Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-03
CITY FUNDS SCARCE.
Some of Allegheny's Appropriations
Running Low, in Spite Of
THAT LATELY FOUND SURPLUS.
A Proposition Made to Sell Portion Of the
City'S Fine Parks.
LOUD HINTS ABOUT CONSOLIDATION

The circus which was scheduled to take
place in Allegheny Common Council last
night did not materialize to any great ex-
tent. At best it was but a very tame, one
ring affair The meeting was special one,
called to consider large number Of
ordinances and resolutions referred
from the Select branch. The most
important of these were the ordinance
granting the Controllers office an additional
clerk and increasing the salary of the chief
clerk; the ordinance authorizing the trans
fer of $3.50 from the contingent fund to
appropriation No. IL, Bureau of Water, for
water extension; and the resolution
that no more street railway franchises
or rights be granted until the
Manchester Company and the
Pleasant Valley Company have made GER
tain concessions to the city. These were all
concurred in and finally adopted by the
Common branch.
A KICK AGAINST CLERK HIRE.
The first ordinance taken up was the one
regulating the clerical force in the City Con-
troller's office. 1t provides for chief clerk at
a salary of 81 800 year and an assistant clerk
at S720 per year.
Mr.. Cruikshank was opposed to the or
dinance. He said: "The city is short of
money now, every appropriation has been
cut and there is no money to be expended in
this manner
Mr.. Drum-I will not vote to expend
single dollar that was not contemplated IN
the original appropriation ordinance.
Mr.. Cruikshank-There are but two men
81
the lack of funds, and L am opposed to
diverting what money there may be into
such channels as here contemplated.
The ordinance was finally adopted by
vote of 80 to II.
The ordinance granting SO, 900 to the AL
legheny General Hospital for this and
future years was passed.
The resolution for the transfer of S15,0 900
from the contingent fund to the fund for
water extension met with considerable op-
position and called out a very full discus
sion of the city's financial condition. Sew
eral conflicting and contradictory opinions
as to the purpose and scope of the contin
gent fund were offered.
WANTS TO HAVE THINGS RIGHT
Mr.. Gerwig-I do not wish to oppose the
extension of the water service, but we
should go about this matter in the right
way. l contend that Council has no right
to transfer funds from one appropriation to
another. The appropriation ordinance was
passed and became q law, and this resolution
practically annuls it. 1t will be said that
this has been the practice for years, but
that does not make it right. 1t has
been the practice of certain officials
of this city to conduct their offices
in very loose and irregular way, but that
is no reason why this should continue.
Councils, in many points, have been as
loose and careless as these officials, and it is
time we should make change and start
right. This is the first time this point has
been raised. Furthermore, there are not
S1j, 900 in the contingent fund. There is an
ordinance to transfer to that fund the $780,
900 or S125, 900 of surplus recently dis
covered, but this has not yet been done. 1
suggest that an ordinance be framed trans
ferring to this fund money not otherwise
appropriated. The present plan is illegal.
Mr.. Horne-I am also opposed to this
ordinance. 1 do not believe in thus cover
ing up the mistakes of Councils of last
winter, when they neglected, for political
and personal reasons, to appropriate suffi-
cient money for the needs of the different
departments.
CALLED DOWN BY COLLEAGUE.
Mr. Stauffer-The speech made by the
gentleman from the Third ward (Gerwig)
sounds very nice, but he has
very improper conception of just
what the contingent fund is. At the be-
ginning of the wear the proper persons
meet with the Controller, and, from the
amount calculated to be available, parcel
out the funds necessary for the needs of the
different departments. Among them is an
appropriation called "No. O." or the "con-
tingent fund.-" and the purpose of this is to
meet Just such contingencies as confront US
now in regard to the Bureau of Water.
Why was this point never raised before?
Mr.. Knox agreed with Mr.. Gerwig, and
asked Controller Brown how much money
remained in the contingent fund out OF the
S45, 900 appropriated.
Controller Brown-About S15, 900 or S16-
600, but there are several payments for
sewer and other improvements to be made
out of that.
Mr. Henderson-There is no emergency
or contingency which would authorize us to
draw from the contingent fund. AT any
rate, We should go about this thing in a
legal and regular manner
Mr. Dahlinger-I voted for this resolu-
tion, but now think it would be necessary,
to first, by ordinance, transfer the surplus
in the city treasury to the contingent fund.
ANYHOW, there is no contingency, so long
as any money remains in the water bureau
NO IMMEDIATE CONTINGENCY.
Mr.. Knox-There are S44, ,911 so still re-
manning in the water appropriation.
This will be exhausted before the
end of the year, but still /
there is no immediate contingency. AT all
events, the money must be put into the con-
tingent fund before YOU transfer from it.
You can't get blood out of a turnip.
Mr.. Stauffer-I claim that there is |
There may be S44, 600 in the
water bureau appropriation, but that part |
of the appropriation allotted to water ex-
tension is completely exhausted. There |
is not cent.
Mr.. Paulin thought the ordinance should |
be passed, as it was necessary to extend the |
water service and the work for which this !
transfer was asked was almost completed
Mr. Gerwig-That's the trouble exactly !
and shows the loose practices which have |
prevailed. Contracts are made and work |
done in anticipation that ordinances will be
passed through necessity of meeting this
Mr.. Rudolph moved TO lay the resolution
over for one month.
FEAR OF A DISGRACE TO COUNCILS.
Mr.. Nesbit-If this resolution is not
passed it will be disgrace to Councils.
Mr.. Rudolph's motion was lost.
The vote on the final adoption of the reso-
luton stood 80 ayes to 13 noes.
Mr.. Nesbit offered a resolution providing
that Councils grant no more privileges to any
street railway companies in the city until
they provide a system of transfer tickets for
all their lines. The resolution was adopted.
The following measures were passed final
": Resolution awarding contract for 125,-
300 arc light carbons to the Washington