Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-02-06
HOT MEETING
OF COUNCIL
Politics and Personalities
Rule the Session.
Purchase of Fire Engine Or
dered by Five Members at
Any Price--BiIls Paid In
discriminatory.

discriminatory.
Messrs. Keck, DePierro, Rute, Sweet,
Rudewick, Moersbacher and Schwabe
were present Monday evening at the
council meeting. All members of the
finance committee being absent, it was
decided to pay bills without the approval
of this committee.
The following bills were ordered paid:
Electric Light Company, light, S271 81;
John L. Davis, labor and supplies,
s64 80; j. L. Mott, heating plant, $517. 20;
L. A. Buckley, coal. SIT so; Freeland
Lumber Company, lumber, $5 46; Joseph
Birkbeck, paperhoder, l5c; f. II.
Albert, furniture, $54 80; Asa Rute,
testing fire alarm, Sl5.60; Clement Mar
chetti, chairs, 500,
The request OF Mrs. BENZ. Gibbon,
through Councilman Moersbacher, for
exoneration from property tax was re-
ferred to the solicitor.
Treasurer Thomas reported balance
on hand of 81, 1866. &c.
Janitor O'Donnel reported meals to
the amount of $5.s5, which, with the
monthly salary of $50, were ordered
paid.
The report OF Burgess Boyle showed
January receipts to be S5s.75; SIS due
burgess and S43.75 due the borough;
81 so due Ii. A. Shovlin, Esq, and So so
dae Constable Mollick.
The matter of four hearings by the
burgess in the silk mill strike was re-
ferred to the solicitor for written
opinion.
Chief Filters report showed $22. so
due magistrates, Sl9.75 due borough
and $5.25 due officers. Police bills of
$95.2 were ordered paid.
Street Commissioner Davis reported
an expenditure of $4l.51 on streets.
ENGINE DISCUSSION OPENED.
Councilman Rute, of the fire COM
mittee, opened the discussion in regard
to the fire engine. Chief Hartman was
called for an expression of his opinion
and stated that the water force was
much greater with the engine at the
nozzle. He could say nothing about the
condition of the engine.
President Keck invited any citizen to
express an opinion on the question.
Bernard Dim stated that the engine
was all right, having thrown stream
of water distance of 1870 feet.
Oliver Mason, an engineer, gave his
views on the engine. He stated it was
in good condition.
Mr. LaFrance, the agent for the La
France Fire Engine Company, explained
the merits of the Amoskaag engine, and
stated that the reputation Of his com
pany would be at stake provided the
engine was not capable of doing all he
claimed for it.
Councilman Sweet said he knew moth
ing of the condition of the engine from
mechanical standpoint, but he did
know that it was capable Of throwing
water to put fire out and that is what is
required on the Hill.
Ex-Burgess Gallagher, who assisted
at the test, asked why it was that steam
fell on the gauge after the engine had
been started.
QUALITY OF COAL USED.
Mr. Lafrance attributed it to the
H., a,
kind used for the purpose. He stated
that there is a coal mined near Pitts
burg which is used all over the country
for fire engines, but not having any here
they did the best they could with the
quality at hand.
Councilman Rndewick objected to the
any money.
Councilman DePierro favored the en-
gine, since it was the only way fire pro-
lection could be had on the Hill. He
attacked all who offered objection to
the purchase of the engine, and moved
for vote of thanks to all who assisted
at the tests.
Councilman Schwabe took the floor
and wanted to know where the money
for the purchase was to come from, as
council has already thrown away the
$1,000 voted by the taxpayers for the
protection of the Hill by purchasing a
useless motor, pump and pulleys. He
predicted that in two years the engine