The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-25

Common council last night, by vote
OF twenty-five to fourteen, decided to
Indefinitely postpone action on the ordi-
nance which, as originally introduced.
provided for the issue of $32S. 900 worth
of bonds for various Improvements, and
further decided to appoint a. committee
of five to draft "a suitable substitute
ordinance to contain provision only for
the erection of bridges and of fire
houses where deemed necessary.
This action was taken after the orti.
nance had been amended so as to in
crease the total amount by over $780,
600 1t was charged that some of the
amendments offered were presented for
the sole purpose of killing the measure,
and many OF those who voted for these
admitted that they did so solely for the
purpose OF making an absurd measure
out of 1t.
Evan Evans. chairman of the finance
committee, offered the first amend
ments. They provided for the elimna-
tion Of the item OF $4,000 for the erec-
ton of new engine house for Engine
. company No. S: for the reduction from
S30,400 to $20,400 Of the item for the
opening of Irving avenue and Vine
street; and the addition of new items
of $4,000 for the opening and grading
Of Beech street, between Crown and
Blucher avenues, and Of $4,000 for the
widening OF Lafayette street, between
Bromley and North Main avenues.
These were all adopted without discus
sion.
Other Improvements.
Other amendments then offered and
adopted We're as follows: BY Mr.
Ruane, $4,000 for construction of
sewer on Poplar street. from mouth of
Fourth district sewer to Lackawanna
river; by Mr. Snowden, s25,000 for con-
struction of bridge over Lacl1awanna
river, from Wood street to Nay Aug
avenue: by Mr.. Gurrell. $4,000 for con-
struction of retaining wall on Fairview
avenue.
Mr. Paine then offered an amendment
providing for the addition Of an item
pf 100000 for the construction of a tun-
mol from the corner Of Ash street and
Monroe avenue to a point at Ash street
and the Roaring Brook. Chairman
Rohatllan became indignant at this and
called for halt. The common council
could not afford to go through a bur-
lesque performance, he said, and it was
no place for buffoonery.
This brought the whole question to
an issue and opened the flood gates OF
oratory. Mr.. Calpin moved to indef1-
ritely postpone. and Mr.. Keller, in an
extended speech, seconded the motion.
claiming that while there were good
things in the ordinance the bad and
unnecessary things outweighed them.
Chairman Robathan took the floor
and made ringing speech in oDposi-
tion to the motion. Scranton as a Sec
Il l,l,,e
he as far behind the times as TayIor
or Minooka in the way of public i'm
rrovements, he said. The unnecessary
items should be struck out.
New Measure Favored.
Mr.. Partridge said that the people |
living near the places where bridges |
nave been washed away are not even |
heing treated with common dccency by |
1he city. Proper fire protection is de- |
MED them and they are given no con-
sideration. Mr.. Paine pointed out that |
1t would be impossible to reconstruct |
the old ordinance and argued in favor
of an entirely new measure. The motion |
to indefinitely postpone was carried by |
the following vote
Yeas-Clarke. Thomas, d. Evans Hon
ry. snowden. Haggerty. McGreevey. Cal
pin. Partridge. Paine Phillips. c. Rosar, |
Calvin, Harvey Sykes, Gurrell, Fuller, |
ton--22.
Nays-Casterline. w. W. Evans. f. W.
Evans, Soaring, A. l.. Lewis. James,
Ruane, Roche, Knocpfel. VIM. Lewis, |
stipp, McIiale, Graf, Robathan-1i
Mr.. Keller's motion to appoint a spe-
cial committee of five to draft an or
dinance making provision only for
bridges and fire houses being adopted.
the chair named the following commit
tee: A. l.. Lewis. Casterline, Keller.
Calpin and Calvin. New resolutions in
troduced and adopted We're as follows:
BY Mr.. Casterline--Dirccting the super |,
intendcnt OF the bureau of engineering
10 prepare plans and an estimate of the
cost of grading Clearview street from
North Main avenue to the Lackawanna
railroads. main line, and for the opening
and grading of the following avenues
between Clearview and Theodore streets:
Church avenue. Summit avenue, Sumner
avenue and Rebecca avenue.
BY w. w. Evans-Directing the diroc-
Tor or public works to compel the prop
erty owners on Main avenue between
Price and Jackson streets to lay their
sidewalks to grade.
BY y. l.. Lewis-Directing the super-
intendcnt OF the bureau of engineering
W run inc lines 1or a road between
Meridian and Scranton streets adjoining
the Ansley property.
BY Chas. Rosar-Providing for an in
restigation by the Joint sewers and drains
committee of the condition of the Roar
Ing brook as the result of the flushing
Of the old steel company Site by the
Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Rail-
way company.
New Ordinances
New ordinances introduced and re-
'erred to committee were as follows:
BY Mr. Haggerty-Providing for two
.lectric lights I'm the Third ward.
BY Mr. Galvln-Providing for an cleo
'ric light mt the intersection of Crown
avenue and Moose street.