Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-22
WITH A GREAT BIG v

The Mayor VIII Veto the New Appropria
ton Ordinance-He Gives His Reasons
for Withholding His Consent to the Late
Action of Councils.
Councils will have to consider the appro-
priation ordinance again. Mayor Gourley
is not satisfied with the bill itself, or the
manner of its passage and yesterday de-
cided to veto it. AT II o'clock in the morn
ing he received copy of the ordinance, and
at once closeted himself in his private
office. 1t did not take him long to decide
that his official signature could not go on
the document. The Mayor was assisted in
arriving at this decision by a communica-
tion from Controller Morrow. The message
came early In the morning and was decided
" emphatic in its nature. The Controller
reiterated the arguments embodied in his
message to Councils of the previous day, to
which so little attention was paid by the men,
berS. He intimated very strongly that if
he were the Mayor the veto AK would GER
taiuly come into play.
Mavor Gourlev had scarcely made his de-
cision when he set to work on a message to
Councils explaining his action. When
asked about his reasons for using the veto
he declined to talk, saving il would be dis
courteous to Councils to give them to the
public before they reached those for whom
they were intended.
The MAYORS Reasons for a Veto.
81 have decided not to sign the ordi-
nance" said he, land have informed the
City Clerk of that fact in order that the
Presidents Of Councils may know of it in
time to call special meetings for Monday
afternoon if they desire. i am now prepar-
ing a message to Councils, setting forth my
reasons 'or SO doing"
The Mayor was busy all afternoon and
evening on his message. In spite of the fact
that he refuses to tell its contents, it is gen.
orally understood the document will express
some very decided ideas.
The stand taken by the Controller will be
one of the strong points urged. The Mayor
is opposed TO running the risk of a heavy
deficit at the close of the fiscal year, es-
pecially as the city has not vet gotten out
of the shadow Of overhanglng street improve
ment debts.
Objection will be made to the hurried
manner in which the ordinance was
passed, many members of Council not nav
ing seen it until tnev entered the Council
chambers.
The impropriety of Councils appropri-
ating money for the purchase of park land
without a definite knowledge of the law on
the subject will also be severely dealt with,
as well as several other items in the bill on
which the Mavor has decided views.
Mayor Gourley intimated that he was very
much grieveo that he had to take such action
as it will delay the appropriations, an early
settlement Of which is greatly necessary.
But he saws there are some features of the
bill which be desires to go on record as be-
ing opposed to, and this is the only way to
do it. He does not attempt to express an
opinion as to whether Councils will pass the
ordinance over his veto or not
The Controller Very Well Pleased.
Controller Morrow was decidedly pleased
when he heard of the Mayors veto. He has
not changed his convictions about the mis-
takes of the people who drafted the ordin-
ance in counting too close to the line in the
matter OF estimated receipts for the year.
1.-THE letter / sent to the Mayor" said he,
''is almost a repetition OF the one sent to
Councils. l am still firm in nv belief that
the passage of such an ordinance means a
deficit of about $500, 900. The explanations
OF several clauses in Councils yesterday
do pot change my conviction. 1t is
argued that large amount of
money will revert to the city after the pass
age ofcurative legislation. The trouble is,
though, that we are not certain of securing
a curative act, although personally l be-
ljeve we will. But even if such an act is
passed it will take some time and the COL
lection of assessments will not be made
rapidly enough to be of any service in this
fiscal year. Here you see the committee
has made a mistake by relying on an uncer-
tainty:
"In the second place great mistake was
made in allowing only S107, 900 for dis
counts, lost taxes and taxes not collectable
before the end of the year. If the ordinance
is adopted over the Mayors veto, those who
got it up will realize the truth of my state
ments before many months. There are sew