Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-09

tives Of the people7 They will possibly not at
all times represent Mr.. Magee. but it
| is but fair to suppose that they
of the people from among whom they
| come and whose wishes and hopes and prefer
ences they probably will be fully as able to as
| for year or two invested with Councilmanic
honors. To confine the power to represent the
people to councilmanic bodies is logical
| fallacy.
History has revealed to us that the repre-
sentatives. so-called. of the people. have at
times not fairly represented them at all. 1t
certainly Is to be gravely questioned whether
resents the people of PittsLurg in his factions
antagonism to the conditions suggested by Mr..
Carnegie. As l remarked before, Mr.. Car
negie was undoubtedly not actuated by dis
trust Of the representatives of the people or
by the spirit of unfairness. Mr.. Carnegie was
moved by the consideration of precedents.
With the exception of Allegheny, there is no
city n this broad land where a. trust such as
that created by Mr.. Carnegie, is administered
In the way Mr. Magee says he would have this
administered. And there is reason for this.
NOT AT ALL STABLE.
Experience brings knowledge, and knowl-
edge power. But councilmanic bodies are
more or less fuctuating, and even the best men
in such stations are liable to be unconsciously
influenced by considerations which should Dpt
be paramount. Mr.. Carnegie has. therefore
Pittsburg as far as possible out of the reach of
those disturbing influences which might defeat
his generous will.
But the question is asked, why does Mr..
Magee take this position? An answer may be
found in the remark of his brother: we can't
stand this and in the remark made by another
gentleman of the same circle: There is too
much patronage here which is likely to 60 to
waste To save this precious perquisite OF the
politician, patronage the amendment was
introduced; for, as was said by one of its
advocates with deaths and designations
occurring, We can vote the councmanic con-
tingent solid, and gradually work out the
Carnegie crowd. and have things our own way
But if 1t is patronage that seems to be the
great issue in the miud of the practical poll
tician, l can say that there need be no fear that
a proper amount of it will be at the disposal Of
the proper parties. For my part If the gentle.
men representing the Councils havs any special
choice of a worthy sort IN relation to the people
who shall act as janitors wash windows and
handle books, will not for moment. as one
of the commissioners, stand in their way, and
venture that the same may be said of all of my
colleagues.
THEY MAY BE TRUSTED.
'No, L repeat it, the representatives of the
people may be trusted to do their duty If left
to themselves. and 1 sympathize with the re-
mark of Mr.. Carnahan, reported in THE DIS.
PATCH, that il there were less outside dicta-
tion in this whole matter it would be better for
all could much wish that Mr.. Magee had
recognized that Mr.. Carnegie, who offers the
city million to-day, which he stands ready, If
all goes well, to vastly increase, has some
rights, and that it is not in good taste to say the
least. to LOOK a gift horse in the mouth
Il like Mr.. Magee. He is bright. He is in
many respects useful man. do not like to
take up stick and go for him. as have done
but he is making a mistake and if, by pursuing
his course. he causes the citizens of Pittsburg
to lose the chiefest benefaction which has been
offered them since the foundation of the CITY,
ne dlSc0var will n ho il
as to himself, in way he will remember to all
eternity"
THE MAYORS POSITION.
Mayor Gourley said yesterday, in speaking of
the library question: 81 am fully in accord with
Mr.. Magee's ideas on the subject, as expressed
in The DISPATCH. / think the question of |
succession is one which should be gravely con-
sidered. Although at present the appointees
of Mr.. Carnegie have perfect right to a ma |
commission will handle, not those of the city, |
and until the building is completed and turned |
over to the city, of course the city representa-
tives could not expect to control the matter. |
but. nevertheless, think the city is entitled to
an equal voice in the arrangement of affairs, |
even in the preliminary arrangements. l con- |
cur with Mr.. Magee's ideas thoroughly"
George L. Holiday, Chairman of Common |
Council and also a member of the Library |
said he had read the ideas ex-
pressed by Mr.. Magee in THE DISPATCH yes |
LeTQdy MORNING, anu was very Rldu ne udu e4-
pressed the opinion entertained by SO many
people. and In such a definite manner. He |
thought that whether through design or acci-
dent, slight was put upon the city through Its
and the whole course of the
had been one which indicated
steady purpose to ignore the city's rights in the
matter.
r. b. Carnahan again protested that he would
say nothing. but thought the commission as
organized was thoroughly weliqualitied to per-
form the functions required.
AGAINST ANY CHANGE.
A quiet but thorough canvass Of the MEM
bers of both branches of Council was made
yesterday as to the feeling on the proposed
change in the ordinance accepting MIR. Car
negie's gift. In both Select and Common Coun-
cils the feeling is decidedly against any change
from the ordinance as passed. There is consid-
erable feeling expressed as to the manner in
which the city. through its representatives, has
been treated in the matter, and from the con-
sensus of opinion obtained it is more than prob
able that no change will be made.