Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-10
SOME LIVELY TILTS
Between President Hunter and Mr..
Drum in Allegheny Councils.
SEVERAL BITTER THINGS SAID
By Some Of the City Reformerr and Op-
pOnents on the
cROSSTOwN RAILWAY ORDINANCE

Allegheny Councils held regular ses'
sion last evening, and in both branches the
proceedings were very lively. 1t was in
tended to hold joint session to let CON
tracts for city printing, but Select Council
got tired waiting on Common and aa'
journed.
The first business in the Common Branch
was the swearing in of Mr.. G. G Hax, who
was elected to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Peter Walter, Jr. A lot Of minor
matters were presented upon the call OF wards
and were referred to committees.
A statement was received from the Citizens
Committee on the natural gas question, stating
that they had collected S225 with which to carry
on the legal proceedings against the gas COM
pany. They had expended S425, and now ask
for the deficit of $500 to be paid by the city In
COMMITTEES Of Councils to the effect that the
city would pay the expenses over what the Clt.
izens' Committee could raise. The statement
was referred to the Finance Committee.
A FIGHT BEGINS.
Mr.. Hax presented resolution instruct1ny
the Mayor to stop the Pleasant Valley and the
Park Passenger Railway Company from putting
up poles and stringing wires until they had re-
ceived the proper authority.
President Hunter remarked that the poles
were already up.
Mr. Ha1 said that they could bessopped from
stringing the wires.
A vote was taken on the resolution, and it
was passed by vote Of 80 ayes to noes. snort
ly afterward the resolution was returned from
Select Council with their refusal to concur.
President Hunter announced this, and, no re-
marks being made, he stated that no further
action would be taken on it.
The ordinance granting the right or way 70
the Crosstown branch Of the Observatory Hill
Passenger Railway was taken up. The route
Of the railway is from the Northside bridge on
Sandusky street, along Sandusky and ONO
streets, over the tracks Of the Federal Street
and Pleasant Valley and Park Passenger Rail-
way line to Federal street. to Montgomery
avenue, to Arch street, to Geyer alley. to Web
to Washington avenue, to Sedgwick street.-the
California avenue, to Superior avenue.
On the reading Of the ordinance Mr.. Hax
moved to refer it back to the committee.
President Hunter asked for what reason.
Mr.. Hax replied that he could not vote for 1t
in its present shape. 1t gave the company too
many privileges, such as building either horse
power, cable or electric road. He also OBJ
jected to the route
AN EXPLANATION MADE.
President Hunter, who was on the floor, Mr..
Dahlinger having taken the chair temporarily.
suggested that as Mr.. Scaife, the president of
the company was present, he be heard.
Mr.. Rynd objected to Mr.. Scaife being heard.
President Hunter then made motion that
Mr.. Scaife be allowed to speak The motion
was put and several noes were heard. Mr.. Hax,
however said that he had motion before the
house, but that he had no objections to hearing
Mr. Scaife. The permission was given and Mr..
Scaife stepped forward and asked what the OBJ
jetions to the ordinance were:
Mr. Hax repeated his remarks as to the lati-
tude given in the ordinance and also as to the
route.
for what had been granted in other cities. The
reason for specifying different kinds OF power
was that the road might be partially operated
with horses at first, but the intention was to
make it an electric road. As to the route there
was large district wherein the people have no
railway accommodations, and 1t was desired to
reach them.
Mr.. Rynd asked If this company was OF the
Pleasant Valley road, properly speakingf
Mr.. Scaife-No sir.
Mr.. Rynd-Why does the road want Mont
Mr.. Scaife-To prevent blocking up Federal
street with too many cars.
SHUT OUT COMPETITORS.
Mr.. Knox asked how often 1t was intended
to run cars on the line?
Mr.. Scaife replied that as matter Of busi-
ness they would run as often as the number Of
passengers warranted.
Mr.. Knox said that that would be all right as
a matter of business but it wouldn't make
any difference If they only wanted to shut out
Mr.. Scaife rendered a bond in the sum of
$25 900 providing for the commencement of the
road within three months after the passage of
the ordinance, no time having been provided
for IN the ordinance.
A speech was made in favor of the ordinance
by President Hunter, who held that the road
was necessary for residents in the Second and
Tenth wards. He said he had seen Pittsblrg
officials and endeavored to get the road an en-.
fVafA JlNrHn IL nk HO 81
has learned that the company's only chance of
getting into Pittsburg Is over the tracks of the
Pleasant Valley Company by means Of a traffic
He said, hewever, that there was no need to
hurry the ordinance. Avote was taken and the
ordinance was referred back to the committee.
TWO MORE TILTs.
Mr.. Parke thought it unnecessary to send q
whole committee on trip when they knew all
that was necessary now.
Mr.. Drum offered substitute resolution to
the effect that the Controller be instructed to
refuse to issue warrant for any expense in
Cured by the Street Committee on the trip.
President Hunter maintained that this reso-
luton was made for the purpose of blocking
legislation.
Mr.. Drum interrupted and said that 1t was
not. For minute both gentlemen talked at /
the same time, until called to order by MI. |
Dahlinger, who was in the chair.
A lengthy speech was then made by President |
Hunter. The action of Select Council was then |
concurred in by vote of 81 ayes to II noes.
The meeting ended with another tilt between |
President Hunter and Mr.. Drum, the latter |
objecting to approving bills in bunch. Mr.
Drum said that it was well known that the |
most business was transposed in the commit
tees, but when some members were ostracizt'd !
from the committees they would have their say |
in Councils. The discussion was cut off by |
motion to approve the bills in lump. which |
was passed, and the meeting ended.
In Select Councils Mr.. Snaman presented !
resolution directing the Committee on Gas to
advertise for proposals for an electric light |
plant; the plant to be erected and operated for /
six months by the bidder, and then, If satisfac- |
tory. to be bought by the city. This was |
adopted