Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-30
Mayor Gourley Sends His First An
nual Message to Both Branches
of City Councils.
he SUGGESTS SEVERAL REFORMS.
The Finance Committee Is Instructed to
Read, Digest and Report on
the Document.
ANOTHER STEP TOWARD FREE BRIDGES
Lsrgs Amount Of Miscellaneous Business Transacted in
Short Order.

manifested was caused by the exclusive an
noUncement in THE DISPATCH that Mayor
Gourley's first annual message was to be
read in Councils.
After few preliminaries, Mayors Clerk
Ostcrmaier entered Select Council Chamber
bearing the document, which he presented
TO President Ford, who at once read 1t.
During the reading Clerks ostermaier and
Finn were in the chamber closely scruti-
nzing the members in order to determine
the effect OF the message upon those gentle
men.
As soon as the reading was finished Mr..
Robertson moved that tine message be re-
icrred to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Lambie and Mr.. Warmcastle both
hastily jumped up and Mr.. Lambie moved
an amendment referring the message in
parts to the Committees on Legislation, FL
nance, Assessments, Free Bridges and
Charities giving to each committee the
portion relating to their special line of
work.
Didn't Want the Document Dissected.
Mr. Robertson refused to accept the
amendment holding that the message was
submitted as a whole in one package, bound
together, and to divide it as Mr.. Lambie de-
sired would necessitate cutting the docu-
ment into pieces and distributing in a
manner unheard OF. Moreover the message
was the peculiar property OF the Finance
Committee, which would soon be devoting
is time to the preparation of the annual
appropriation ordinance. and if there were
any worthy suggestions in the message they
should have the document to refer to.
Mr.. Warmcastle and Mr.. Lambie both
argued that the message contained points
that should be considered by the various
committees named in Mr.. Lambie's amend
ment, giving to the Finance Committee only
that portion relating to the sinking iund.
Nj. Heating at this iu Jcture called all
the gentlemen to order by motion to
formally receive the message, fo-m which
hal been overlooked. which done, Mr..
Robertson renewed his motion to refer to
the Finance Committee.
DIR. Evans Caxed 1t III 4ir-SpIittinS.
Dr. Evans took sides with Messrs Lambie
and Warmcastle and argued for the splitting
up of the Mayors letter. saying it was ab-
surd to give the Finance Committee business
which properly belonged to other committees
1t hair-splitting, fine distinction to resort
TO strict parliamentary law on matter of this
kind, particularly on the point that the message
was in one package, an original package, SO 10
speak, that could not be broken.
Nj. Lambie presented his amendment as a
substitute in the form of written resolution
which instructed the various committees TO re-
port at the next meeting OF Councils.
More discussion followed participated in bv
Messrs. Warmcastl', Lambie and DIR. Evans
Tor the resoluti,a and Messrs. Robertson,
heatlnC and DIR. MsCord against it.
On the adoption of the amendment yea and
nay vote was called, resulting in its defeat by
vote OF Il 70 IS, as follows:
Neas-Messrs. Binder, Braun, Brophy, DIR.
Evans, Foster. Gillespie, Henderson Jones, Mat
thcws, Lanbie. Perry. Reilly, WarmcastI: and
Nays-Nessrs. anderson, Benz. Uavenaugh.
Goiiiiins,, Doyie u Z. Evans, heating. King,
Paul, Robertson, Rohrkaste MilIiams, Wilson
aud Ford. Nays, II
The vote on the motion OF Mr.. Robertson was
then :aken and no opposition was made to its
adoption.
Common Council Wanted TO Hear 1t.
Mr.. UDonncu brought up the subject of the
Mayor report in Common Council. He thought
il should have been read in that branch before
sending il to the Finance Committee and SIr
BigLam agreed with him and moved that
Select Council De instructed to transmit the
MayoI's report 20 Common Council for concur
renee or sGch other action as might be deemed
Ill
The motion was adopted When Mr. BiGham
was asked to write the resolution for the clerk
lie charged The word instructed" to request
r,i. aud IN thS shape the resolution was sent to
The Select Council.
When the resolution reached Select Council
NJ. Lamle moved that the request be COM
Piled with.
Chairman Ford declared the motion ont of
C..lCr. saving, The matter has been referred o
the Finance Committee, and is now their prop
eIty
III. Warmcastle-I move you, then, that the
message De recalled.
CLair-Notnlng but a reconsideration of the
vote referring the paper TO the Finance Com
mirtee c:ln bring 1t before this Council.
Nj. armcastle-Then move we reconsider
the vD.e.
Mr. keatinC-I rise TO a point of order The
gentleman voted against the reference to the
Finance Committee, and no one but one who
vOiCd for it has any right TO move for a recon
sIderat.un.
vi Narncsstle. DR.. Evans and Mr. Lambie
al sried 10 prevail upon The chair to send the
message 10 Common Council. but he firmly
malutalneu his position and ended the matter
Dy calling them to order.
Kcatiug Criticizes the Message.
M.. Heating got the floor for a moment and
took time 10 say: "Mr. Chairman, if this re-
quest came froIa Common Council it is very
unusual, so unusual that l incline to the belief
II MAS made IN a spirit of fun and while l would
be III Aa'oA VA sLo1t4iS oICu TeQueSL IL Se-
ylOusy made, think you have taken the right
course 10 YOUR ruling. Common Councilman
however, need not long remain in ignorance OF
the contents Of the Mayors message. as it an
pears in tie papers under appropriate disulay
lines tins afternoon. having been furnished to
them, understand. before il was transmitted
10 councils. The message don't amount tn
much anyhOw, and when its all boiledsdown to
the facts there's nothing new in it. nothing but
what has been talked and fought about for
yeaTs. The points it raises may please some
people and cause them to imagine terrible
thIngs,as the Mayor has done, but 1t will not eff
feet the city's income nor her expenses and L
being a member of the Finance Committee feel
free TO say that next years taxes will be Just as
large as they are this and no larger. The Board
Of assessors have for years been trying to cor
rect the very evil the Mayor complains of in his
talk about assessments and | feel no heSita;i ion
IN saving they have performed the work hon.
esily and have carried the adjustments as far
they have been able to do.
We, as city, are too prosperous, believe,
and there are otof people who are Jealous and
want to tear Us up. They want to create dis
seusIons among u.s. and get us lighting among
ourselves our attention will he drawn FROM
them,s that they can slip in and get something
away from us. But l believe we're getting
along smoothly, and, notwithst tanding the
Mayors message or anything else, We will have
the same taxes lii the future, the same ability
TO pay them, and We will run along in our pros
psrIty as smoothly as we have in the past"
liT. Benz here moved TO adjourn, ana Mr.,
Lambie offered a motion to refer the message
TO Common Council and insisted on having il
put before the house, but the Chair recognized
Ir. Benz AID the adjournment was made.
MAKING NEW LAWS