Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-26
THE BILLS ALL RIGHT.
An Opinion From City Solicitor Elphinstone,
of Allegheny, on the Act Now Before the

of Allegheny, on the Act Now Before the
Legislature.
There seems to be a hitch in the passage
of the municipal bill now before the Legis-
lature, placing Allegheny among cities Of
the second class. The City Councils have
approved of the bill. and the citizens have
held several meetings and discussed the
matter. The opinion was almost unani-
nous that Allegheny had to become a city
of the second class.
Some changes were made in the charter,
however, which people living on the
Northside do not appear to un-
derstand. Their representatives in the
Legislature have received number of
kilograms telling them how to vote on the
question, and the result is big mix. The
representatives do not know what to do, and
kilograms from Harrisburg, received yester-
day, say that the bill may not pass. This
will leave Allegheny in very bad shape,
and none of the politicians or Office holders
will volunteer an opinion on the subject.
One very prominent official said:
81 do not wish to be quoted, but I will say
that believe that if the bill is not passed
the same number of Councilmen will be
elected. That is the important question at
this time. If the bill is defeated, or not
passed before the regular time for election,
the Councilmen will have to be elected
under a former act, as nothing else can be
done"
City Solicitor Elphinstone, who has con-
sidered the matter in all its phases for weeks,
heard the reports from Harrisburg last
night He was seen by a DISPATCH re-
porter, and laughed when it was suggested
tnat the bill might be defeated. Mr.. Elphin-
stone said:
This talk is nonsense. That bill is all right.
1t was prepared by three of the best municipal
lawyers in the State, assisted by an apprentice,
who is myself The people who are now
finding fault with it do not know the
difference between law book and
read either. The law does not say that one of
the assessors shall be a Democrat and one Of
fee holder is frightened unnecessarily. The
act, from the beginning to the end, does not say
a word about the election of a treasurer or a
controller, as the act of 1887 provides that these
offices remain as they are. The controller and
treasurer in Pittsburg are elected by the peo-
was passed before Pittsburg was made a city
of the second class. have no doubt that the
act as proposed will be passed, and have moth
ing further to say except as 1 have said before,
the bill is all right.
Chairman Hunter, of Common Councils,
who is a member of the Municipal Commit
tee, was seen last night. He had just ar
rived from trip to his quarries in Butler
county, and said he knew but little of the
doings of the Legislature. He admitted
that he had received telegram inviting
him to go to Harrisburg and be present be-
fore the House when the Municipal bill
came up for the third and final reading next
Tuesday. Mr.. Hunter does not seem to be
worried over the reports received from the
Capitol and says the bill will undoubtedly
be passed and he does not think his presence
will be necessary. He seems to think that
some people are unnecessarily worried over
the matter.