The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-10


eral of the councilmen who will en-
deavor to secure their passage through
councils.
1t is expected that some of these
Will bob up at tonight's regular meet
ing of the common council. Among
those which are mentioned are ordin-
ances providing for the running of a
certain number OF cars and providing
that no fare shall be collected from
any passenger who has not a seat.
Then there are some who would
favor a resolution providing that no
more than two cars shall be run up
or down West Lackawanna avenue
over the Lackawanna crossing when
any cars are waiting at Ninth or Sew
enth streets. Still others propose or
dinances directing that all cars shall
be heated certain temperature dur
ing the winter season and compelling
the company to sprinkle the streets
traversed by its tracks. a sprinkling
ordinance Is now pending, but 1t pro-
vides only for the sprinkling of un-
paved streets.
There are some OF the councilmen
however. who will oppose the passage
cause they wish to uphold the railway
company, but because they believe
that such legislation will have the
effect of soaring off capital. Select
Councilman Chittenden is one of these.
4 TAX is THE THING.
IL know" said he yesterday. that
measures are being prepared and Will
be introduced in councils intended to
poster the life out of this company
but I don't believe they should be
adopted. | for one shall vote against
them. | favor the immediate adop-
tion OF an ordinance taxing the COM
pany as heavily as we can, and / be-
lieve that existing rules and regula-
tions governing it should be strictly
enforced. but / don't believe it's pol
icy to go any further.
This city is at a critical point in
it's history, and it won't be wise for
us to adopt any measures which will
have the effect Of frightening away
capitalists who are desirous of invest
ing capital in Scranton enterprises
The license tax ordinance cannot be
acted upon tonight by the select coun-
Gil as the call for the meeting an
nounces that it is to be for special
business only. That measure has
passed three readings in the common
council. amended so as to provide for
tax OF only one per cent. of the gross
receipts. This is the amendment, the
adoption of which, it Is claimed. was
secured by Detective Harris, of the
Municipal league.
When it got over to the select coun-
Gil it was passed on two readings and
then referred to the license commit
tee for amendment. The committee
reported it after about two months
without any amendments, and then it
was laid on the table for the time be-
ing, on account of the prevailing diff
ference of opinion as to whether
tax of 800 a car or a tax on the
gross receipts OF the company should
be levied.
RESOLUTION WILL. PASS.
There is no question but that Coun-
Gilman Vaughan's resolution declaring
a forfeiture of the company's fran
chises If they fail to issue transfers
within ten days OF it spassage will
pass both branches of councils to-
night with rush. Just what legal
steps will be taken IL the company
refuses to issue transfers has not yet
been decided
There are a number of ways of
bringing the matter before court. An
application might be made for a man.
damus compelling the company to is
sue transfers or for a permanent in
junction restraining it from running
its cars on the ground that it had
violated the conditions of its fran
chises. This latter plan would call for
decision from the court as to wheth-
er the franchise could be forfeited or
not.
Then again the councils could direct
that a portion of the company's tracks
be torn up. This would bring the COM
pany Immediately into court asking
for an injunction restraining the city
from tearing up its tracks and the
whole case could then be reviewed.
Quo warranto proceedings for the an
nulment of the companys charter
could also be brought before the at
torney general OF the state.
At any rate, the understanding now
seems to be that no matter which
course is adopted, an application will
he made for temporary injunction
restraining the company from refus-
ing to issue transfers until such time
as a final settlement of the case IL
made. 1t may be many weeks before
an opinion would be handed down, and
unless this injunction was granted, the
citizens would be compelled to put up
with the company's order for some
time.
WEST SIDE COMMITTEE
A committee from the West Scran-
ton board of trade. consisting of ]. J..
Davies, Robert j. Williams and G. T..
Daniels waited upon City Solicitor
Vosburg yesterday afternoon and Of
fered him their hearty cooperation
in any steps which might be taken
to either compel the company to is
sue transfers or to revoke its fran
chises. They offered him he services
of an attorney to assist him ia fight
ing the case.
Here are some of the opinions ex-
pressed by people about the action Of
the company;
y. j. Jennings, West Scranton-"The
man who issued that order providing
for the abolition of the transfer sys-
tenn made a serious mistake. The
successful manager should put forth
every effort TO please his patrons in
stead of making them the subjects Of
his displeasure. He contends that the
company is not making money. That's
not a good reason. 1t could make
money IL 1t was doing business ON a
Legitimate cauItaI The comma ~,