Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-15
NEW LAWS WANTED.
Some Legislation Which Will be De-
manded at the Next Session of
the General Assembly.
CHIEF ]. o. BROWNS SUGGESTIONS.
he Wants the Fire Limits Extended, a
Police Disability Fund and Some
Other Things.
A NIX IN TIE NEW COUNTY OFFICES
sOuthsides Will ASK a Liberal Appropriation for
Their Hospital


People are generally wanting something,
and to many classes the Pennsylvania
Legislature represents a special providence
by which any want may be satisfied. The
Legislature will meet in biennial session
in a few months, and good citizens who
have grievance to be remedied, an evil
10 be suppressed, a benevolent scheme to
forward, or an ak to grind, are already cud-
Ceiling their brains, despite the hot weather,
to get the matter into such shape as will
most favorably impress the lawmakers of
the Commonwealth.
Chief J. o. Brown, of the Department of
Public Safety, has several matters to pre-
sent to the Legislature In the first place,
he wants the fire limits of the city of Pitts
burg extended. This city has grown very
rapidly in the last few years, and this is es-
peclally noticeable in the creation of new
business districts in the suburbs. In Oak
land, East Liberty and on the Southside
there are to be found blocks of stores that
would more than supply the needs Of many
live country towns Many of these places
are outside of the fire limits as now defined,
and yet the authorities have no power to
prevent the jeopardizing millions OF dollars
worth of property by the erection of fire
traps.
SHELTERING ARMS.
Another pressing need of the city, in
Chief Browns opinion, and in the opinion
of all who are acquainted with the facts in
the case, is the establishment of "Shelter-
ing Arms" in which to receive the tired.
hungry and oftentimes sick wayfarer who
applies to the city authorities for food and
shelter until they can continue their journey.
When persons arrive in this town penniless
be they men, women or children, the only
places open TO receive them are the police
stations. There the accommodations are
limited, not to say crude, and the associa-
tions are Of the worst. II the stranger Is
sick, there is no place to give him proper
treatment, unless he is sent to q hospital.
In the course Of year many sick
and pennileSs persons pass through this
city on the way TO their homes. where they
either hope TO recover or expect TO die
among their friends. These people do not
want 10 90 TO q hospital; they want TO keep
on.
Many children are among the persons
sheltered In police stations, and the Chief
considers that the surroundings are unfit for
little ones. He thinks the Department of
Charities should have supervision Of the
place, which would not cost much to main
tain, and which would prove an inestimable
blessing 10 many poor and deserving peo-
pie. The old University building on
Diamond street is spoken OF as q suitable
site for the establishment, but this is
detail which is left until after the Legis-
lature acts.
LOOKING AFTER THE FINEST.
Chief Brown will again present his bill
creating disability fund for the police.
to which will be added a provision en-
abling the city to clothe the men, and thus
lift o heavy burden off the officers. The
fund will be raised partly by as
sessment, but more largely by
devoting to that purpose a portion of the
penalties or violating the liquor laws and
sundry city ordinances. The Legislature
will also be asked to empower the city off,
cials to establish dog pound, from which
the curled pet Of many household may be
redeemed at a price.
Another matter in which Chief Brown is
deeply interested, and upon which Superin-
tendent Baker, of the Bureau of Health, is
busily employed, is law governing tene-
ment houses and providing for their inspec-
ton. This action is the result of several
articles published in The DISPATCH a
short time since, calling attention to the
deplorably crowded and unhealthy condi-
tion OF the average Italian lodging house
Tz1z TQ,l- lop pa1@ I'D r h.
New York law on the subject, which pro-
vides for a certain space for. each lodger
and imposing penalties Tor disregard of the
law, He, with Assistant District Attorney
Burleigh, will draw up law to fit the case
in this State.
There are few contented persons in this
world and among them are City Treasurer
Denniston and Delinquent Tax Collector
Ford. Major Deuniston has all the law he
wants for his department and Mr.. Ford is
satisfied with his percentage and the rapid
manner in which collections are made.
PITTsBURGERs PAY UP.
He states that Pittsburg collects a larger
percentsYe OF the taxes than any other city
in the country. The only cases In which
taxes are lost is where property is ol 80 lit
tle value that the owners prefer 10 abandon
it rather than pay the taxes. There are
ih The city, the most notable instance being
portions Of the Gazyam estate, where the
land stands up 30 straight that the rain
never touches it, The taxes are entered up
as liens upon such property, aud u IL ever
becomes valuable they will have 10 be paid.
Mr., II, u. Bengeugh says the u, A, II.
would like al amendment Of the Law pro-
yiding Tor the iHteFment Of INDECENT vetsT.
ans, The State gives $50 fer the funeral
and tlb for a headhtone, These headstones
are all OF one pattern, and are very hand
some. The q, A, Il, would like the State
10 provide one of these headstoneE for every
soldier when he dies regardless of his finan-
eial status, Under the present system the
well-tO-dO friends Of deceased soldiers buy
costly monuments, which distinguishes the
grave OF the wealthy from that o. his poorer
comrade. This, they hold, Is wrong, as the
distinction between poverty and wealth
should not be carried 10 the grave.
Clerk OestermaieT, Of the Mayors Office,
IL Rn expert on building aud loan assoela-
tions lie says they have all the laws they
need for their government, and he does not
favor the passage OF any more.
His Honor, the Mayor, has nothing 10 ask
from the Legislature. He IL satisfied with
the laws az they stand, and his attention 10
devoted mainly just now to keeping cool.