mittee. A resolution introduced by Mr..
Clemons, providing for the payment of
the claim of Robert Simpson for SER
| vices as clerk of the police depart
ment for two months in 1896. was also
referred to it's proper committee.
CONTROLLERS CLERK HIRE.
Mr.. Roche introduced an ordinance
appropriating 81, 500 for the controllers 8
clerk hire, and by a strange coinci-
| dence, premeditated or otherwise. an
other ordinance was introduced in COM
mon council by NJ V. Morris, provid-
ing for the appointment of two perma
nent men for the Liberty and Niagara
companies, and appropriating $1,000 for
the payment of the same, said appro-
priation to come from the item of 81,
500 for the controllers clerk hire, just
vetoed by the mayor.
The mayor sent in communicate
appointing James johnson as inspector
of the Providence road sewer and Dan
iel j. Slowe as assistant fire chief fol
the Third district. Both appointments
were confirmed. The following new
ordinances were introduced:
BY Mr.. Accommodating for the
control of cabmen at railway stations
and giving policemen authority to ar
rest same for a violation of the ordi-
nance's provisions.
BY Mr.. Lidstone-Providing for the
construction of a lateral sewer on
Washington avenue, between Marion
and New York streets.
| A resolution offered by Mr.. Oliver
directing the city controller TO pay the
claim of Edward Petherick out of the
judgments and incidentals appropria.
tion, was referred to its proper com,
mittee.
The following communication from
the controller was read and ordered
filed:
To the Honorable, the Select and Common Coun
ellis:
Gentlemen: On March 30, the appropriation 70
clerk hire in my department was vetoed by tn
mayor,
The cutting of of this appropriation strikes
blow at the proper administration OF the city
| fiscal affairs, and il rests with your honorabl
bodies whether or not my department shall b
needlessly embarrassed
The appropriation for 1899 was inadequate 4
meet the needs OF my department, for with tn