The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-22

verely Arraigns the Manner Con-
troller's Office Is Conducted.
The raising of the water rates was
the occasion of much discussion and
some new Legislation at last nights
meeting of select council.
Most interesting, possibly. OF the new
legislative measures was the following.
introduced by Mr. Finn:
Whereas. Mr.. W. W. Scranton. in a public
letter OF even date, herewith. calls attention OF
the public TO The purity OF his conduct and
makes general charge against members Of
council OF having approached him with propo
sitions for doodle; therefore. be it
Resolved. BY the select council the common
council concui1ing, that Mr. W. W. Scranton
be requested to do his duty as a good citizen
and an honest man. aud lay the entire facts in
the case. either before the councils or publish
same in tlc public prints. where ihe general
charge has been made. The city clerk is hereby
instructed to furnish M,. Scranton with cory
OF this resolution
Tile resolution was adoptcd unani-
mousiy without comment further than
IL few words from Mr. Finn emphasiH-
ing the clause of the resolution deal
ing with Mr.. Scranlon's duty in the
premises.
communication from the board of
trade announcing the action of its last
meeting favoring municipal ownership
of the water supply and calling upon
councils to take steps to secure Il mum
icipal plant. provoked considerable dis
cuSSion.
OLlNER'S RESOLCTION.
Mr.. Oliver announced he had Il rcso-
luton prepared providing for Il special
committee of three Sclectmen and five
commoners TO wait on President Scran-
ton and endeavor to have him counter
mand the order raising the rates. This
should be done, Mr. Oliver argued, be-
fore any other steps are taken.
Mr.. Clemons said there was probably
some virtue in Mr.. divers idea. Mr..
Scranton. he said, could undoubtedly
be induced by certain considerations
to reScind the increase. The abolition
OF the license tax of five per cert on
the gross receipts of gas and water
companies would very likely have such
| an effort, Mr.. Clemons believed.
Touching on the subject Of municipal
ownership. Mr.. Clemens said: If the
Scranton Gas and Water company can
not afford to pay Il fair share of the
taxes. we ought to have the plant
owned by the municipality. There isn't
any question in my mind but that il
the city owned the water plant. it could
pay the tax, decrease the present rates
and yet make a good sized profit"
Mr.. Vaughan. with the appreciation
| of MIR. Clemons. had the board OF
! ,I.'S rs tlf
Joint light and water committee, the
recorder and the city solicitor, with 4
recommendation that they take the
board of trades water rate committee
into their conference. The Oliver res
olutiOn was later introduced and
! adopted.
In answer TO the question of councils
regarding the power of the city tC
compel the Scranton Gas and Watel
company 10 furnish all the water used
by the city, City Solicitor Watson re-
Piled, in lengthy opinion, that the
! company can be compelled to furnish
water for city purposes on all streets
within the city through which its watel
pipes extend.
| BILLS HELD Up.
The question was prompted by the
fact that II number OF bills for watcl
furnished at Conncl park and Bellevue
Heights by the spring Brook Watc,
company and the Capouse Water COM
pany are held up by the auditing com
| mittee.
There was an opinion transmitted by
City Solicitor Watson declaring coun'
ellis have no authority to grant an ex'
elusive right to any company to collect
! the city's garbage. The director OF
! public safety may, however, do this
! Mr.. Watson says, with the authoriza'
ton of an ordinance.
The dynamiting Of trolley cars
brought forth the following resolution
from Mr.. Merriman:
| That tho city recorder is hereby authorized
| and requested to offer reward in the s''m {
| 500 TO any person WHO will give Information
| that will lead 10 the arrest and conviction q
! any person or persons Wh" placed or Slmi' hel'
! alter place any dynamite or other eNpIo''N
on the rails or tracks OF street railways oi In
city or the public highways OF the city.
| Upon certificate OF the city recorder that
| conviction was obtained in pursuance oi TN
resolution the proper city authorities shall gray
| and issue Il city warrant in the sim at 500 Il
the person who gave the information which shal
| have led TO conviction,
| II was unanimously adopted.
Three ordinances were returned vetoed
hy Recorder Connell The ordinance
upproprating s., 900 for retaining wal
on Third street was vetoed because thu
engineers estimate OF the cost OF th'
proposed Improvement is $4,000. Th'
ordinance for grading portions of Fis
street, Cherry street South Webste
avenue and Prospect avenue was vetoed
because the property holders failed Il
sign an agreement releasing the cit,
from damages. The ordinance provid
ing for sidewalks and cutters on mum
Der OF streets in the Twentieth ware
received executive disapproval becaus
it was not accompanied by release
and, further. because it attempted Il
cover some ground covered by IA preNi
ously adopted ordinance, without pro
viding for the repeal of the prcviou
ordinance,
CONTROLLER SCORCHED,
CITY Controller Howell came IN 70
another severe scorching when the or
dinance to give him $52j a year for an
other clerk came up on third reading
President Chiitendcn took the floor and
in the most direct and vigorous man