The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-28

The anticipated veto of the gas fran
chise ordinance was transmitted to
common council last night and sus-
tanned by an unanimous vote. The
| message of the recorder set forth that
he vetoed the ordinance because of n
technical error in printing
That the recorder may possibly have
been moved to discover the technical
error by something more than the ordi-
nary care observed in considering a
measure submitted for hts approval,
was indicated by the presentation Of a
resolution by Mr.. Keller calling upon
the recorder to investigate rumors OF
bribery in connection with the passage
Of the gas franchise ordinance.
The recorders veto message reads as
follows:
To The Honorable the Select and Common Coun.
ellis, City of Scranton. Pa.
Gentlemen | herewith return without my ap.
proval file Of common council No. 50. 1901, an
| ordinance "PermttinC the Consumers Gas com.
pany. its successors assigns TO erect and main.
tain gas works, 10 lay pipes in the streets, ave.
nues, courts. alleys, walks and public places in
the city of Scranton for the distribution Of gas
Tho ordinance az it comes to me, apparently
passed common council January ., 1902, finally,
with amendment made December 2G 1901. and
was regularly signed by tho clerl; and chairman
OF that branch. The ordinance ten went over
to the select council for concurrence and there
is amended on February G and o. 1902.
On reading this ordinance with the one which
passed common council. | find them identical.
and no evidence OF any amendment as indicated
in the caution.
1t is very necessary with important legislation,
such as this, that tile STRICT letter OF the law rcla-
tive to lis formation ard passage shUild h. com.
piled with | am,
Very respectfully youis.
W. L. Connel, City Recorder.
VETO SUSTAINED.
There We're 30 councilmen present
when the veto was considered, and not
a single vote was heard in favor of
passing the measure over the recorders s
head. There was also total lack of
discussion or comment.
When the ordinance met its death
there was no one present who is known
to be Interested in the Consumers
company. Just who its present mem-
bers are is not very generally known.
Casey Brothers were among its prin-
cipal hackers at its inception, but they
Withdrew from the company before it
put its ordinance before councils, and
the stock they had subscribed was dis
tributed among a number of small pur-
chasers. 1t has not as yet been made
public who these successors are.
Mr.. Keller's resolution was as fol-
lows:
Whereas. II is currently rTmorcd, and has
been stated in the public press that bribery was
Iesorted TO in securing the passage OF file of
iu1n ~ prii A,
franchise Tor supplying gas to the residents OF
Scranton, and
Whereas. Such statements reflect upon the in.
tegrity OF all members of councils. therefore,
be il
Resolved. BY the common council select coun.
Gil concuvring, that the recorder he and hereby
is requested TO fully investigate this matter and
take such action as the result Of his investigation
shall warrant.
The resolution was sent over to select
council for concurrence, but Chairman
Chlttendcn, who is a stickler for par
liamentary regularity, refused to per-
nit it's consideration because of that
section of the ripper" bill which pro-
vides that no ordinance or resolution
shall be passed on the day of it's in
PRODUCTION.
The resolution was adopted without
dissent or discussion and sent over to
select council for concurrence.
APPROVAL REFUSED.
The recorder also returned without
his approval the ordinance providing
foT a sewer basin at the corner of Re-
becca avenue and Jackson street for
the reason that it was not accompanied
by certificate of the existence of the
fund from which it presumes to take
the money with which to make the i'm
proycment. The vote to sustain the
veto was unanimous.
The ordinance providing for the is
suing of $2S5,00O of city improvement
bonds came over from select council
with an amendment directing that the
funds received from the sale of the
bonds shall be placed at interest in
banks in the name of the city until
such time rs 1t is expended. The
amendment was concurred in.
The amendments made to the appro-
priation ordinance We're not concurred
in and they went to u conference COM
mittee. The amendments are as fol-
lows: Strike out Sl25 for water rent,
$500 for the Keyser Valley hose COM
pany and 5000 for clerk of common
council. and add $l,l0O for salary OF
an assistant city engineer
The select council ordinance provid-
ing for tenders and wheel guards on
street cars was referred 10 the railway
committee with instructions to report
forthwith. 1t was reported favorably
and passed two readings. Similar ac-
tion was taken in relation to the ordi-
nances transferring money to pay the
state tax on loans, and providing for
the distribution of city advertising.
FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
Concurrence was given the resolution
providing for plans for a stone arch
culvert on Elm street. between Pros
pect and South Webster avenues; dl-
recting the director of public works to
take possession of the portion of Mat
tes street occupied by the Lackawanna