The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-30
THE REPORT.

To the Citizens Of the Borough OF Dickson City,
in Town Meeting Assembled.
Your committee appointed at the last meeting
Of the citizens to investigate certain charges
| made against the borough council beg leave to
report as follows:
frst-To the report that the borough councils
intend TO deface the cornerstone of the borough
building, find the following:
At a meeting OF the borough council q motion
| was made by Mr.. McGarrity, which was duly
seconded and carried At that meeting but seven
| members present. Mr.. Mccarthy, leading
| the affirmative succeeded in having a majority
| Of the counclmen vote for his motion, which
was follows:
| That a committee Of the borough council he
| instructed to procure some persons to erase the
names of the building committee, president OF
| the council and burgess from the corner stone
| of the public building, and to place thereon and
| in its stead the words Dickson City Borough.
| Second-To the report that the bill 81 hose
purchased by the council for the year 1901 was
| purchased after certain councilmen had been
substantially rewarded for their votes. we hnd
| the following:
Mr.. Bcntham. former member Of council.
openly accuses John Larke and Henry Mccarthy
| with having received certain money from some
| persons interested in the selling os the hose to
| the borough. We can find no testimony beyond
| the statements Of Mr.. Benthsm and Mr.. Snyder
| TO substantiate this charge. but the silence OF
| Mr.. Mccarthy and Mr.. Larke convnccs us that
they not free from stain or they would deny
this charge before your committee.
| Third-ln response to your third subject OF in.
quiry, which is as follows: That Treasurer Ed
| erkin is demanding and taking a discount from
parties for cashng borough orders. your commit
| tee has ascertaned that Treasurer Elderkin has
| received money for the cashng OF orders. The
committee stated they have case at hand
where he has demanded the same. as they have
no evidence Of the same.
Regarding the purchase OF the furniture and
cloth for the borough building, find, the
committee says, there was no opportunity given
for competitive bidding upon those articles and
the committee has asked reputable business
houses and they find they could be purcnaseo
for nearly $500 less than the purchasing commit
tee paid for them.
The raising Of the tax rate for the borough
is action the part OF council that il
unwarranted and, are advised. unlawful al
the rate fixed for this year, there being
for the levying Of said tax assigned and the com
mittce condemns said action on the part OF tn,
| borough council.
| The committee also investigated the Case
| charged against the council OF preventing Henr,
Hager from taking his seat and participating il
the deliberations OF the council, and they nnt
this to be true and believe it to be a matter o
| personal spite the part of certain member
of the council, owing TO spite and spleen.
The committee say they know Mr. Hager wa
, legally elected and council refused to seat him
The charge that the council expended 81 200 t.
, contest the seat Of councilmen. They find tina
, this is untrue
In relation 70 the charges that Burgess Ken
nedy has not made reports TO the council, re
quired by law. they find he was elected burgess
in February, 1900. His salary was fixed at $40
per year, and monthly he was required to max
, returns of fines to the council, This he ha
failed to do. and it is understood that he ha
collected large sums and appropriated the same
having made return OF moneys received 10
fines. licenses, etc, that he has not given BON
to the borough, as required by the statute, an
| that his conduct has been such as to create sus
picion and distrust and It is the opinion OF IN
committee that his conduct Of the office of bur
CESS should be Investigated to the fullest extent
? George IIoinagle. James Margetson, jaime
Reed, Committee