Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-28
FOUR OF THE BOARD DEAD.

The act. in it's second section, fixes and names
five persons as a board of Appraisers, and pro
vides how and by whom vacancies shall be
filed. Four of these persons, namely,
George R. White, John McDevitt,
James Park, Jr., and Joseph Dilworth
are dead. Mr.. B. f. Jones alone survives.
Should he resign or refuse to proceed in filling
such vacancies, no further action whatever
could be had in condemning or purchasing
such bridges. The whole act so far as it re-
lares to the exercise of this particular power by
the city, hangs upon the action of a Board of
Appraisers of five persons Itis special juris-
diction with special and clearly defined duties.
Neither can be delegated Neither the court.
the city, nor the bridge company can supply or
exercise this power Assuming full action
taken by the parties interested, its confirmation
by the court then, should the city fail to pay
the amount of money by said report required
TO be paid, within four months thereafter, the
whole proceedings shall be dismissed, at the
cost of the city.
Hitherto / have only considered the force of
the act of Assembly bearing on your first ques-
tion. The most difficult problem is raising the
money. How can II be raised? Ordinarily the
city cannot impose in any one year taxation
Sufficient to meet the full amount authorized
TO be expended, because the act limits the levy
for each year to a sum not exceeding 10 mills
on the dollar. Il would, therefore, devolve upon
the city, assuming it has the power. to issue its
bonds for the appraised value of the bridges.
after the amount shall have been fully deter
mined, and raise the money on such bonds with
in four months after the confirmation of the
appraisers report, otherwise all the proceed
ings could be vacated.
Has the city the power to increase its in
debtedness to the amount authorized by said
act and issue bonds therefor?
Section g. article *, of the Constitution of
this State declares that the debt of municipali-
ties 'shal never exceed per centum upon the
assessed value of the taxable property there
in" The officers of this city furnish me state
ment showing: Taxable valuation OF property,
Sl94 S45, ,025; Z per centum thereon would be.
Sl3639 Isl; city Indebtedness SIS 203, ,25l;
amount for which Indebtedness might be IN
creased, S4S5, 800. This last sum would be the
full amount for which any authority can be
found justifying any action by the city. But
can even this amount be utilized by Councils?
QUESTION FOR THE PEOPLE.
Section "a of the act of Assembly entitled
IAN act in relation to the government of cities
of the second class" pamphlet laws of 1887,
mage $685. declares ''any increase OF the interest
bearing bonded Indebtedness of cities of the
second class is hereby prohibited, unless the
same shall be approved by an Affirmative vote
Of a majority OF the qualified electors voting
thereat at an election provided Tor by an ordi-
nance Of Councils"
cirv can issue these Understanding bonds ex-
rress authority must be conferred by the quail
ned electors at an election provided for that
purpose.
,resslv Conferred by section of the act afo re-
ssid- The exercise is to be governed by what
mas previously appeared in this communiGa-
and no authority whatever comforting the
right upon the city TO enter into a copartneT-
or CORPORATION to build bridges. The whole
power Of the CITY TO build bridges Is conferred