Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-14
THE COURTS CHAMPION.

| mr. Warmcastle Defends the Judge In Se-
lect Council-He il UnsuccessfuI-Res.
ignatiOns Go to n Committee.
1nS Select Council also the license question
was discussed. When the resignation of
james Getty, Jr, as Councilman of the
Second ward, was read Mr.. Warmcastle
moved that it be accepted. but after the vote
had been partially taken Mr.. Robertson
arose, and securing permission of the Chair,
entered his protest against such action by offer
| ing motion to refer the resignation of Mr.
Getty and others to a special committee. Mr..
Robertson made a strong plea against accept
ing these designations too quickly. He said:
This is the first time in It's history Pittsburg
| Councils have been called upon to accept the
resignation of a member at the dictum of the
| Court, and why it should be necessary for
man to resign an honorable position, to which
he was elected by his neighbors, who, above all,
know the value, integrity and worth of the
man, is beyond my comprehension. The Court
has intimated that saloon kept by Council
man is the place where all kinds of wicked jobs
are set up and intrigues entered into. This is
only supposition, and very unfair one at
that. Is there member Of this public body
who would tolerate the belief that Mr.. Getty or
MI. O'Neill would be guilty of doing anything
that was not for the best interest of the peocle2
think not. We all know that James Getty
has always been the peoples champion. Why
the Court should debar the people from the
services of such men cannot understand.
GOOD MEN WANTED.
zone of the most important features of the
Brooks law is that good, moral men only shall
be licensed. 1t seemed to me that a man who
has been elected and reelected BY the people
of this ward to fill an honorary position, such
as member of Councils, can have no higher
certificate of character than this, and instead
of initiating against should be one of the
strongest points in favor of him in his applica-
tion for license. am surprised that so learned
Judge should, by his construction of the law,
feel compelled to decide that the business Of
selling liquors was incompatible with the posi-
ton of Councilman of the city, and am at
loss to know whether the Court means to re-
feet on the saloon or on the city Councils.
When Judges will thus construe our laws we
have little TO assure US that some other Judge,
less learned, will not decide that some other
branch of business in which member of this
body may be engaged, is also incompatible
with the position of Councilman and compel
him to resign. Ny motion is intended to place
this matter in the hands Of a committee which
will endeavor to see if there is no other way
out of it without resigning."
Mr.. Warmcastle Immediately arose and asked
why the motion already voted on should not be
allowed to pass, BE thought that as Mr.. Getty
had rendered his resignation in good faith it
should be accepted promptly and not referred
and held back, for that would no doubt en-
danger his license and his business.
WHERE THEY DIFFER.
Mr.. Robertson replied that Mr.. Getty had
already complied with the requirements of the
Court and the matter was now the business of
Councils. He wanted the special committee
appointed so that they might hit upon some
plan whereby the gentlemen might be allowed
to keep their licenses and also retain their
seats in Council.
Mr.. Warmcastle said that was not right. and
he would oppose any such motion. Councils
were not supposed to know what stress these
men were under when they presented their
designations, and il was the place of Councils
to accept them promptly. Councils had no
ground to stand upon in defying the Court in
such manner. 1t was his opinion that the
designations should be accepted promptly, and
the Mayor should then proclaim an election
for men to take their places SO that the wards
they represent should have new members in
Council at the earliest moment possible. The
designations were voluntary and Councils had
no right to question them.
Mr.. Robertson took issue on the latter prop
osition, and said the designations were not vol
UNFAIRLY made. They were made under COM
pulsion, and Councils had right to determine
whether the Court could compel a member to |
resign his position in order to retain his
license.
Mr.. Warmcastle and Dr. Evans both differed
on that view of the matter, and the latter
promptly accepted he felt very sure it would |
result In the licenses of the parties interested
being revoked.
THEY GOT OUT OF IT.
The motion to accept the designations had |
been recorded and under President Ford's |
ruling it was necessary that that motion be re-
considered. Mr.. Warmcastle and DR.. Evans |
opposed this, and the yeas and nays were |
called, with the following result: Yeas, l9; |
nays. 9:
Aves-Messrs. Anderson, Ford, Braun, Cav |
anaugh, Collins, Doyle e., Gillespie q. H; Has
Perry, Robertson, Rohrkaste. Warren. Williams, |
Fitsinmons, Lambie' Eisbet Paul, French and
Warmcastle-9.
The designations of NJ c. Dwyer, of the
Eighteenth ward, and John O'Nein of the
Fifth ward were then read, and with that of
Mr. Getty were referred to a committee of
tive with instructions to report at the next
stated meeting.
Some difficulty was experienced in securing
a committee representing both sides as the
vote was taken. The Chair appointed Messrs
Robertson, Doyle, Warmcastle, Lambie and
DR.. Evans. The three last named all declined
as having voted against the reconsideration Of
tional reason that it would not do the parties
interested any good to have him on the COM
mittee, because he had voted sincerely and felt
that way. Mr.. Nisbet declined to serve on the
committee also because he had voted against
it, and Mr.. Williams was put on in his place.
Mr.. Collins agreed to take DR., Evans, place on
McCord accepted the place of Mr.. Warm
castle.
An ordinance authorizing the Controller and
Treasurer to close up certain accounts with
the Delinquent Tax Collector and suspended
banks was opposed by Mr. Lambie on the
ground that it was not safe proceeding to dis
charge the credits of the city as the bill pro-
vided, and his motion to postpone action was
agreed to.
One of the most important ordinances pre-
sented in Select Council was that regulating
street parades, professions and other assem-
blages, being a copy of an ordinance in force
in New York City. 1t provides that all parades
or professions occupying or marching on
streets, public squares or wharves of the city
to the exclusion or interruption of other
citizens is forbidden, unless written notice of
the object, time place or route of procession
and the character, purpose and officers of the
same be given by the chief officer of the
parade. not less than d hours previous to its
forming and marching, to the Superintendent
of Police. G. A r. nosts the National Gnard