The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-10

deavoring to Redeem Pledges.
BY reason of the fact that none of It's
supporters are we'll versed In parlia-
mentary practice, the Consumers Gas
company franchise ordinance received a
staggering IL not fatal blow, at last
nights special meeting Of select coun-
Gil.
| Those of the members who look at
| the ordinance with a suspicious eye,
were bent on amending 1t to make 1t
conform to what they considered de-
cent provisions. The supporters of the
measure, emboldened by n safe major
| ity were determined upon rushing 1t
through on two readings, in the shape
in which it came from common council.
After an unsuccessful effort had been
made to refer 1t to a special committee
| for amendment 1t came up on first
reading and Mr.. Clemons offered an
amendment limiting the duration of the
franchise to forty years. While Clerk
Lavelle was preparing to take the VOTE
Mr.. McAndrew, supporter OF the
measure, moved to lay the amendment
on the table.
| Chairman Oliver put the motion and
only about half a dozen members voted
on it. 1.-The ayes seem to have it; the
ayes have it, and the amendment is
tabled" declared Chairman Oliver
Then the chairman added: 1.-THE coun-
Gil, of course, understands that tabing
of an amendment tables the ordinance"
ORDINANCE TABLED.
"Eh? What's that?" came from the
supporters of the franchise.
| 1.-The ordinance is on the table, under
our rules" explained the chair.
| The supporters of the ordinance were
still feeling around to find out where
they were at, when the next order Of
business was proceeded with.
| "All right" exclaimed Mr.. Coleman.
well take it off the table at the next
meeting"
Messrs. Clemons, Vaughan, Newman
and the others who do not favor the
ordinance in its present shape, wore
countenances suffused with smiles dur
ing the rest of the meeting.
Mr.. McAndrew. after a time strolled
about the council chamber explaining
that he Intentionally had the measure
| tabled as he feared it would be defeat
ed, if allowed to come up for vote.
MIR. Clemons said "Huh." and smiled.
The ordinance was considered at a
meeting of the light and water COM
mittee last Monday night. There were
present Messrs. Nageli, Coleman and
! Merriman. Messrs Nageli and Cole
| man agreed to report the ordinance as
it stood. Mr.. Merriman refused to have
anything to do with the measure. un-
less the others would agree to amend
ments limiting the price of gas and the
| duration of the franchise. Three names
are necessary on an ordinance to get it
| before councils from a committee.
| Messrs. Nageli and Coleman argued
with Mr.. Regan that the further delay
of the ordinance was unjust and that it
should be allowed to come before the
council. Mr.. Regan signed it.
MADE AMENDMENTS.
When the ordinance came up for first
reading, Mr.. Clemons proceeded to
argue for amendments
The special meeting, he went on to
say, had been called for the purpose of
passing this ordinance, and he was
satisfied there We're votes enough COR
rallied to pass it, or 1t would not have
been called up. A similar ordinance
had been passed at the last session,
but was defeated by the recorders
veto. This ordinance was In practice
ally the same shape as the one of last
year, and it looked to him as if the
effort to push it through now was an
endeavor on the part of "the boys" to
redeem pledges and give the Con-
sumers' company what they had agreed
to give them.
Mr.. Clemons brought his speech to a
close by moving that the ordinance be
recommtted. Mr.. Vaughan seconded
the motion. Mr.. Nageli protested that
nothing could be ACCOMPLISHED by
sending it back to committee. as he
could not get the committee together to
consider it. Mr.. Vaughan moved that,
in view mis- admission of the chair
man of e light and water committee,
the ordinance be referred to special
committee.
Mr. Nageli and Mr.. Coleman pro-
tested against this as being useless,
saying that If council wanted to amend
the ordinance it could do so on the
floor as well as in committee. Mr.. Nc
Andrew thought so, too, and suggested
l that 1t was an insult to the regular
committee to refer the matter to a spe-
cial committee.
VOTE ON THE MOTION.
The motion to refer to special COM
mittee was defeated by the following
vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Van Bergen. Merriman,
Clemons, Vaughan, Oliver--5
Nays-Messrs, Costello, Evans, Morgan,
Regan, Maloney, Nageli, Schneider Quin-
nan, Cosgrove, Coleman, O'Boyle, Coyne,
McAndrew-13,
Absent-Messrs Ross Melvin. Chtten-
den--3
A motion by Mr.. Vaughan to refer
the measure back to the light and
water committee was lost on tie vote,
as follows
Ayes, Messrs. Won Bergen, Evans. Re-
gan, Cosgrove, Clemons Vaughan, Oliver
%
Nays-Messrs. Costello. Morgan. Ma
loney, Nageli, Schneider, Coleman
O'Boyle, Coyne. McAndrew--9,
At this juncture Mr.. Clemons moved
the amendment which Mr., McAndrew's
thoughtless motion tabled, thereby
tabling the ordinance.