Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-26
COUNCIL AGITATION.
A Valuable Picture of William Pitt
Presented 10 the City.
STEPSTAKEE FOR ARIVER PATROL.
The Question of Free City Bridges Referred
to Committee.
STREET RAILROADS FOR TIE EAST END

topics discussed was only equaled by the
vigor with which they were handled. In
Common Council W. A. Magee presided in
the continued absence of Mr.. Holiday, who
is still suffering from his accident. Under
the call of wards number of papers relat-
ing to streets were presented and referred,
among others the ordinance drawn up by
Coroner Mcdowell for establishing steam
boat patrol service, consisting of boat
properly supplied with appliances for fire
and police work, for receiving the bodies Of
drowned persons and other work.
Mr.. Carnahan presented an engraving of
the Hon. William Pitt, whose name the
city bears. 1t was the gift of William G.
Johnston, who obtained it while on visit
to England recently. Mr.. Carnahan said
that it was a coincidence that the picture
was printed in the year the French evacu-
ated Fort Duquesne. and it became Fort
Pitt-in 176O. Mr.. Carnahan, in his re-
marks, paid a glowing tribute to Pitt, and
spoke at length of what be had done for the
American colonies The picture was ac-
cepted and the clerk directed to make a
suitable minute.
Mr.. Carr, of the Twenty-seventh ward, pre-
sented a resolution providing for an election
in February to decide on increasing the city
debt for the purpose OF establishing free
bridges. Mr.. Carr said he offered the resolu-
tion to test the sincerity of the members who
at the last meeting professed such great love
for the Southside. He held that the assessed
valuation of the city is $500, 600, 900. The net
debt is $10, ,000, 900. and this he said was the
legal basis on which to place all calcula-
tions, leaving room for adding legally ST.
900. 900 to the debt, if the people so desired.
The Chair called Mr.. Carr's attention to
provision in the city charter which says that
an increase In the debt must be obtained by
ordinance submitting the question to a vote
of the people. The act called for an ordi-
nance, not a resolution, and so this resolu-
tion was out of order.
Mr.. Duncan asked Mr.. Carr if he would
accept as a substitute resolution for joint
committee to investigate and report what
can be legally done in the direction of free
bridges. Mr.. Carr accepted the amendment
and it was adopted.
A STREET LINE ORDINANCE.
The East End Street Railway Company
ordinance raised some commotion. Mr..
Carnahan wanted to know where the road
goes, and who will build it. and did not get
a regular answer. Messrs. MacGonigle and
Wright, in whose ward the line viii run,
spoke in favor of it and said it would open
up large section of good territory.
Mr.. Ferguson opposed the ordinance. He
said the traction companies had too many
privileges, and didn't pay enough to the city.
He moved to postpone action until the next
meeting, and notify the directors of the
line to attend the meeting and explain their
.laf. Al
ordinance passed by a vote of % ayes to
no. Mr.. Ferguson cast the negative vote
and Mr.. Carnahan refused to vote,
saying he did not know enough on the SUBJ
ject to vote intelligently. During the de-
bate on the ordinance Mr.. Donley accused
Mr.. Ferguson of being an obstructionist.
Mr.. Ferguson denied the charge and re-
torted that he always came to the meetings
with his head clear. The Chair raped the
gentlemen to order before the talk had
chance to grow mole personal.
The ordinance for the purchase of lots in
the Thirty-second and Thirty-ffth wards for
fire engine houses was taken up and passed.
- Mr.. Carnahan presented the report of the
Chamber OF Commerce on the encroachments
on the rivers, as recently published. Mr..
Carnahan thought the subject was of great
Importance, and he moved that a committee
be appointed to consider what steps the city
should take, with power to have a survey
made by the Public Works Department.
The resolution was adopted, and Messrs.
Bigham, Gardiner, Shannon and Ferguson
were appointed for the Common branch.
NIB. CARR's IDEA.
Mr.. Carr presented blank ordinance pro-
viding for increasing the city debt for the
purpose of the erection or purchase of
bridges for public use. 1t was sent to the
special Committee on Free Bridges. On
this committee the Common Council mem
bers are Messrs. Duncan, Carr, MeCurry
and Wright.
After the passage of several street ordi-
nances and the postponement of one to
change the name of Roup street to Negley
avenue, the Common branch adjourned.
In Select Council the October report of
the Department of Public Safety, showing
expenses to have been $52, 778 Is, was pre- |
sented and adopted. Ordinances were passed |
finally granting the use OF certain streets |
and highways to the East End Street Rail- |
way Company and its branches; increasing |
the salary of the three fire alarm telegraphic |
operators of the city from 5000 to 81, ,150 per |
year, to go into effect from date of passage. |
The engraving of William Pitt, presented |
by w. G. Johnston, Esq, to the city, was |
accepted on behalf of the city in an appro- |
pirate set of resolutions and Mr.. Keating |
made retrospective speech.
Mr. Nisbet introduced the free bridge |
question concisely in a resolution, which |
provided for the appointment OF special |
committee of three members from Select and |
four from Common Council, whose duty it |
would be to secure and furnish to Councils |
all the information obtainable on the mat
ter, particularly on the following points:
First, the value of the present structures;
second, the city's right to purchase them;
third, the probable cost of new structures
and the city's right to build them; fourth,
whether the county is not legally bound to
provide free bridges for the use of the peo-
pie of Pittsburg, inasmuch as taxes are paid
for the construction and maintenance of
bridges throughout the county by the tax
payers of Pittsburg.
HEATING SHUT HIM OUT.
When the Common Council resolution on
free bridges came up for action, Mr.. Robert
son arose, but Mr.. Heating, in a joke,
moved to concur with Common Councils
action on the resolution, his object being to
prevent Robertson's speech. The latter,
however, declared that he was going to
speak on the matter whatever action. was
taken, and Mr.. Heating withdrew his mo-
ton.
Mr.. Robertson then made short speech,
and proposed substitute to the Common
Council resolution, the preamble of which
was similar in effect to the Common Council
resolution with the exception thati omitted
the consideration of gaining the consent OF
the electors of the city, and the matter of
issuing bonds for the purpose of buying
bridges. The substitute provided for a COM
mittee of eight. composed of three members
of Common and two of Select Council, the
Mayor, the Controller and the Chief OF the