The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

Amendments to the Consumers Gas
company's franchise, providing for
eighty-five cent gas and limiting the
franchise to forty years, were adopted
by select council last night. The
amendments were contained in the re-
port the light and water committee pre-
sented OH the ordinance, and the report
was adopted
The ordinance creating FIVE police
court districts and prescribing the dis
tricts and salaries was passed on third
reading and will now go to common
council. For nearly a year the two
branches of council have been fighting
over this ordinance and have not been
able to reach a conclusion with refer
ence to 1t. The districts are as follows:
First-Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and
Sixteenth wards.
Second-Ninth, Tenth, Seventeenth
and Eighteenth wards.
Third-First, Second, Third and Thir-
teenth wards.
Fourth-Fourth, Fifth, Fourteenth,
Fifteenth and Twenty-flrst wards.
Fifth-IGleventh, Twelfth Nineteenth
and Twentieth wards.
The salary of each magistrate is fixed
at $400 a year. After the ordinance
passed, Chairman Chittenden intro
duced a resolution providing that the
| magistrates be allowed to retain 10 per
cent. of the fines they collect until such
time as the ordinance providing for
their salaries is passed. He said the
city's employees ought to be paid, and
from the experience the salary ordi-
nance has had up to date they are
likely to be a long time without COM
pensation.
OBJECTIONS RAISED.
Councilmen Vaughan and Clemons
made a vigorous protest against the
passage of the resolution which, they
said, was an effort to appropriate
money by resolution and would prove
dangerous precedent. A vote was
taken and the resolution failed of pass
age by the following vote:
Yeas-Ross, Finn, Evans, Morgan, Melvin,
OAlallcy, McAndrew, Chittenden--S
Nays-Cosello, Maloney, Wagner Schneider,
Shea, Merrman, Cosgrovc, Oliver, Schroeder,
Clemons, O'Boyle, Yaughan-l2.
When the common council resolution
was read which empowers the city
officials to borrow $4,000 to be used as
an emergency fund for the purpose of
paying the expenses caused by the
smallpox epidemic it was referred to
| the estimates committee for considera-
tion. Later Mr.. Clemons called the
attention of council to the urgent need
of passing the resolution at once in the
face of the condition which now con-
fronts the health authorities of the
city and it was done.
A resolution introduced by Mr..
Vaughan directs the recorder to call
the attention of the board of UNDER
writer's to the extra insurance premium
now being paid and ask when the peo-
pie of Scranton are to be relieved of
this burden. The recorder is requested
to make report to councils of the re-
suit of his conference with the under
writer's. There was not a dissenting
vote against the resolution.
CONDITION OF BROMLEY AVENUE
A communication from Recorder Con-
nell transmitted to councils the pro-
test of the people of Bromley ave-
nue. between SHETLAND and Pettebone
street against the unsanitary condition
of that thoroughfare. The protest was
printed in Tuesdays Tribune. In con-
junction with the protest the recorder
transmitted a report on the matter
furnished him by Director of Public
Works Roche. 1t follows:
Hon. W. L. Connell, City Recorder,
Dear Sir Replying to your request TO report
on the conditions as | found them PettGbonc
street, Bromley avenue, Roberts court, etc, /
have to say that the condition in that locality
is about described in the petition, due largely
to the property owners themselves.
Seven or eight years ago the city appropriated
5000 for grading Pettcbone street. The indi-
vidual property owners along the line refused to
pay their share which would amount to about the
same sum- and they also refused to sign re.
lease relieving the city fIom any liability for
damages by reason of such grading
Bromley avenue some years ago was graded
by authority OF councils and put in good condi-
t0n. Some Of the property owners in this block
between Swetland and Pettebone streets haye
| neglected or refused TO pave the cutters. This
block has grade OF but one.half OF one per cent.
Those who have paved their cutters have done
so ig-a slip'slod manner some with l2-ineh, some
wifi Gnch dish in the gutter. On such slight
grade cutters should be paved to true line and
graded in order to conduct the water away.
There is no other water that flows on this
block except what comes from the abutting prop
critics.
In reference TO Roberts court this court has
never been graded. The surface is somewhat un.
| even, slight depressons existing because of the