Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-18
A CONFERENCE ASKED
The Councils Library Committee Re-
quests Mr.. Carnegie by Wire
TO HELP IT OUT OF A SNARL.
The Acceptance Ordinance Under Consid-
Grafton Yesterday.
WORK OF THE NEW PARK COMMITTEE

The only two committees of Councils
whose work may be classified as ornamental
as we'll as useful organized yesterday.
They were the Parks and Library Commit
tees, both new factors in the city govern
ment. The Park Committee organized by
electing R. B. Carnahan chairman, who
made an address showing the progress and
Importance of the park projects and ascrlb-
ing their existence to the efforts of E. M.
Bigelow, Chief of the Department of Public
Works, who was present at the meeting.
Mr.. Bigelow invited the committee to visit
the park in body in the near future and
promised the members lots of enjoyment
both in perspective and prospective. He
added that as the start had been
made on the geological collection
now was the time to subscribe. He had in
hand bear and fox, but they were poor
starter for fox farm or a geological garden.
He declined the offers of white mice and
rabbits, but thought squirrels would be or
namental and amusing and would be
pleased to have several different kinds do
mated. The committee then adjourned to
meet on call of the ChalI
| identical in membership, was then called to
order by City Clerk Booth, and elected
| John S. Lambie Chairman. The time for
holding committee meetings was left to the
discretion of the Chair.
THAT ORDINANCE COMES UP.
The ordinance amending the ordinance ac-
cepting the library gift from Mr.: Carnegie.
by which it is provided that the citizen
members of tie committee fill vacancies in
their number and the Councilmen to do the
same, was then presented for action.
Kirk G. Bigham, Councilman of the
Thirty-second ward, said he thought con-
ference between Mr.. Carnegie and the COM
mittee would be in order, and moved that
consideration of the amendment be post
poned until after such conference should
take place. He also suggested that the
Chairman should correspond with Mr.. Car.
negie to find when it would be convenient
for him to meet the committee.
Mr.. Heating approved of Mr.. Bigham's
proposition. He felt that he expressed the
sentiments of the whole committee when he
said that Councils should 60 slow and begin
this work properly. The jarring that had
taken place over the library question
showed that proper beginning had not yet
been made. While he would hesitate to
express his unreserved opinion of the mat
ter now, he felt that the ordinances and all
other matters in connection with the library
project should be arranged so that it would
meet with the unanimous appreciation of
Councils. He hoped action would be post
poned on the ordinance for short time at
least.
SHOULD BE VERY SHORT.
Mr.. Carnahan thought the postponement
should be as short as possible. There seemed
to be difference of opinion about the or
dinance already adopted, but he believed
that great many statements had been made
that were false, or at least exaggerated, and
had created an impression that there were
differences that do not exist. He did not
see that the amendment to the ordinance
would make much difference, were it
adopted and If Mr.. Carnegie desired it, he
was perfectly willing that it should be
adopted, though he was opposed to any
great delay. The amendment should be
brought before Councils at the next meeting.
Mr.. Bigham said there was no doubt that
the library question mad gotten into consid-
erable of snarl, and the best way to smooth
matters out was to have conference with
Mr.. Carnegie. He was glad to say the
Councilmanic members had kept out of the
newspaper controversy, but was sorry he
could not say as much for the citizen men,
bers. He believed all the fuss and smoke
over the matter had not been raised at MIR.
Carnegie's instance, but that Mr.. Carnegie
did not regard it as seriously as some of the
citizen members who were not only exceed
ingly anxious to secure the powers of the
commission, but were equally anxious to re-
tain them after getting them. Mr.. Righam
had no doubt that if the Councils committee
could have q conference with Mr.. Carnegie
they could talk the matter over and come to
m 1arc cfop a Iipcy NIT nd fb,,
prevent the danger of any trouble in the
future.
On the adoption of Mr.. Bigham's motion,
Mr.. Lambie suggested that copy of the
amendment proposed be sent to Mr.. Car
negie, who is now in New York, and in the
event OF his failure to be able to meet the
committee to ask for his views by letter.
Mr.. Carnegie was to sail for Europe May
%, and the matter should be settled before
that time.
MIGHT BE MISUNDERSTooD.
Mr.. Carnahan offered motion to that
effect, but it was opposed by Mr.. Holiday,
who said that If the copy was sent Mr.. Car
negie might misunderstood that the matter
had been acted upon by Councils, whereas,
there had as yet been no expression of opin- |
ion on the amendment by any member of
the committee or Councils.
Mr.. Bigham took the same view of the |
matter, and Mr.. Heating suggested that
Mr.. Carnegie be wired Immediately that |
the committee desired a conference with |
him, and ask when it would suit him to |
meet them.
Mr.. Lambie asked Mr.. Carnahan to take the |
chair, and after Mr.. Bigham had expressed |
the opinion that in the present temper Of |
Councils and the present shape of the ordi-
nance and its amendment it would not pass
Councils the member for the Eighth ward
said he did not think the ordinance is what
it ought to be, but he was in favor of
amending the ordinance in the manner sug-
gested by Mr.. Carnegie. The Allegheny
Councils had made their library legislation
in hurry, and had to pass fresh legislation
on the subject at every meeting since, and
Mr. Lambie favored having the necessary
legislation for Pittsburg made as perfect as
possible at the start.
1t was then agreed that Chairman Lambie
should wire Mr.. Carnegie at once, asking
when it would be convenient for the latter
to meet with the Councils Library Commit
tee, and the latter then adjourned to meet at
the call OF the Chair.
Gratifying to All.
The high position attained and the universal