Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-09
SEEKING FOR A LAW,
Councils Asking for Authority to
Appropriate the Neces-
sary Money
TO BUILD FREE BRIDGES,
A Hot Discussion on the Propriety of
Taxing Church Property.
DOGS WILL HAVE TO BE LICENSED.
Chief BigelOw's Bill for His European Trip
Ordered Paid.
ANOTHER HUNT FOR A POOR FARM SITE

feature of the discussion in Councils yes
terday. 1t has lost no freshness from the
fact that it has been under consideration for
IL years, neither have the Southside men,
bers lost their interest in the matter.
Mr.. A c. Robertson opened the ball in
Select Council by presenting a blank ordi-
nance providing for free bridge over the
Monongahela river, which shall be free for
all purposes. He asked that this ordinance
be referred to the existing Committee on
Free Bridges, and also requested that the
committee be made permanent.
Mr.. Lambie presented the report of the
Free Bridges Committee. He read a res
olution providing that the Legislative bill
drafted by the City Attorney be not pre-
sented to the next Legislature, as having
carefully considered the opinion of the City
Attorney, the committee had conceded with
his belief that special legislation rela-
tive TO bridges and fences was unconstitu-
tional."
Free Bridges Not Unconstitutional.
The resolution also called attention to
pages a.. As, and 40 of the city digest to
qualify their position, and stated that the
committee believed that the city already
had sufficient power to proceed with the
work o! making free bridges over the
Nouongahela river, which was according
to the City Attorneys opinion, and which
the committee believed to be correct By
this, Mr.. Lambie states, he did not mean
that free bridges were unconstitutional, but
that legislation on the subject, to be legal,
must be general, and not for the benefit of
. particular community.
Mr. Heating and Mr.. Robertson spoke on
the same subject, Mr.. Robertson stating
that as there was nothing to prevent the
civ from proceeding In the free bridge
matter he had introduced his blank ordi-
narce. and he hoped there would not be a
member of either branch of Councils who
would stand in the way of this great benefit
to the people.
Mr. Robcrtson's resolution was adopted
and then another resolution was presented
and adopted requesting B. f. Jones to ap-
point tour persons to the Board Of Apprais-
ers provided Ior in the act of May 10, 1873.
The act provides that b. f. Jones, George
r. White, John McDevitt, James Park,
Jr., and Joseph Dilworth be constituted a
Board of Appraisers to appraise ''the actual
cash valuation OF the capital stock of any
one or more of the bridge companies owning
and operating a bridge within the corporate
limits OF the city" All but B. f. Jones of
the appointed board having died, the resolu-
ton requests him to appoint new members
in their places according to a provision of
the same act.
Common Council Takes Whirl.
After Select Council was gotten through
with the free bridge question for the day,
as it thought, Common Council proceeded
TO take 4 fall out Of it, The reference OF the
ordinance to the Free Bridge Committee
was concurred in, when the resolution was
taken up asking Mr.. Jones to fill the COM
mission. Mr. MCGEE moved that it be re-
ferred to the Finance Committee for fur
ther investigation. He believed that a
general act could be passed for tree bridges,
but he did not believe that the old commits
sion could be used. 1t was created under
the old constitution, it had never met so far
as was known, all the members but one
were dead and he did not think Mr. Jones
could breathe life into it. 1t was juggling
with the people of the Southside to pretend
10 depend on the old act.
Mr. O'Donnell wanted to try the old act
fit was then decided that Mr.. Jones had no
power to fill the vacancies, then a new way
could be adopted.
Mr. Finn said that on the Southside
free bridges were regarded as buncombe TO
be used at election times. There was great
deal of talk and that was all. He would
like to know how these free bridges could be
gotten He did not expect it 10 be done
without increased taxation. Things must
be paid for. He was opposed to sending the
matter to the Finance Committee, as he had
none too much faith in that body.
Mr.. Mullen was opposed to any postpone.
ment, and Mr. Bigham thought that better
legal light should be obtained; the opinion
of the City Attorney was opinion at all.
Mr.. Macee, in speaking of appropriating
free bridge money, said any surplus at the
end of the year would go into the sinking
fund.
Differs With Controller Morrow.
The Chair said: 81 would like to say tc
the gentleman from the Fourteenth ward
that the Controller says it will not
And 1 will say to the Chair" replied
Mr.. Magee, that if he don't put the surplu.
in the sinking fund he will be mandamused
The law must be obeyed."
DR.. Brewster thought they had all the in
formation needed. A director of the SoutI
Tenth street bridge had told him that tha
bridge could be bought reasonably, and i
would pay for itself in from five to sever
years
The Chair thought that was good reasor
why the bridge could not be bought reason
ably, and Mr.. Ferguson suggested that tht
bridge was falling down.
Mr. Bigham offered an amendment t,
send the matter back to the Comnittee OF
Free Bridges and Mr.. Magee accepted tn
amendment.
Mr.. Ferguson wanted to know why III,
CITY couldn't appropriate money for bridge
as well as for any other purpose; why /
couldn't build bridge without further leg
islation? Mr.. Bigham had said this wa
illegal. Mr.. Ferguson couldn't understand
this, although Mr.. Bigham was a lawye
and might know more law than Mr. Fergu
son.
This allusion to Mr.. BIgham's lega
learning created laugh, which was renewed
when Mr.. Mullen as a Southside represen
tative asked that the motion to recommit b
voted down and Mr.. Finn, in mis- capacit,
as Southside representative hoped the mo
tIou would be adopted.
The motion was adopted and :he Who'll
matter went back to the Committee on Ere
Bridges.
The action of Common Council was re
ported to the Select branch and concurre