The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-08
HAS ASKED FOR OPINION
City Controller Howell Wants to
Protect Himself Before He Will
Countersign City Warrants.

City Controller Howell has refused to
countersien the salary warrants for
the month of April until such time as
City Solicitor WATSON furnishes him
with a written opinion setting forth,
among other things, whether or not the
controller and the recorder would as
sumo any liability in case .lese War-
rants were countersigned and paid, and
that if. when this had been done. the
Supreme court should hand down an
opinion declaring the ripper bill uncon-
sttutiOnal.
The various city employees have been
crying so for their April saaric.; that
just as soon as the appropriation orl-
nance was signed the city clerk lost no
time in drawing the warrant, ana
sending them to the recorder for his
signature. The recorder signed them
and sent them over to the controller
who. realizing that he was under heavy
bonds. decided not to countersign them
in rush, but to wait until the city
solicitor had given him legal advice.
The controller in his communication
to the city solicitor also asks that off,
cial to decide for him to just what ac-
count he shall transfer unexpended bal
anceS from last year which are not
provided for in this years appropria-
ton ordinance, the section directing
that they be merged into the general
judgments item, having been stricken
out by select council. reinserted by
common council and again stricken out
by select.
The controller also asks for some in
formation regarding the legal status of
the auditing committee. The members
Of that body have decided that they
will make fight in council for the
continuance of their powers and pre-
negatives. and with this end in view
resolution is to be introduced in coun-
ell on Thursday night directing the
controller to refuse to countersign all
warrants. the bills for which have not
been passed by the auditing commit
tee.
At Monday nights meeting of the
committee the only bills which were
presented We're contracted before April
1. None of the bills contracted since
that date or since Scranton organized
as a city of the second class We're pre-
Sented This was because 1t had been
decided at a meeting of the recorder
anu HIS CABINET. ltlu OH MONDAY morn
ing, to have all heads of departments
ignore the auditing committee and send
their bills, after approval. directly to
the recorder.
In his communication to the solicitor
the controller asks if it will be pos
sible for councils to curtail any of the
powers vested in him by Section 1 of
Article TX Of the Act OF 1889. govern
ing cities of the third class. which act
1t is believed. is preserved by the rip
per bill. The particular section of the
act which the controller refers to in
prescribing his duties says: He shall
examine. audit and settle all accounts
whatsoever in which the city is con-
cerned.'
During his term of Office. which has
already extended over two years, the
controller has never before questioned
the right of the auditing committee to
pass upon bills Those who are going
to make the fight for the resolution
directing him to refuse to countersign
warrants for bills not passed by the
committee maintain that 1t will go
through councils with rush.