Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-06
In NEED OF A REED.
A Suburban Town Torn Up Over a
Troublesome Tie in Its Council.
NO WAY TO COLLECT A QUORUM
When Either Side Sees Its Full Strength
Won't be at q Meeting.
THE PUBLICs BUSINESS BLoCKADED

A Speaker Reed is needed in Coraopolis.
The borough fathers have gotten into a
snarl and deadlock that is likely to result
in chaos IL some compromise is not soon
reached, the necessity therefor being made
bulgingly evident on last Monday
evening, when the Sergeant at Arms
was unable to muster q quorum.
As there are so far no symptoms of a violent
uprising of the populace, there is no lmme-
diste danger of a necessity for calling out
the n. g. P, but some think there may be
before the end of summer.
The trouble has existed ever since the
spring election, but 1t was hoped that way
out would be found. The path seems to
grow more dim as time flies. As near as
can be learned the borough Council is tie
on every important matter before 1t, and
when either side finds that its full strength
is not out, it absents itself, and Burgess Nc
Cabe is not given a chance TO declare
quorum present to do business.
ONE WAY TO BREAK A QUORUM.
The leaders of the opposing forces are
Messrs. Mcdonald and Jolly. Last Mon
day night proposition 10 declare all the
streets of the borough open was pending,
and it is said that when one of the Jolly
party found that his presence would make q
quorum and allow the opposition to tri-
umph, he dropped up, or rather left his post
of observation on the outside, from which he
had been making memoranda. Consequent
" the borough farmers are still able to raise
crops on ground exempt from taxation, and
some people who own property on unopened
streets and want boardwalks made to it are
exasperated.
Some weeks ago, when the questions st
issue were at fever heat, Mr.. Mcdonald re-
ceived a telegram just as Council was about
convening, asking him to meet party at
some hotel in this city. At first he thought
of taking q train and coming to the city,
but holding the telegram to his nostrils for
a moment, he thought he detected on it the
arma of a rodent. Accordingly, he tele-
graphed the sender to await him, and he
would come on late train. He did so,
and then found for certain that the telegram
was q decov to keep him from the Council
meeting.
THE DODGE WORKS WELL.
At q subsequent meeting the same dodge
was tried, and again without effect. Since
then the no-quorum dodge has been played
effectively.
Another bone of contention is the fact
that the borough has no legal helm. 1t is
said the jolly party want Arch II. Rowand
for Solicitor, and the opposition are de-
termined that ne shall not be. Some say
the Burgess has power to break tie, while
others say be has not, but each side is able
to prevent the putting of the question TO
test by breaking quorum. 1t is said the
opposition candidate is not disposed to make
a strenuous effort, though willing to fill the
position if it can be had without the mud
smearing incident to a political row.
The necessity of getting down to work is
admitted on all hands, as the question Of
finance is getting to be serious one, and
extensive improvements are necessary if the
village is to prosper.