Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-18
FIGHTING FOR FUN.
Allegheny Councilmen Meet and Pull
Wool for Mere Amusement.
CHIEF MURPHY'SCASE HANGS FIRE
Sober City Fathers See Snakes in an lnnO-
cent Resolution.
SOFT SNAPS ARE PUT TO A SEVERE TEST


licitor Each man was in favor of it, but
for half an hour the 13 members had a wool
pulling match and wound up by pass
ing the resolution unanimously II
was brought up by DR.. Clifford and was the
same one before published. Councilman
Einstein grasped the opportunity and the
ears of his auditors, including John Nc
Kirdv, and asked for light. He declared
for the space of ten minutes that it was re-
ferring too much to the City Solicitor. 1t
was an insult TO make him both Judge and
jury and pass over the head of Councils. He
ended by saying it looked to him little
fimsy.
Chairman Henricks made the same state
ment that he did in THE DISPATCH
Wednesday morning, and at the close said
his subcommittee had no right to make
changes.
Lowe-You admit you have no jurisdic-
tion.
Henrieks-I don't
Lowe-You do, and you know there is
snake in that resolution.
Henricks-It's not So
Lowe-I'm for the resolution, but there
is snake in it, Every oficeholder here is
for it. and there are claims of a political
deal, but am for it just to see the snake
crawl out in six weeks.
Sober Councilmen See Snakes.
Arthur Kennedy and a half dozen others
insisted they were for the resolution, and
insisted Just as hard on keeping up the
fight, when Mr. Wertheimer took the floor
bv main force and the, strength of his voice,
and said:
ats an outrage to howl snake on every
resolution presented"
Lowe-They charged me with having
snakes.
Wertheimer - Never charged anybody
with snakes.
''No, but Won have sold stuff to make
snakes was Mr. loves quiet reioinder.
Matters having arrived at this happy sit
nation, the resolution was passed unani-
mously, but as the discussion was so long
drawn out Common Council had adjourned,
and the resolution will have to hang fire
another month unless a special meeting is
called. And some even declared the dis
cussion was kept up for that purpose.
Previous to this the Auditing Committee
reported Mayor Wyman in arrears for
81, go for license due from the Odorless Ex-
cavating Company, and was liable for s., 200
forfeits for not having paid the licenses
when due.
On the call of wards Mr. Wertheimer Of
fered resolution to close the market house
on holidays; DR.. Clifford plea for addi-
tional counsel to prosecute Wyman. His
resolution was accompanied by a letter from
President William r. Thompson, of the
Reform Association.
In the reports of committees was one
from Chief Ehlers as to the number of peo-
pie employed in the Department of Public
Works. In the general Office there are
employees: in the Bureau of Lighting so;
Bureau of Engineering and Surveys, II;
Bureau of Water Supply and Distribution,
46; street force, 10; Water Assessor, /;
Bureau of Highways and Sewers, 8; Bureau
of Parks, IL; Bureau of Library Buildings,
5: markets, 5; wharves and landings, l;
Municipal Hall, 3; Diamond scales, /; bark
measurer. l.
The report stated that all day laborers
and mechanics whose number varied with
the work on hand were omitted, and that
the extension of water supply and public
lighting will require an increase of the per-
manent force. The report was filed.
The resolution awarding the contract for
remodeling City Hall at cost of Sc, ,575 to
Benjamin A Groah, was passed, as were
number of minor street improvement ordi
nances. The resolution for an appropria-
tion of g, 800 for the auditors was sent to
the Finance Committee.
Scrapping Over tine Soft Snaps.
Next the ordinance abolishing the Office
of Fire Buresu Clerk came up. Lowe tried
to Indefinitely postpone, Henrichs wanted
to amend and Wertheimer cried personal
malice. This was the programme for 4j
minutes, during which time council
men accused each other of having
been Rip Van Winkled for the last wear
They had almost reached the conclusion
that no city official had any excuse for
drawing salary, when the ordinance was
put TO a vote, and lost by vote of toe
Common Council distinguished itself by
being unusually disorderlv. Mr. Goettman
asked for the expert accountants report to
find what amount was due the
city from nat 1ral gas companies He
thought it was about $40, 900. Petitions
were placed for a number of arc lights Mr.
Oliver presented a resolution providing that
in accordance with the request of Congress
man w. A. Stone, the Presidents of Coun-
ellis be requested to appoint a special COM
mittee, four from Select and eight from
Common Council, TO consider the various
sites suggested on which to erect a Govern
ment building for a postoffice and receive
such information as can be obtained on the
subject and report to Councils. On motion
the resolution was adopted and was con-
CURED in by the Select branch.
Gathering Data to Trim Salaries.
A report was received from Chief Murphy
giving list Of the officers, clerks and eni-
ployes necessary for the Department of
Public Safety, in accordance with the pro-
visions of the charter act. The report was |
required TO enable Councils to regulate the
number of employees in changing from a !
third to a second class city. The report
showed the following number of employees
considered necessary by the Chief: Gen
eral office-One chief clerk Bureau of
Fire-One superintendent, l assistant |
superintendent, Is captains and az hosemen |
and other employees. Police Bureau-One |
clerk, detectives, . captains, S Sleutenants,
6 sergeants, ordinance officer, 6S patrol |
men, operators, Is wagonmen, matrons. |
Health Bureau-One superintendent, ! /
clerk, meat and milk inspector, phvsi- |
clan. 4 sanitary inspectors, 3 furnacemen. |
Bureau of Electricity-One superintendent, |
one lineman. The report was referred to |
Finance Committee. The following ordi |
nances were passed finally: Appointing |
two additional assistant attendants at the |
City Home at 1915 per year each, widening
Woodland avenue, opening School alley, /
widening and extending Clifford street, |
changing the grades of Logan street, Center |
avenue, Ehlers alley and Lamont street.
\ resolution was taken up providing for /
advertising for proposals and the erection of
30 electric lamps and mast arms. The ordi-
nance had been amended to provide that the
lights be paid for out of money not other
wise appropriated instead of out of the
contingent fund.
Mr.. Gerwig opposed the resolution. He
said there was no question but more light
is needed. but it is folly to proceed. There
]. 4. Al