The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-26

The joint estimates committee Of
councils held its first meeting last
night In the select council chamber,
and after two hours OF wrangling sue
| ceeded in Topping off just S10.45S.2s from
the estimates of the various heads Of
departments.
cuts were made right and left, but It
is probable that many items taken out
or reduced last night will be again
either replaced or increased at the next
meeting to be held on Friday night.
This Is because the committee last
night had to be guided by the con-
troller's original estimate of revenues.
A subcommittee. consisting of Luther
Keller and G. Il. Chlttenden, was di-
rected tn see the controller before Fri
day night and secure from him a sup
Elementary estimate of the increased
revenues which will accrue to the city
under the second-class city laws.
This supplementary estimate will in
clude the $4,000 estimated revenues
from "a poll tax. and the increase of
Si2.j+0 if the Sl,100 liquor license fee
holds good.
A BIG ITEM
The largest item cut out last night
was the $4,000 asked for judgments
and incidentals. Other large items
stricken out were $4,000 for new hook
and ladder truck; $720 for salary OF
street commissioner: $500 for driver for
chief of fire department: $3.50 for SAL
airy of the assistant sanitary officer;
$4,000 for the purchase OF the crema-
tory lot $1,000 for board Of health
emergency fund: $1,000 for asphalt
sidewalks around the library building:
81 096 for deficiencies in ward appropri-
ations.
Provision was made for the increase
| of the recorders salary to $4,000: for
salaries of $4,000 for the directors Of
| the departments of public safety and
| public works. and for the salary of five.
| assessors at 81, 800 each. The salary OF
| the mayors clerk was cut down 10 5000
| year. 1t has been $1,000 for some
| years back. The increase of $500 each
| in the salaries of the assistant city
solicitor and plumbing inspector were
| cut out.
The salary Of the city engineer who
will be under the director of public
works. was reduced from $1,000 to ST..
500. despite the objection OF several
members. The ten extra patrolmen
and three extra detectives asked for
by Chief Roblng were cut out with
out ceremony or debate.
Mr.. Keller made an effort to have
| the ward appropriations linked under
one head, and as a matter of principle.
as Is his annual custom. he made a
speech in disapproval of giving the ex-
| penditure of the moneys for street re-
| pairs over TO the councilmen. As he
| expected, his proposition was voted
down.
COMMON COUNCIL CLERK
lie next made an effort to have the
| item of $500 for salary of the clerk of
common council stricken out. lie had
| no objection to the present incumbent,
| Mr.. Lvnott. he said. and had advo-
| Gated the same thing when Mr.. Jones,
| Republican, was clerk. The office
was unnecessary and the work could
| be done by the assistant city clerk.
| Mr.. Roche said that before this could
be done it would be necessary to repeal
| the ordinance providing for a clerk
| Mr.. Keller's motion to strike out the
| item was lost
Mr.. Roche made an endeaVor to have
| an item of $500 for a permanent man
| for the Keyser Valley Hose company
| included. The motion was ruled out
| of order, an appeal from the ruling
| was successfully taken. and then the
motion was finally lost by tie vote.
| Mr.. Costello made an unsuccessful ef-
| fort TO have included an item of $500
for filling in the Blume avenue culvert.