The state journal., 1884-06-14

absent sort of way, every member having
lanauid air about him that indicated his
disinclination TO legiSlate There was i
nrcity full attendance, however, when the
clerk read the minutes, which were APP
proved.
The only matter ofany importance that
came up during the evening was an eff
tor on the part Of those who oppose the
laying Of water pipe down Eleventh street
10 the southern city limits to reject the
contract and bond of w. III. Schlayer, to
whom the work had been awarded in the
regular way. When the contract was re
norted by the Finance Committee, Mr..
swartz (Fourth ward) moved to indefi-
ncly postpone further consideration Of
the matter.
This caused buzz of excitement among
the friends of the project, and Mr.. Wal
ters moved to amend the motion of Mr..
SwarlZ and at once approve the contract.
The yeas and nays were demanded on
amendment, and resulted in II for to II
arainst-a tie vote. This suited the op-
ponents of the measure, and Mr.. Swartz
withdrew his motion 20 postpone. Mr.
largest thcrcupOn moved that the con
tract and bond be approved, but Prcsi-
dent Hutton ruled that as the same mo-
ton had been virtually defeated in Mr.
Walters amendment it could not be en-
tcrtained The matter was here allowed
to rest for a time, but later in the evening
the friends of the measure succeeded in
having the vote by which Mr.. Walters
amendment was defeated reconsidered.
The supporters Of the ordinance
then agreed 10 lay the matter
aside until the other business had been
disposed Of. When it came up again Mr..
Walters renewed his motion to approve
the contract, and Swartz (Fourth ward)
as promptly moyed to postpone further
consideration Of the matter Mr. Iar
gest obtained the floor and wanted to
know if the persons who were opposed
to laying the water pipe were afraid to
argue the matter 1t looked very much
lkcit He thought the large vote or the
original passage of the ordinance GA to
Al showed that it had merit He could
not understand why so many had changed
their views in so short time. He was
ready to stand by his vote
Mr. Miller (Second ward) was opposed
to it for the reason that he believed there
was Job in it and that it was only calcu
lated to benefit certain parties. After
considerable discussion the amendment of
Mr. Swartz to indefinitely postpone was
put and resulted in Is nays to 16 ayes.
Therefore not agreed to.
Mr.. Walters 4 staunCh advocate of the
project, then gained recognition from the
President lie said he was a representa-
tive of the distr;c. this pipe would benefit
and if any one opposing it could show
rhxy 1o
laid he would oppose it. AS it would
unQuostiOnably be great benefit to the
city he could see no reason for the oppo-
sition The revenue which would be de
rived from said pipe would be large, as
Improvements would spring up all along
the line of it.
Mr.. Swartz (Filth ward) would vote for
the approval Of the contract if Mr.. Wal
tiers could show that people wanted the
pipe below Paxton street, He could not
understand Why residents of the lower
end should derive benefits in the laying
of pipe which citizens Of other parts of
the city did not enjoy. He referred to the
interest on liens.
Mr.. Sible thought if the people of the
lower end were 50 anxious for the water
pipe they should be willing to help pay
for it as other sections of the city Go He
then entered into long dissertation on
liens and taxes and interest," which lasted
for some time. JIe wound up by decar
ing that the ordinance was not legally
drawn His last remark Mr.. largest
proved to be wholly incorrect.
Mr.. Melvin said he lived in the lower
district and he was sorry for it. People
in that part of the city had always diff
Guilty in procuring water He described
how the women and children had to carry
water for cooking and drinking purposes,
and thought it was pretty showing for
city of this size and importance. lie
charged that members on the floor always
opposed anything that would benefit the
lower end.
Mr. Bay denied that the lower end was
opposed in everything as charged by MIR.
Melvin. He did not believe the laying
of the pipe was for the best interest of
the CITY, but he was willing to put it down
as far as Paxton street. The gentleman
was subjected to n severe cross fire of
questions which he parried indillcrcntly
Mr.. largest said he believed the water
pipe would be great source ot revenue.
Already manufactures and buildings, he
understood, were in contemplation, be
cause Of the pending ordinance. He
thought the laying of water pipe along
Sixth street few years ago was n good
investment and this would be q better
one. The laying Of the pipe would cost
several thousand dollars less now than in
the future, and the contractor was u
reliable gentleman. In answer TO
charges that the ordinance had been
passed with undue haste he showed that
il had been matuTely considered, and
cited interviews that had been had with
prominent persons regarding The project
The principal argument of the opposition
was that Steelton would be supplied with
water at reduced rate. This he denied
and asserted that il would be unwise to
allow Steclton to build water works.
Harrisburg was progressing, and in few
years many thousands would be added
to It's population and its material re
sources would be increased.
Mr.. Ryan said the anxiety displayed
by the supporters Of the ordinance gave
color to the idea that there was something
rotten in Denmark. The SteeltOnpcople
had never petitioncd for water and it was
a doubtful scheme.
Mr.. Mather only obtained the floor
after several efforts TO adjourn, He said
the matter had been fully deliberated
when it passed Councils and he could not
understand why so many had changed
their minds. AT the time of its passage
he was gratifled to find so many support
ing it.
The discussion was continued in ram
bling sort Of way until almost II o'clock,
when vote on Mr.. Walters motion to
approve the contract was reached, and
resulted as follow
YEAs-Messrs. Champlain, DeVout
Drinkwater, Elder, Fisher Fleming,
Frankem, Hargest, Howard, Lyme,
Mather, Melvin, Meyers, Schuddemage,
Shearer Walters, Weber, Walz, and
II,.44n.. .,,.nr;.lo,,t 10