The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-28
HELD A VERY
LONG SESSION
COMMON COUNCIL CONSIDERED
IMPORTANT MATTERS.
Reorganization Ordinance Passed on
Two Readings After Compro-
mise on the Fire Department Cues
ton Was Agreed to--This Provides
for Disbanding of the Volunteer
Force-The Effort to Knock Out
Clerk of Common Council Not
Successful.
Successful.

Common council held u session last
night. which lasted almost until mid
night. 4 discussion which lasted
nearly two hours was followed by the
passage of the reorganization ordi-
rance on second reading. after a CONF
promise proposition touching the reor-
Sanization of the fire department ana
the disbandment of the volunteer force
had been adopted.
After the ordinance had been called
mp the first amendment was offered by
Mr.. Calvin. This provided for a drop
in the assessors salary from Sl.5Oo 10
81 200 q year. During the argument on
the ordinance. City Assessors Gwilym
Jones and Philip Rinsland We're noticed
conversing with several of the coun'
cilmen.
Il objec. to this intimidation of the
councilmen by the assessors shouted
Mr.. Calvin.
I'm glad the gentleman has given
me that cue" said Mr.. Keller, rising
to his feet. ITS time council sat
down on this this. At every meeting
recently. three or four men have been
on the floor of this chamber. lobbying
and whispering to councilmen. What
right have these men to come here
when there is proposition before
us to decrease their salary and lobby
against it openly? It's entirely wrong
and should be stopped"
AMENDMENT LOST.
The amendment was lost by the fol-
lowing tie vote:
Yeas--Haggerly, Ruane. Paine. Gall
vim. Harvey, Gurrell, Keller, Rush,
Cusick. Calpin-.1o.
Nays--Alworth. Evans, A. l.. Lewis,
Roche, Nageli. Phillips, William Lewis,
Coleman. Smith, Nofton--l0
Mr.. Coleman offered an amendment
creating the Office of delinquent tax
collector. Mr.. Paine opposed it in the
interest of economy and Mr.. Keller
said it was merely introduced in order
that another plum may he provided
The amendment failed OF passage by
the following vote:
Yeas--Alworth, Nageli, Phillips, Cur
rell. Coleman. Smith,.
NayS--Hageerty Evans. \. l.. Lewis
Calpin. Ruane, Roche, Paine Calvin
William Lewis, Keller. Rush, Cusick
Norton--l3.
Mr.. Phillips offered an amendment
which was adopted with a rush. in
creasing the salary of the plumbing
inspector from 81. 900 10 81 200.
Mr.. Coleman then offered an amend
mont striking out all except the iirsi
two sections of that article of the or
dinance providing for a reorganization
of the fire department. This brought
about the lively fight which had beer
expected. Mr.. Keller made a twenty.
| minutes speech reiterating all that III
has previously said on the question. III
declared that the citizens of the city
with one accord. demanded a change
| in the fire department. and that th'
| councilmen would rue the day If they
| failed to provide for reorganiza
| ton.
A. l.. Lewis charged that the fire Ia
| organization ordinance was a schem
| to blindfold the people into believin.
| that they We're going to get paid fir
department, when in reality they woult
be getting a department inferior il
every respect 10 the present depart
ment.
| Mr. Paine said the opposition 10 tn
] measure came from councilmen VIII
| are members of hose companies an
"who don't want to be legislated out o
| club"