Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-01
HIS FIRM REFUSAL.
Mayor Gourley Won't Sign the Deed
for the Poor Farm Sale To-Day.
ANOTHER CONFERENCE YESTERDAY
Solicitor Moreland Says the City Will Lose
$4,000 by the Delay.
FAULT FOUND WITH MR.. sTRAUBs BOND

Mayor Gourley reiterated his position on
the Poor Farm deal last night. and despite
the earnest solicitation OF City Solicitor
Moreland, who expects him to sign the deed
to-day. he refuses to put his autograph to
the paper. This announcement was made
last night and the matter is in the same
shape it was yesterday.
A conference with closed doors took place
yesterday afternoon between Mayor Gour-
ley, Controller Morrow and City Solicitor
Moreland in the Mayors private office. The
conference was held at the request of the
City Attorney. who solicited the presence Of
Controller Morrow. When the gentlemen
entered the Mayors office Mr.. Moreland
carefully closed the door and the seance
began. After half an hours earnest talk.
during which the voices of the three gentle
men could be heard in gentle tones, the ex-
ecutive session adjourned, and the door
keepers were ordered to admit the light OF
intelligence in the shape of a number of re-
porters, who cast eager glances around for
the evidences of strife which it was sup
posed would be found after the meeting ad-
journed. When the Mayor was asked if he
had signed the deed for the sale of the old
farm, he said:
THOUGHT HE MIGHT.
"No, have not signed it yet, but may
tomorrow. will consult with several gen.
tlemen this evening, and if they deem it for
the best interests OF the city will put my
signature to the paper Major Moreland
argued that if the deed was signed and turned
over to Carnegie. Phipps Go. at once inter-
est would begin at once on the money unpaid.
This, 1t Is figured, would be about $50 per day,
or by the lst of January would amount to near
ly S., 600. He said there will not likely be a de-
cision from the Supreme Court On The appeal of
Straub ct al. before that time. If then. Now.
granting all this, there is question in my mind
il it is not better that the city should run the
risk of losing this $50 per day until the Supreme
Court hands down its decision than TO run tne
risk of losing much greater sum through liti-
cation of various kinds in event OF the Supreme
Court reversing the decision of the lower court.
If that deed was executed and turned over to
Carnegie, Phipps & Co. to-day. and If before the
courts decision is handed down they should
erect big mills and other impro Vements on the
land. and if then the decision of the lower court
should be reversed. what a lot of trouble there
would be by suits in ejectment suits for dam
ages, etc? The city would no doubt lose much
more than SS,000."
ANOTHER FEATURE.
lily SOllclCOr mOrelanQ Sdlu ne uau pre-
sented another feature of the situation which
the Mayor had failed to mention. The plain
tiff in the suit had. according to law. filed
bond, in the nominal sum of $500. to cover the
costs of the suit. If there should be a decision
affirming the court below and the decision
should not be reached before the first of Janu-
AIRY, the city would loose nearly IS, 900 in inter-
est money. By all law OF reasoning the plain
tiff should file bond for $40. 900 in this case to
protect the city from loss. There was no as
surance that a decision would be reached by
January l. He quoted the Craig street paving
case, which was argued over year ago and
upon which there has been as yet no decision.
to show that there might not be a decision in
the Poor Farm case any sooner. Major More
land seemed to think the Supreme Court would
NOT, under all precedent, reverse the lower
court in this case, hut stranger things had oc-
CURED frequently. The classification of the
cities. he said might be used with some effect
in this case.
Mayor Gourley was called upon last night,
and when asked II he held the conference dur
ing the evening with the gentlemen he stated
he was going to see, he said: No: called on
the gentlemen and they were not home. l will
not sign the deed tomorrow. Major Morelauds
argument may be good. but will stick to the
safe side few thousand dollars interest is
not a drop in the bucket to what may result
after the Supreme Court does business"