The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-18
GAS ORDINANCE
AGAIN DELAYED
tConcludod from Page 81

so as to save it from the delay con-
.sequent upon going back to common
council, and it was with reluctance they
voted for Mr.. Clemons' amendment, al
though the amendment was absolutely
essential to make the tax clause of the
ordinance binding. Two of the friends
of the measure, in fact, voted against
this amendment. They were Messrs.
Evans and Nageli.
The ordinance passed first reading by
the IA to vote and under the rules,
went over for printing.
During the discussion Of the proposed
amendments, Mr.. Chittenden and Mr..
Merriman both referred to the allega-
tions that the similar ordinance vetoed
last year had been passed by question
able methods and that the franchise
will be used solely to "squeeZe' the
Scranton Gas and Water company.
Mr.. Chittenden argued that when the
new company sold out to the old COM
pany the latter would make even for
the expenditure by increasing its rates
to the public. To prevent this. limit
should be fixed to the price to be
charged by the company operating un-
der the new franchise.
Mr.. Merriman expressed surprise that
the council gave such general support
to measure which had been vetoed
once because it was put through with
the use of money No one made reply
to any of the declarations Of Messrs.
Chittenden and Merriman.
TRIED TO KILL IT.
Mr.. Clemons made final desperate
effort to kill the ordinance by moving
to Indefinitely postpone action on 1t.
but thirteen of the fourteen friends
were solid against the move, and 1T
went the way of the Others The one
to go over to the minority was Mr. Won
Bergen.
Mr.. O'Royle startled, or, at all events,
meant to startle the council by an en-
pose of municipal rottenness which had
no equal since the days when so many
of MIR. O'Boyle's fellow members had
ex- attached to their titles of council
men, but the solid men of the council
had anticipa ted the EXPOSE" and with
very few explanatory words made Mr.
O'Boyle and his sensation shallow and
ridiculous.
He had discovered that man up in
Nay Aug park was drawing pay from
both the city and the county. The man
was employed by the county to SUPER
wise the work of the prisoners who are
engaged In improving the park The
city furnishes the teams for this work
and by an arrangement with the county
the city officials paid part of the mans
wages in consideration of his extend
ing his supervision to the teamSters.
When such councilmen as Vaughan.
Chittenden, Clemons ct al. explained
and lauded the action of the city ofii-
cias in making this arrangement, MIR.
O'Boyle's "eXpOse" fell fiat. The total
expense to the city for work done at
the park by prisoners since April /,
last. amounts to $SS13.
The first measure introduced last
night was a resolution by Mr.. Ross,
calling for plans for a bridge over the
river at Race street, which was washed
away by the spring flood. This is one
of the improvements which 1t was in
tended should be cared for by the sur
plus revenue from liquor licenses, made
unavailable by the cutting down of the
tax levy with view of making CAM
paign thunder for the Democrats.
Where Mr.. Ross proposes to get the
money to replace the bridge has not as
yet been disclosed.
SEWER FOR WEST PARK.
AS result of Wednesday nghl's IS
"town meeting" of the property-hold-