The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-17

There was some decidedly plain talk
Ing over the bills incurred by
the city in the defense of
the injunction against the munich
pal water plant project. "lnau-
thorized' and Outrageous We're how
some of the items were classed by
chairman Fletcher and Mr.Thompson.
he representative from the sixth.
when the sharp discussion ended. lh"
oils uygrtgatinS $500. We're rc-referled
- the finance committee to find out
the way and wherefore of each item
As soon as The bills were read by
.ity Clerk Moon. MIR. Thompson was
m his feet. Immediately pitching into
mis- subject in characteristic style,
which means that he Was entirely de-
void of trillS. He said that in the COM
miltee meeting there WAS quite - dis
ute as to who was responsible for ,hes"
bills which ran into hundreds of dol
.urS The heads of departments had
taken on themselves the authority,
whether or not they had the right to.
~ did nol know. but they Went ahead
md ordered this. that and the other
hing io be done without notifying
councils. such Il thing is the creation
# II debt. but councils. the bodies that
are usually blamed for creating city
sebts, were not notified. II" was not
y favor of such latitude: he was op-
rused to it ANA would ask that an in
N.stisation be mad" Of all the items
Taking mp one of the Items the
charge Of $50 of A. q. Dunnng. ir,. Of
;cranton. for making map. Mr..
Thompson asked why il was that the
:i,y WAS paying $l.60o or Sl,S00 to Il
ily engineer and several hundred be-
sides to IN assistant and WAS obliged
- go to outside parties To have this
work done. Why couldn't the city engi-
GERS assistant do it" Again, ON the
first day of the hearing, it Was known
,hat the case would not b" called, yet Il
score of witnesses went from Carbon
dale to the court house ut Scranton.
rhcy had their car fares Iaid, their
timers bought for them at scranton
hotels and witness fees. all 1T the en-
r"nSe of the taxpayers. This, II
seemed to him could have been avoid
'"d as one of the counsel for the city
Informed him on h" day set for th"
hearing that The suit would not come
! that day. Despite this. the load OF
Witnesses Vent 10 scranton,
In conclusion, Mr. Thompson sug-
Gcsted that the parties who authorized
heSc bills to he contracted come be-
inre the committee and explain them
what chairman Fletcher had to say
concerned the charges for making
chemical. mIcroscolicnl and bactcriolo-
gical analysis of water taken from the
reservoirs which supply the city o1
rarbondale. There was Il bill OF $50
from Prof. a. II. Wells of The Scranton
high school faculty for four chemi-
cal analysis of the same number of
samples. These charges, the chairman
believed, We're rXorbitanl. Physicians
sENere constantly sending similar sam
ssplcS and To the best institutions Of the
=, ountry,- j ohns Hopkins university for
= Xample, ana paying not more Than 81
s1or such analysis, When several SAM
spies are sent the charge is less. Twen-
y, y ,tivcadoliars would be amp,c ia cover
lNlie whole cost OF the analysis. such
siit change $3.50 IN all. hc deemed ms rank
sand 9uu ageous Further 50, far ns
councils were concerned, IL was not
:!knoWn that this work Was ever done.
= The discussion WAS limited 10 the
+ Hartman and Mr.. Thompson. hut they
;lhad sympathiZers among the other
tAllclllbtJS as lnt ilptlbll 10 ft-ttlef NJ
gsthe financial committee showed when
- Was carried
4 AmoUe the matters nIsposed of We're
~ hr resolution directing that sidewalks
f..hn laid on Sixth avenue. iii front nj the
~ oprlIjes ot III. q, JadWn apd Henry
sSalcln; The ordinance providing tor IN
c1,rc light i'm front Of the property oi
Patrick Rooney on Powderiy street
xsn1 the resolution for n hydranl nj
Cpironklyn street ana Eighth nvrnu"
s'rhry We're passed,
Z. The matters referred 10 committee
S,Wure the resolutions directing Ihdt III,
ss'ire alarm keys be hung in glass coYr
s.,rrea boxes over the afutm boxes anU
9for the laying of crosS-walks on Mash
sington street and Eighth and Ninth
Sayenues. Both came. from eommol
stouncil.. 80
& 4 number Of billssAei'r appgoSad and
s.the requisition of the Columbia hose
Company was granted.
= -----.s- ss-fts~- %.
t' Meatino of fba Madinal