Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-15
A Scene Between Chief BigelOw and
Howard Morton, About the Dem
niSton Avenue Contract.
1T MAY RESULT IN A LAW SUIT.
Property Holders Want to See Booth g.
Films Agreement, But the Chief
Will NotS how the Papers.
CONTROLLER MORROw's NOTE IGNORED,
Kr. BigslOw Says BE is Not Compelled to Show City
Documents to Everybody.

Chief Bigelow and Major Howard Morton,
the well-known oil agent, had an alteration
in the formers Office, yesterday morning,
and "the scene that ensued was quite fright
ful to see."
A lawsuit may be the result of the inter
view, as both men are persistent and stub
born. One that he shall see certain records
in the Department of Public Works, and
the other that he shall not see them. The
matter raises the point whether a taxpayer
can have access to contracts and agreements
made between the city and contractors for
public works. Controller Morrow says there
is no written law on the subject, and Mr..
Bigelow refuses to produce the papers only
on an order from Court
On Monday afternoon Major Morton,
who lives on Denniston avenue, East End,
went to Chief Bigelow's Office and asked to
see the contract made between the city and
Booth s. Finn for the paving, curbing,
ETC., of that street. When the contract was
awarded to the firm its bid was So 35 per
square yard for paving and so cents per
lineal foot for eurbing the street. - szzsas4
OBJECTED TO THE ASSESSMENT.
The property owners along the street did
not object 10 Booth s. Finn getting the
contract, but they kicked when the assess
ment was made to pay for the work. The
Board of Viewers went over the ground and
assessed each person owning property on
the street IS Sc per lineal foot or Sc II per
square yard, including curbing. This is on
one side of the street only, and when it
is stated thst the street is only "a feet wide,
the property owners claim the assessment
was higher than they could reach. The
matter was fought in the Board of Viewers
office but that body would do nothing.
Since then the large property owners who
did not care to put up everything they
owned to pay the So, 900, the total cost of
the improvement, have been working up
the others to investigate the contract and as
certain if everything is all right.
1t is claimed by the property-holders of
Denniston avenue that the asphalt pave
ment laid by Booth & Finn, is inferior to
that of others who put in lower bids for the
work before the contract was let. Many of
the property owners say the block asphalt
around the Carnegie Free Library in Alle-
gheny only cost 81 so per square yard, and
is better pavement than the Booth s. Finn
roadway, which costs s. 35 per yard. -
HOT WORDS ON BOTH SIDES.
Major Morton was delegated to call on
Chief Bigelow and examine the contract for
the work. When he went to the chiefs
Office on Monday he was surprised at Mr..
Bigelow's refusal to allow him to see the
records Warm words were followed by hot
exclamations, and as both gentlemen have high
tempers the atmosphere in the office became
exceedingly oppressive. Major Morton SAID he
would see the contract OF know why, and the
chief replied that he would know why. After
a number of remarks of fervent nature had
been made on both sides Major Morton with
drew
Yesterday morning be called upon Controller
Morrow and asked for q note from the Control
Ter to Chief Blgelow to produce the contract.
The note was given and the request was word
ed IN the Controllers own diplomatic way. The
note paper did not have monogram and crest
in the shape of a white-winged angel of peace,
but it was polite request, at which only
heart of stone could not be moved. Major Nor
ton then repaired to Chief Bigelow's Office and
delivered the note.
HE INSISTED ON HIS RIGHTS.
While the chief is always willing to oblige,
and accepts the counsel of the Controller un-
deI most circumstances he did not do so in this
instance, and refused to deliver the goods.
Major Morton said he was there as a taxpayer
and an interested party, and after getting tired
praying for the contract. he demanded it. He
said he would be compelled to pay his share of
the improvement and had right to see the
records. He threatened to enter suit against
Chief Bigelow, and it was not a modulated
voice with which the chief told him to go
ahead ana sue. MIR. Bigelow said he would
show the records to Judge Ewing, or would
produce them upon order of court, but at
the present stage of the game was not doing
business. He sald the people who wanted to
see the contract for the purpose of basng a
lswsuit upon 1t, had tried to worry and harrass
him, and he did not think he was compelled to
obige them.
Major Morton went to the City Clerks office
then and obtained copy of the ordinance re-
lating to the Improvement and other informa-
tion. He also called upon William Finn, who
said he had right to see the contract if he
wanted to.
Major Morton refuses to say anything about
the matter, but does not deny that he and Mr.
Bigelow had some hot words. The latter says
he is not afraid of any suit, and until he sees
reason for producing the city's documents for
eYerybody's inspection he Will not do So
Further development may be looked for in the
matter to-day, when Major Morton expects 10
see the contract
An effort TO secure further information from
Chief Blgelow last night resulted in failure,