Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-27
THE STEP IS TAKEN.
Allegheny City Formally Accepts
Governor Beavers Proclamation.
VIGOROUS KICK FROM ALL SIDES.
Lively Fights for the Pleasure Of Un-
tangling the Legal Knots.
Mr.. PHrPPS GIFT is CALLED A BRIBE.

The spirit of Buck Kilgore seemed to
hover over the special meeting OF Allegheny
Councils last night. There were kicks and
counter-kicks.
The JOINT session was held to take ac-
ton in regard to the city's pro-
motion to the second class, but ten
minutes after it opened the members were not
certain as to what they had met Tor. How
ever, they finally decided Allegheny is now
a city of the second class.
The only other object attained was that of
referring all the vexing questions to the
Finance Committee and the City Attorney,
together with other lawyers who are to be
emuloyed All the points involved in the
transition are to be thoroughly investi-
gated and they are to give an opinion as to
what legislation is needed.
Before the business of the meeting opened
Chairman Hunter announced that pursuant
to a resolution for the division Of the wards
of the city he and President Lindsay, of
Select Council, had appointed the following
committee to re-district the city:
COMMITTEE ON REDIsTRICTING.
First ward-Common. Mr.. Mech: Select, Mr..
Hubley. Second ward-Common, Mr.. Curry;
Select, MI Lahugh. Third ward-Common.
Mt. Stockman; Select. Mr.. T. Brown. Fourth
ward-Common. Mr.. Bader; Select, Mr.. Lare.
Fifth warc-CommOn, Mr.. Dahlinger; Select
Mr.. Speer. Sixth ward-CommOn, Mr. Nc
tIeary: select. Mr.. Cochrane. Seventh ward
Common Mr.. Schondelmyer; Select, Mr.. Roeth-
lein Eighth ward-Common. Mr Groeizlnger;
select Nr Huskins Ninth ward-Common.
Mr.. J. II. Smith; Select Mr. Hartman. 1entn
ward-Cornmon, -tr. A. Hunter; Select Mr..
Snaulau Eleventh ward-Common, MIR. Mil
lard. select Mr.. McAfee Twelfth ward
Common, Mr.. J. B. Smith; Select Mr.. Lang
horst Thirteenth ward-Common, Mr.. Lappe;
Select, Mr. Walther.
The couucilmanic term of each member
ofahe committee will expire on April 1, and
4 reading between the lines of these ap-
poiotneuts shows how the Chairmen have
giueu the present members a chance to re-
turn 10 Council, for OF course no member
OF the committee will be expected to draw
ward lines so that his residence will come in
a district already represented in Council.
In many instances the Couucllmen live
close together, and it will take hne work to
place each residence in a different ward.
Then both branches went into joint
session and Mayor Wyman presented the
Governors proclamation. 1t was ordered
enCrosSed on the minutes, which action
aiterward proved a virtual acceptance OF
the laws of second class city.
Immediately following, Mr.. Kennedy
offered the following resolution:
MORE LAWYERS NEEDED.
Resolved, By the Select and Common Coun-
cils of the City of Allegheny, that additional
counsel be employed by the Finance Commit
tee and paid by the CITY to assist our City So
llcitor and TO advise Councils speedily
1,osslble upoa the following matters. viz:
T9z-~ no irsr ~ ur n
titlcate OF the Governor that Allegheny City
has attained population exceeding 100000,
does the city of Allegheny become city OF the
second class. and should Councils be elected in
February. 1891, under the act of 1887 pertaining
to the government of cities of the second class?
SecoGd-lf the above question is answered in
the affirmative does the present Select Council
man in each ward. whose term does not expire
until April 1893 hold over, or does his office ex-
pre- in April, 1891?
Thlru-Can the present Select Councilmen
continue to hold over, and can one be elected
in each ward, making two in each ward? If not.
do YOU recommend a division of wards under
the power contained IN the charter OF Allie
ghenv of 1870?
Fourth-Has the present Councils power to
pass the ordinances required by the act of
1887 pertaining 10 cities of the second class, and
has the present Councils power to elect the
heads of departments provided by the act sof
lSS7?
I'iftb-Ef the present wards are devided into
two parts making one new ward out OF every
present ward SO as 10 have 26 wards in the city
Of Allegheny. will any legislation at Harris
burg be necessary?
Sixth-Adyise councils generally what course
10 pursue in The present emergency so as to
conform to law.
LOTS OF OTHER AMENDMENTS.
Mr.. fienricks followed by offering as an
amendment d resolution providing for the
appointment of a special committee of Is.
20 whom all matters of second-class legisla-
ton be referred, and that special counsel be
engaged to examine into the matter.
An amendment to the amendment was Of
fered by Mr.. Drum. 1t was as follows:
WHEREAS. The present charter or the city
of Allegheny confers ample powers for the
government of cities OF even greater numbers
and of vastly more important business inter-
ests than are accredited to Allegheny,
provided her laws and ordinances are
administered inTelligenty and with an
honest purpose OF promoting the best in
tcrests of our taxpayers rather than i'll
the interest OF grasping corporations and
the hordes of political place seekers who are
fastening themselves upon the cities of the
country and rendering the dwellings of the
peonle valucless as an investment and unat-
iainabic by men OF moderate means; and
Whereas. The taxpayers of Allegheny are
opposed 20 being forced TO submit to a system
OF municipal government which would, of
necessity. greatly increase their taxes by plac-
ing the appointment of all city officers and en-
uluyes and the expenditure of the entire rev.
enuo of the city. il the hands of men who are
not elected by the people, and who would in
eyitajly be selected As reward for political
services. regardless o. the JeffersOnian quail
fi,a lions ''is he honest? Is he capable?" and,
Whereas The City Solicitor has advised
Councils that !: an amendment to the act of
Assembly relating TO cities Of the second class
can be secured changing the number OF popu-
i4tiou requisite TO place the city of Allegheny
IN tle second class from 1U0, 600 to 100000 Ale
Eauay can remain under her present charter;
therefore
tor on -hc subject OF the classification of cities
be referred back to that official who. in con-
ncction with committee of 10 to be appointed
six from Select and nine from Common Coun-
cial, with instruction TO prepare an act of As
sembly that will embody the views by him ex-
prcsscd. and they are hereby authorized to en-
pioy such means as may be proper to have the
same enacted INTO a law at early date as
possible.
AN AGITATION COMMENCED.
At Mr.. Drums request only the last para
craph Of the preamble TO the resolution was
read.
Mr.. Kennedy at once called a point of
order that as the Governors message had
been accepted Allegheny was now a city of
the second class, and therefore the resolution
was out OF order.
Mr. Lare thought it was mandatory to go
into city Of the second class, but Mr..
Drum ordered Mr.. Lare to sit down, and
then demanded that the Chair give its de-
cisIor.
Mr.. Hunter then read the law, decided
the point was we'll taken, and MIR. Drums
resolution was ruled out of order.
Then commenced a long debate as to
whether a special committee or the
financial committee should take charge
of the investigation OF the legal diff
entities that being the vital point of differ