The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-12

Some further progress was made by
common council, at its regular meeting,
| last night, towards Strengthening out
the difficulty resulting from Recorder
Connell's revocation of the alleged il
| legally awarded contracts for fire de-
partment supplies.
The select council resolutions direct
| ing that no warrants be drawn for the
payment of these supplies was amend
| ed by excepting the hose purchases. No
| other select council resolutions author
izing the re-advertising for proposals
| was passed. but by neglect the clause
referring to hose was not stricken out
as was the intention. 1t will be ann
| ended at the next meeting. a resolu-
| ton offered by Mr.. Phillips ratifying
the action of Director Roche in con-
| tracing for the hose in question was
| referred to committee
| The resolution directing that the
warrants for these supplies be not
| drawn, as it stood before the cXcsion
of the hose clause, read as follows:
| Whereas, II appears that contracts have been
| entered into by the head of the department OF
public safety. and executed by the city recorder,
| without authority of law, for the purchase OF
steam fire engine, hook and ladder truck and
about fifteen hundred feet of hose and
Whereas, The City recorder and the city con
| trollcr cannot lawfully issue warrants in payment
| Of said apparatus and supplies; therefore, be it
| Resolved. BY the select and common council
| Of the city Of scranton, the common council
| Concurring, that the city recorder and the city
| controller be and they hereby requested not
| TO sign, countcrsign or issue any city warrant
| in payment OF said apparatus and supplies. Be
| il further
Pol 1pcI TIat, ptl, yIor ho tod
to, recall the said contracts and cancel them.
HOSE APPROVED.
| 1t was on motion of Mr.. Keller that
the resolution was amended by striking
out the reference to hose. In its amend
cd shape it was approved without dis
sent. 1t was sent over to select, which
concurred in the amendment.
Mr.. Phillips followed with rosolu-
| ton ratifying the action of the director
of public works in contracting for ST.
500 worth of hose in question. Mr. Phil
lips and Mr.. Keller explained that the
hose was already delivered and greatly
| needed, and that at all events, if new
| contracts were made. it was likely the
same kind of hose would be purchased
at prices no lower than those that had
| been obtained.
There seemed to bo a disposition to
make no undue haste in the matter.
and, on motion of Mr.. Calvin, the reso-
luton was referred to fire department
committee.
1t was prior to this that the council
concurred in the select council resolu-
| ton directing the director of public
safety to advertise for sealed proposals
for fire engine. truck and $l,500 worth
of hose. and specifying that the bids
| shall he opened and contracts awarded
| by the councils
1t was intended to amend this reso-
| luton, also. by striking out the refer
ence to hose, but the neglect was not
discovered until the council was in the
act of adjournng, and Mr.. Keller, the
| discovcrcr, was unable to have them
continue in session few minutes
longer to make the desired amend
ment.
1t behooved the urbano Mr.. Calpin
to inquire, during the progress of tho
above remedial legislation, if it was
not fact that the contracts had been
made by the heads of departments
under advice of the city solicitor
When no one answered him, he, with
further urbanity, explained that he
had only made the inquiry for the
purpose of gaining information. A.
he understood the case, the city sOli-
ctor had advised the action now be-
ing annulled. If this was the cor
rect understanding, the council, so Mr.
Calpin thought should learn whether
the solicitor was "of the same opin-
ion still' or whether he had reversed
himself At all events, he thought
the councils should secure the opin-
ion of the solicitor and be guided by
it,
NO OPINION FROM SOLICITOR.
The only information vouchsafed the
inquisitiVe and urbane chairman was
the statement from Mr. Keller that as
far as the direct knowledge of Coun-
ellis extended, the solicitor had giver
no opinion on the subject.
The ordinance providing for an elec.
trio light on the corner of Hudson anC
PaWnee streets, in the Third ward
brought forth vigorous objection
from Mr.. Keller. 1t provides that the
money should be taken from the un
expended balance in this years ap
preparation for electric lights. Mr.
Keller protested that this was illegal
as no balance will exist, If any doe!
exist, until the books are closed "A
the end of the year, and that no ac
tion can he taken on the strenGLn o
a guess that there will be balance
Mr.. Haggerty explained that tn,
thirty-tive lights provided for in tn,
general appropriation ordinance haC
not been erected yet, and there woulC
be, in consequence, a balance equal t.
what thsc thirty-five lights would cos
for two months.
Still Mr., Keller protested that th
was Illegal and vicious legislation ant
that the ordinance should not be pass
ed in its present form.
Mr., Haggerty waXed somewha
wroth at Mr. Keller's persistent op
position. 1t was the first measure n
had introduced in council and he wa
very much wrapped up in it, Turnin,
, to Mr.. Keller, he said: ITS wei
known that you always oppose any
thing the outside wards want"
1t was now Mr.. Keller's turn to wa,
wroth, This accusation was mad,
against him previously and he laughed
it off. 1t was too much to sit gooC
naturedly under the impeachment {
second time ana he proceeded to re
sent it.
KELLER'S VIGOROUS REPLY.
81 do not propose to have you or an,
other man impugn my motives" de
r clared Mr.. Keller. This is vicious
SHAKE INTO YOUR SHOES