The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-10
Light CONTRACT VETO
CAUSES WARM TALK
Common Council Does a Lot of Dis
cussing, but the Champions of the
Contract by Adroit Move Put Off
Action for n Week-Story of the
Peppery Talk.

The mayors veto of the street light
ing contract. which vas awarded by
councils to the Lackawanna Valley
Electric company weeks ago. was
fertile topic of discussion at last
nights meeting of common council,
thereby adding another chapter to the
unique history Of viCissitudes of this
contract
Last night il was meeting of
swords of tn councilmcn who are in
favor of the contract and the miner
ny opposed to contracts of more than
years duration. At the last meeting
il was the latter who went under
cover; last night the others saw de-
Goat staring them, but they fought
'Gainst the impending danger and by
~ aGroit move, when pressed hard,
hey succeeded IN having the matter
lut over for another week, thus gain
nC time and strength for the final
ally.
The adroit move mentioned was the
making and seConding of motion to
adjourn Just as the matter was to bc
taken for reconsideration. The chair
Was not disposed to entertain the mo-
tIon to adjourn and didn't until there
was loud ClamOr of indignant pro-
tests from those who would reject the
veto. But not until the clamor grew
too loud to he unhoedcd did Chairman
Collins tirmnass give way. He put the
motion and council by vote of to 4
decided to adjourn. This vote of : to (
indicated also the vote on the veto.
Chairman Collins, Neaon. Whitfield
and Evans were in favor of the veto.
while the expected votes against il
We're those Of LOTUS, Kennedy, MUIR
phy, Thompson, Stone. ]. II. Masters
and John Masters. OF the latter there
We're only seven, while ii required
eight to pass the veto over the mayor's g
head. This explains the determined
fight for adjournment; it was the sal
walton of the contract until the next
meeting at least.
Mr.. PuglianO was absent but how
his presence would have figured in the
defeat or acceptance of the veto is a
matter of speculation.
The discussion, which was prolonged
until ii became warmly interesting
was opened by Mr.. Nealon, immedi-
ately after tho meeting opened. He
called for report on the veto, which
had been referred at the last meeting
10 the light, fire and water committee
with instruction to procure from the
city solicitor a written opinion as
covering the history of the contract
from its granting up to the present
time. Mr.. Nealon said he was i'm.
formed that ono of the members o
the committee had procured, and il
this he true, which he believed II was
then II was the business of the com
mittee, Of which he himself was :
(. member, to dispose of the matter with
a. out resorting to any dilly-dallying taC
e les. No notice of meeting, Mr. NealoI
rontinued, had been sent to the fire
,. ieht and water committee and he wa
e. At loss to explain why the chairman
=, lid not call a meeting, particularly il
yiew of the fact that the opinion ha,
)een procured from the city solicitor.
" happened that II was j. H. Mas
ers, the chairman of the Committe,
Tho received the opinion and of cours
was to him that Mr.. NealOn's re
larks were so pointedly aimed. Nj
iasters, appreciatinS this, arose an
Y way of reply and defense declare
hat he had not had ample time I
all the committee together, put puI
,osed doing so this week
This explanation was considered h
dr, Nealon as only an attempt at eN
blaming and he renewed his attacl
as it, We're, by reminding Mr.. Master
that he (Nealon) met the former q
The street several times and was
his company also during II
last two weeks, thus affording hil
ample opportunity to give notice of
meeting If ii had been Masters inter
tion To call one.
Mr.. Masters did not reply, thoug