The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-27

nial-Mass Meeting Saturday.
The borough officials and councilmen
Of Dickson city borough are having
troubles Of their own these days
Many citizens are aiTayed against
them and are determined that
'hoN shall either resign or become de-
PENDANTS In criminal actions.
For the past year OF more there have
been rumors of nsgrant corruption,
dishonesty and extraVagance atloat but
the citizens at large took no definite
action. The rulnors We're passed from
one to another, discussed Il little and
then forgotten for the time being.
There still remained in the public mind,
however, a lingering suspicion which
was Crystalized into definite and unit
ed action last week when councils
passed d resolution providing for the
efacing of the names of the old build
ing committee from the corner stone OF
the new borough building and for the
substitution therefor of the words
Dickson City Borough Building"
An indignation meeting of citizens
was called for last Saturday night aud
was attended by several hundred ct-
Hcns. 4 list of charges was prepared
and was submitted to an investigating
committee which is investigating this
week and which will report back to a
second mass meeting of citizens to he
held on Saturday night.
John Weiland, who Is one of the most
prominent citizens of the borough and
one of the leaders in the present cru
sadc, made an extended statement last
night to a Tribune man explaining at
length the charges against the borough
officials. a synopsis of which appeared
in last Mondays Tribune.
CITIZENS ARE AROUSED.
Existing conditions have become in
tot l'rablc," said he. "and the citizens.
regardless of party have decided to
probe deeply into this matter and
bring the guilty officials to account.
The action of the council in passing
resolution providing for u dcfacing <
of the corner stone of the borough h
building, while not important i'm itself,
is a very good Illustration Of the man.
ucr i'm which our borough affairs are
regulated. II was - spite action. pure
and simple, originating with Council
man MCG"rritN, who apparently wants
t" get oven with the men whose names
ar" now ON the stone because they re-
fused to scat him some time ago. The
cuuErilmcn didn't mind about that as
long aS the money for the gratifica ion
"f Mr.. McGerritys spite came out of
tn" borough treasury and not out of
their own pockets.
Then there is the furniture pur-
chase. Council has just purcha sed a
lot nf furniture for the borough build
ing at 4 total cost of $500. We have
had expert furniture men look over
he furniture purchased and their es-
lDnatrs of the cost average about 500
"r $500 less than was paid. | met a
former tea-man today who told me
that when he was on the road a few
Years ago. he used to give away Just
as good chairs a s the borough is asked
To pay Sl.50 for. with pound of buk-
ing powder That may sound "A little
exaggerated but 1t isn't hit They
are just common ordinary foldnp
camp chairs.
INDIGNATION MEETl NG.
AT the indignation meeting held las
Saturday night former councimar
John Benton admitted having received
Il rake-off for some hose purchased by
tho borough last year and made tn.
public statement that he had giver
Councilmen Harry McGerrity and JOIN
Lark S6.25 each as their share. Boil
these latter men are now members o
our council. Six hundred feet of hos,
has just been purchased AT the sam,
price as last year.
"If the company could afford to ant
did pay rake-o off last year on 200 fee
of hose it's pretty reasonable to sup
nose il can afford TO pay and is payin.
a rake-off this year when the sam,
price is being charged and when thro,
times the amount is purchased
Then there's the burgess. William
Kennedy. The citizens believe that M
has not turned into the borough treas
llry all the money which should hay,
been turned into II. lie only turne,
over $6S50 last year, claiming that tha
amount was all he received i'm fines
Ask any man in this borough who is il
his right senses and he will tell yo
that far, far more than that amoun
MAS collected in fines.
'The present burgess has made
specially of arrests. He has posted hi
officers To catch every unwary cyclis
coming along the road who may b
chance happen 10 ride on the sidewalk
The fines collected from bicyclists VIII
have been arrested in one day hay
amounted to "A very considerable Sun
and yet he says that i'm 365 days he col
lected only S6350. 1t is my opinic
that the amount he collected In fine
is nearer $1,000 than any other figure.
OTHER CHARGES MADE.
'There have been other charges mad
against the burgess. 1t is claimed an
/ believe it can be proved. that he ma