Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-11
ONLY THREE CLASSES.
Allegheny Councils to Remain in the
Latter Class at Present.
A LIVELY TINE LAST EVENING,
The Common Branch Object to the Decision
of Select Council.
CITIZENS AND COUNCILS TO CONFER

At meeting of Allegheny Select Coun-
Gil last night, Mr.. Watson, from the Com
mittee on City Charter, presented a report
which, opening with the statement that the
Supreme Court has declared in favor of
three classes Of cities, gave the changes that
would be made by going into either second
or third class, and said that the City Solici-
tor had prepared an act which. if passed,
would give Allegheny until 1891 70 create
the department under the second class char
ter, and if by that time the experiment
with departments in Pittsburg was not q
success q change could be made or a further
amendment of the law could be procured.
The report concluded with resolution
directing the Finance Committee and the
City Solicitor, with permission to hire other
legal advisers if they saw fit, TO prepare ad-
ditional legislation, investigate the subject
thoroughly, ascertain the expenses that
would fall on the city by going into either
class and obtain such other information as
would be of interest and report to Councils.
VOICE OF CITIZENS.
Mr.. Hartman had q resolution which
made the committeeman appointed at the
citizens meetings part of the committee to
consider the charter legislation, and he
Mr.. Watson said he thought the gentle
man was little of. The Charter Commit
tee recommended that the matter be referred
to the Finance Committee, because it was
regular committee, and some people thought
special committees (Mr. Hartman's resolu-
tion called for special committee) was
sometimes appointed for purpose. The
citizens would be welcome to the meetings.
DR.. Gilliford moved to amend the resolu-
tion by adding that the Citizens Committee
be invited to meet and confer with the Fl
nance Committee.
Mr.. Watson accepted this. Then Mr..
Hartman raised the point that the resolu-
tion bound the committee to the second or
third class, and Mr.. Watson suggested that
Mr.. Hartman write something that would
do. Mr.. Hartman talked for sume time,
and when he quit President Lindsay told
him the resolution was broad enough to
cover the whole subject. The resolution
was adopted.
NO CENSUS TO BE TAKEN.
Common Council met and transacted lot
of unimportant routine business. The ordi-
nance awarding the contract to the E.
Howard Watch and Clock Company, of
Boston, for placing clock and three bells
in the tower of the Carnegie Library was
passed. The contract price is So, ,475. The
Board of Health was authorized to employ
two persons to take charge of the new
garbage furnace at salary of $50 month,
each.
President Hunter then read the report of
the Charter Committee and the resolution
adopted by Select Council to refer it to the
Finance Committee and the City Solicitor
for report as to the expense that would be
incurred.
1t was then learned that Select Council
had refused to adopt the recommendation of
the Finance Committee, to take municipal
census. This kills the matter entirely, and
long discussion was caused. If no census
is taken. Allegheny must be classed as
city having IS, 900 inhabitants, and is bound
to remain city of the third class. The bill
will likelybe passed before another meeting
of councils is held, and Allegheny will. Of
course, be city Of the third class, governed
by the laws and charters of other cities in
the same class.
City Solicitor Elphinstone was called on
for information, but said he had nothing
further to say and the action of Select
Council was concurred in.
This will make Allegheny city of the
third class, unless the municipal bill is not
passed for several weeks and special
meeting of Councils is held. Common
Council then adjourned.
There will be meeting Of citizens at AL
legheny City Hall tonight to take action on
the charter legislation.
A special meeting of the Allegheny Poor
Board was held last night to discuss the
charter, but it was decided to postpone &C
ton until after the meeting of Councils.