The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-04
WANTS SECRET SESSION,
Estimates Committee Excludes Re-
porters from It's Meetings.


in the language of Fra Elbertus
here is Il psychological study
The joint estimates committee of the
councils of the city of Carbondale met
last night to dispose of Il task that is
of the most vital Importance to the
taxpayers of Carbondale namely, the
apDortioning of the money which they,
the taxpayers, will turn into the city S
Golfers to meet the expenses of run
ning the city government for another
year. to make necessary improvements
and to meet other matters for the
towns welfare.
Among those present in select coun-
ell chamber before the meeting began
were the representatives of the press,
The Tribune representative modestly
filling one of the seats occupied by the
sgatherers. Like the others, he
was there to discharge what he re-
garded as his duty, to inform the
headers of his paper. namely, the tax
payers of Carbondale, on Il matter of
vital Importance to them, namely, the
manner in which their servants, name
ly, the councilmen, the members of the
estimates committee, proposed to dis
tribute their--the Taxpayers money,
among the different accounts. 1t was
no idle curiosity, no desire to pry into
business that was no concern of theirs,
that brought the newspaper men there;
it was as plainly stated before. that
they regarded as their simple duty the
Informing Of the public on subject of
vital Importance.
When the meeting was about to open
Il member of the committee quietly,
bat audible enough to reach the re-
portcrs' ears, protested against the
presence of the newspaper men. The
chairman of the meeting then called
the committee to order, saying. as he
turned to the reporters, AS this is an
executive session, those who have no
business before the committee may re-
tire"
The newspaper men, however, did not
retire-that is not just then. They
had a conviction, whether a mistaken
one or not, that the charman's signi-
Ecant remarks had no significance for
them. They felt that they had some
business there, but not that their pres
ence was due to any selfish interest
When they showed no heed the chair
man told them, without any frills,i that
they We're not wanted and that they
might. leave as soon as. they could, the
sooner the better
Then enSued a colloquy in which the
Tribune man said with equal plainness
and politeness that he had business
there: that he was doing what he be-
leved WAS his duty; that he believed it
was the right of the taxpayers to know
what took place at the meeting: it was
their money that was being disposed of
and it was their right to know of the
process of the disposition. The meet
ing was a part of council meeting and
there was no apparent reason for hold
ing II star climber session. The report
of the committee would be presented
al right, but it was only fair that the
taxpayers be posted beforehand of the
standing of the ordinance. If the COM
mittee insisted ON the exclusion of the
newSpapermen. then the latter could
leave, but under protest.
There was no answer to the argu-
ments of the reporters, which were
cut short by Select Councilman Thomp-
son making Il motion, seconded by Mr..
Fletcher, that the reporters be eXclud-
ed. The motion was carried, that is
Thompson and Fletcher voting in its
favor, the chair, Pugliano and Davis
reminins silent. The newspaper men
left after protesting and asking that
their protest be made a part of the
record, If such grace be extended them.
If therefore the readers of The Tribune
learn nothing as To the doings of the
estimates committee. they may be sat
istied that IL is because the members
of the committee saw fit to exclude the
press, thereby shutting off the publicity
of their Transactions.
The committee may or may not be
within its rights, but it seems that
it is Il matter for the taxpayers to know
not only how their money is to be dis
posed of, but also to be posted as TO the
different processes