Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-20
Boroughs in Allegheny County
Having a Hard Time to
Make Both Ends Meet.
THE DESIRE FOR A CHANGE
Leads to an Appeal to the Legisla-
ture for Revision of the Laws.
SOME OF THE REMEDIES WANTED.
Cases Cited Wherein Townships Now Fare
Much Better.
AMATTER OF GREAT INTEREST TO MANY

In some respects most Allegheny county
bo-oughs, and, as far as can be learned,
most boroughs in this State, are in some re-
spects in bad shape.
They are like man doing an ordinarily
profitable business on borrowed capital. He
Is put to straits to make enough above in
terest to support himself and family.
The autonomy of most every borough is
beyond its taxable power. 1t is not sutfi-
cient to procure the results attained by ex-
pendlture in cities, and it is forced to ex-
pend dollar to get a return of % cents in
the way of benefit Its resources are not
sufficient to properly accomplish what is
needed by its Inhabitants, without unduly
burdening portion for the general benefit
and bv large expenditure it gets nothing
more than could be had by proper system
Of township government at much less ex-
peuse.
This is the view held BY J. D. Watson, Esq,
and many Others and the latter have dele
gated to him the task of preparing for sub
mission to the Legislature an act remedial
and one empowering townships to do more
at less expense than is now done bv bor-
Oughs.
The Necessity of Better Roads.
Mr.. Watson says that the subject is pecu-
liarly opportune at present, owing to the
very general awakening of the people to the
necessity of better roads. He saws that upon
an exhaustive examination OF township and
borough laws It will be found to be the case
generally that the adage holds: "What is
evervbody's business is nobody's," and
if a man is not paid to perform a specific
duty it is ordinarily either very poorly per-
formed or neglected altogether. Council
men are prohibited by law from receiving
compensation, and unless they have axes to
grind, or are unusually devoted to public
Interest, their services are worthless and
generally pernicious. His three years. ex-
perience as a Bellevue borough father has
crystallized his vi .Us on the subject. Cities
fare better, as they have some salaried
officers who can be compelled either by law,
force of public opinion or fear of losing
their situations to make some return for
their salaries In townships supervisors
get pay. though totally inadequate to the
securing of competent men at all times.
All Supervisors Not Quite Alike.
A supervisor may be a high-minded
man, who will do his duty from
choice or conviction, for a mere pit
tance, or he may do it for nothing, but all
supervisors are not built on this pattern.
At present the only things boroughs get
that townships do not are sidewalks, police
and light, and townships can have these
when necessary just as we'll as boroughs,
and at a tithe of the cost. Each township
can elect as many supervisors as Its inhabi-
tants think they need, and they should be
good men and well paid for their services.
A rough outline Of the proposed law
which would relegate boroughs to their
township status is as follows:
AS in almost every township there are
villages where some of the copveniences OF
cities are desideratum, supervisors would
be empowered to make town limits, classify
ing town and farming land. The lines are
to be surveyed and mapped, copies to be
kept where they are needed for inspection,
and the results also recorded, and all annex
ations to the town limits also surveyed and
recorded. Inside these limits people could
have what they wanted in the way of police,
lights, sidewalks, etc, without conflicting
with the farming population, who might be
willing to remain in darkness and mud. The
extension of these limits it is proposed TO
leave TO outsiders. II they want the i'm
DEONemGHlS, dEu are h1lllQS 10 pay LOT L0eID,
they can be annexed.
Taxation is to be classified according to
the kind OF property to be taxed, and people
who wants sidewalks, police and light and
are willing to pay for them, can have them.
The law would add to the power of super
visors, and they would be req quired To hold
monthly meetings to consider the public
welfare, but the autonomy of the present
township would not be disturbed, as it can,
as az present, have certain other officers, or
dispense with them, as those interested see
fit
How Appeals Could be Made,
Supervisors would have power to open
streets, an appeal taken by certain number
Of people lying to the Court of Quarter Ses-
siOns. The number of supervisors can be
lett optional with the people of the town
ship, as at present The number of davs
within which an appeal can be
taken will be specified, and if not
taken within the specified time. the
action Of the supervisors will be
absolute, and the appointment of viewers
as at present and attendant delay and ex-
pense saved in many cases. Notice by
publication and all work necessary to be
done, could be accomplished within 40 DAYS,
where no appeal is taken, instead of the
long and tedious process necessary now tc
get road located.
II IS proposed 10 provide, In order to pre-.
vent trickery, that all propositions shall &c
over for one meeting after introduction and
notice duly given by publication of some
kind.
Elections to enlarge town limits, etc.
must in the purview OF the proposed BILL be
regularly held, constables performing their
regular duties and election assessors max.
ing return of the electors in the district
affected to the Board of Supervisors.
In all, nothing is proposed that conflict.
with the general road law of the State.
Mr.. Watson says all borough can do
more than township can is to levy taxes
for street lighting, police, and the making
Of sidewalks aud is almost entirely undel
control of Council that may or may not bt
devoted to the public welfare. II lacks the
advantages 10 be gotten from either city OF
township government, and has the disadyan.
tages of both.
Some Places Now Well Managed.
He saws that Leet township has better
lights, better sidewalks, and better streets
than any borough in Allegheny county, and
simply because it is honestly managed by
honest, capable and public spirited men
He also states that Sewickley borough is
well lighted, and has fine curbstones. but
poor streets and sidewalks.
The matter is one of overshadowinC inter.
est Just now, to the large collection of peo.
pie living in the vicinity OF the mouth oil
CHARTERS creek. Their case is now before