The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-08

ryites Fail to Attend the Meeting
Court Will Be Asked to Order
Special Election, so That Deadlock
May Be Broken.
The citizens Of Dickson City. in meet
ing assembled last night. took hand
i'm the councilmanic miX-up which mas
led to the shutting off OF the borough =
water supply, and determined that an
end shall be put to the disgracetul
scenes which have attended councii
meetings during the past few months.
It must be understood that the hor-
ough owes Il water bill of some 5000 to
the Dickson City Water company,
which is now controlled by the Scrar-
ton Gas and Water company This Dill
Is OF two years standing. and because
of it's non-payment the company smut
off the water from the borough build
ing and the fire hydrants, Tuesday.
The council as at present constituted
consists of eight members. There should
be nine, but the First ward has no rep
resentative, because of a tie vote at
the last election. The eight councilmen
are deadlocked on all questions. even
to the matter of holding a meeting.
One member, Louis Richards. Topped
over to what Is known as the Hufnagle
faction, long enough to assist in the
election of George Hufnagle as chair
man, of James Caygle as treasurer and
of Il street commissioner and secretary.
WENT BACK IN LINE.
He was then brought back into line
by the other side, known as the Nc
Garrity faction, and the deadlock again
went into force. The Hufnagle faction
have tried to meet on several occasions
to authorize the payment of the water
bill, approve the treasurer's bond and
fill the other offices of borough attor-
ney, chief of police, etc. but the Nc
Garrityites have persstently refused to
attend the meetings and their refusal
prevents the gathering of quorum.
The McGarrityites want the other offices
and the Hufnagle faction say they
can't have them-hence the obstinacy
of the former.
Last nights meeting was held in
Foley's hall and was attended by over
two hundred citizens, supporters and
followers of both factions. James Nor
ganson was elected chairman, and Bur-
CESS William Kennedy was chosen as
secretary. The former is a Hufnagle
man, and the latter a staunch McGar-
| rityite.
Upwards of fifty of those present had
| a little something to say on the situ-
| alton, while Il few voters had a great
| deal to say, and said it vigorously.
| Among these latter was George w.
| Weiland the well-known lumber
dealer. The action of the Mccarthy
faction in failing to attend the meet
ings of councils and thus directly
causing the shutting off of the water
| supply he characterized as a burning
| disgrace.
| He said that there had been fire.
quently enough money in the treasury
in months past to pay the water COM
pany's bill if former Treasurer John
Eldrilin had any desire to pay it. In
stead of paying the old bill of the COM
panys, he said, he paid a later bill of
c. b. Scott's, which was altogether
| wrong.
| TO INCREASE RATES.
He referred to the fifty per cent in
crease in the insurance rates which
the underwriters threaten to slap on
| unless the water supply is turned on
once more and called upon the citizens
to arise and show their disapproval of
the action of those councilmen who
are disgracing the borough in the eyes
| of the community.
Chairman Morganson spoke along
similar lines and urged the taking of
prompt and vigorous measures. The
McGarrtyites had Il number of friends
at the meeting who argued that the
Hufnagle faction should give the other
side some consideration and should
agree before holding meeting and not
to play the hog and demand all the
offices. This line of argument was not
very favorably received by those In
attendance.
1t was finally decided to appoint a
special committee to wait upon the
several councilmen today and request
their presence at a special meeting OF
the council which has been called fol
tonight by Chairman Hufnagle. If a
majority of the cOuncilmen do not
heed this request and meet tonight
the committee was authorized to &c
into court on Friday and petition for
an order authorizing the immediate
conduct of a special election in the
First ward. With councilman elect
ed from this ward the deadlock would
be broken.
The committee appointed comprise
the following citizens: Walter Libud-
jesky, Frank RolEa, Joseph Moore
William ]. Williams, John Gilgallon
John Parks and John Barrett.
1t is considered extremely probable
that a meeting will be held tonight
and that payment of the water COM
pany's bill will be authorized. Whether
or not Treasurer Caygle's bond will be
approved is an open question. Until
it is approved the borough Is without
treasurer. There is said to be ample
sufficiency of money in the treasury tC
pay not only the water companys bill
but many other outstanding claims
against the borough.