The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-05
WENT TO WORK AT ONCE.

w fN IL "oISh AL oANSEI'
Council proceeded at once to comply
with the recorders recommendation.
An ordinance repeating the bond issue
ordinance and authorizing the destruc-
ton OF the refused bonds was intro
duced by Mr. Vaughan, reported favor
ably forthwith and passed on two read
ings The new bond ordinances, as re-
qured by law will be introduced in
common council.
The counclmen enjoyed a good
laugh at the expense of Mr.. Chitten-
den. The ordinance providing for the
purchase of six and one-fourth acres
of the Reynolds tract for $6400 for an
addition to Nay Aug park, was taken
from the hands of special committee
on motion of Mr.. Nageli, seconded by
Mr.. Coleman, and brought before the
house on first and second readings
Mr.. Chittenden spoke vigorously in OPP
position to the measure. characterizing
it as the flag end of real estate
speculation" and asserting that the
tract was nothing better than collec-
ton of rocks and rattlesnakes.
The original park plot, he pointed
out, was bought from the Lackawanna
Iron and Coal company for $lS5 an
acre; the Beckett addition cost S3l0 an
acre, and plot purchased from the Con-
sumers' Powder company cost only $3.50
an acre. To foist this new tract on
the city at $1,000 an acre, he averred,
was all wrong. 1t was not needed, at
all, but If it was taken by the city, 1t
should not cost more than 5000 an acre.
Messrs. Coleman. Clemons and Mer-
riman spoke in favor of the measure,
saying the land was needed to Square
out" the northeast corner of the park,
and the price was in keeping with that
at which other lands in the immediate
vicinity have been, recently, selling.
Messrs. Clemons and Chittenden ar
gued pro and con for some time, Mr..
Chittenden sparing no words that
would help convey his most vigorous
opposition to the measure. Finally
motion to indefinitely postpone action
was killed, and on motion of Mr.. Glenn
ons the ordinance was recommitted I'M
til the new bond ordinances are intro
duced, and the money necessary for
the purchase OF the tract provided.
INTRODUCED BY CHITTENDEN.
A few minutes had gone by when
suddenly the proceedings We're brought
to "a stop by bursts of laughter, loud
and prolonged, from a group congre-
gated about Mr.. Coleman's desk,
MIR. Coleman had thought he remem-
bered that it was Mr.. Chittenden him
self who introduced the ordinance for
the purchase of the Reynolds tract, and
looking up the original measure found,
true enough, that Mr. Chittenden was
credited with its paternity. Intro
duced by Mr.. Chittenden" was plainly
written across the envelope,
AS word of the discovery spread, the
laughter spread and soon the whole
house was in an uproar. Mr. Chitten-
den was plainly discounted, but his wit
came quickly to his rescue.
Rising to question of personal priyi-
lege, he stated that it was true he had
introduced the ordinance in question,
but did so at the request of the gentle
man from the Seventeenth, Mr.. Glenn
ons, its real father, who could not at
tend the meeting at which the ordi-
nance was introduced, and asked Mr..
Chittenden to introduce 1t for him.
That this was true, he called on his
fellow-councilmen, who were present at
the meeting in question, TO bear Wit
ness. Il stated at the time" said Mr.
Chittenden with yehemence, that I
was introducing this and some other
ordinances at the request of Mr.. Glenn
ons."
Mr. Clemons denied that any such
thing was so, and appealed to the min