The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-03

The councilmanic conference commit
tee appointed to adjust the differences
OF the two branches on the annual ap-
preparation ordinance met last night
and in half an hour came to an agree
ment.
The terms on which the councils dis
agreed were four in number: $500 for
salary for the clerk Of common coutf-
Gil; $500 for equipping the Keyser VAL
ley Hose company; $1140 for an as
sistant city engineer, and $125 to pay
for water furnished at Connell park
by the Spring Brook Water company.
These were in the ordinance as 1t
| went over from the lower branch and
We're stricken out by amendments in
the select branch Common council
refused to concur in the amendments
| and, under the rules. the ordinance
had to go to a conference committee.
Messrs Clemons. Vaughan and Ross
were appointed as the select cOnferees,
and Messrs. Coleman, Norton and
Soaring as the commoners' representa-
tives.
The Keyser Valley Hose company
item was objected to on the ground
that another hose company was un-
necessary. The item for an assistant
engineer was objected to because q
similar appropriation made last year
| had not been used, and 1t was inferred
| that it must needs be unnecessary. The
| objection to this item. however, was
removed by the explanation of Chief
| Engineer Phillips that an assistant ell
gineer was not hired last year because
the work on the new sewers. which 1t
was intended he should engage upon,
had beeen delayed by the lateness of
the viewers reports. The reports are
now in and the sewers are about to be
built. and the new man will be abso-
lutely Indispensable.
WATER RENT BILL.
The 1925 for water rent was objected
to by Mr. Vaughan because he be-
| lieved the Scranton Gas and Water
company, under it's contract. is re-
| quired to supply water wherever its
mains extend, and if because of the
| low pressure in it's mains at Connell
park it can not furnish a satisfactory
supply, it should pay the extra ex-
pense entailed by the taking of water
from the Spring Brook company. Mr.,
Vaughan explained that he had taken
up the matter with President Scranton
and until a conclusion had beer,
reached he thought it would not be
| right for the city to admit liability for
| the claim by appropriating money to
meet it. This opinion prevailed with
the other members OF the committee.
The principal fight was OH the iten
| for q clerk of common council. The
selectmen We're unanimous in favOrine
the proposition to do away with this
Office and have the assistant city clerk
do the work, first to save 5000 II year
and second, to remove Il very disturb.
ing factor in each recurring reOrgan.
| iZatiOn of the lower branch
Mr. ClemOnS argued to the commit.
tee that the city clerk was intended
to be the clerk of both councils. AS I;
| matter of convenience alone the records
and papers of both branches should
be kept in the one Office under the sup
erviSion of one man. The aSsistan;
city clerk is capable of acting as clerk
of the common council. he contended
and, in the interests of economy. the
SuperfluouS Office of common council
clerk should be done away with. He
felt at greater liberty than heretofore
to urge this because the common coun.
Gil is now Republican. and some OF The
leading commoners are the projectors
of the movement
The committee first took up the clerk.
ship item. y motion by Mr. Clemens
that it be allowed to remain ont OF
the ordinance was lost on a tie vote
the selectmen voting one way and com.
moners the other.
CLERKSHIP ITEM.
Mr.. CIemons then suggested as (,
compromise that the clerkship item
should be left out and Keyser Valley
Hose company item reinserted. Mr.
| Vaughan favored this and advised the
commoners to accept it. MIR. Coleman
opposed the idea of considering the two
items together but finally the motion
was put, and with the aid of the vote
of Commoner Norton, who champions
the Keyser Valley company, the select
men won out on the motion.
The other two items were readily dis,
posed of after Mr.. Vaughan explained
the situation in each case. The $l,14(
for an assistant engineer was reinsert.
ed and the Sl25 for extra water rent
| was left out.
The committee agreed to make G
| unanimous report at tonights meeting
1t is questionable If the commoners will
agree to the recommendation of the
conference on the clerkship item, but
| whatever becomes of it, the item Is
likely to be made ineffective as @
strong movement is afoot to elect the
assistant city clerk as clerk OF the
common council, and IL it succeeds the