Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-11
SCORING GILLIFORD.
The Allegheny Finance Committee
Indignant Over Charges
THAT IT NIGHT BE HOODWINKED
Dahlinger Says Information Was Held Back
by the Doctor.
CHAIRMAN wURTHEIMER STOPS DEBATE

If the Allegheny Controllers Office had
been frying pan last night the meeting of
the Finance Committee would have made a
| good imitation of peck of corn just in the
midst OF the popping process. The transit
| from red to white heat was made when
Charles Gerwig, on question of privilege,
| read the extract from Mr.. Gilliford's letter
| to the Auditing Committee, which stated:
The appointment of subcommittee of
| the Finance Committee to investigate the
| account between the street car companies
| and the city has the appearance of being an
attempt to usurp the functions OF the Audit
ing Committee. If inspired by the street
car companies for the purpose of removing
the auditing and adjudication of those ac-
counts to committee not so familiar with
the subject, and hence easier hoodwinked
into remitting or exonerating the street car
| companies from just payments, it should
certainly fail.
Objected to Such Statements.
'That is ungentlemanly, unkind and un-
called for" said Mr.. Gerwig 81 think
am Just as honest as the Chairman of the
Auditing Committee. 1 want to enter a
protest against the inslnuations made
against this committee.
"You have misconstrued the meaning of
my letter." broke in Mr.. Clifford.
"I have the floor" answered MI. Gerwig
hotly. &c..
"And 1 say if the gentleman declares
that there are any insinuations against
members of this committee in that COM
munication he does not understand the
English language" continued Mr.. Gill;
ford. 81 intended no reflection on Coun-
cilmen. I said that members of the COM
mittee might be deceived by the street rail-
way companies 1 myself have been hood
winked. / voted for electric light towers
on the false statements of others, and it
was only natural for me to believe that the
street car companies might mislead a SUBJ
committee of this committee, which is not
so familiar with the circumstances as the
Auditing Committee.
Chairman Dahlinger, of the b-Finance
Committee, declared that Mr. Gillitord had
attempted to prevent him from getting in
formation from Auditor McKirdy.
ut is false" replied Clifford, with
flushed face.
II know it is true" said Dahlinger.
''Your letter was reelection on our honesty.
The explanation doesn't explain. 1 don't
see why doctor would be harder to deceive
than other men," r-
Wouldn't Let Him Speak.
Dr. Clifford after several attempts got
the floor again and attempted an expla-
nation, but the noise on the other side
drowned his voice and when he demanded
right to speak, he was shut out by Arthur
Kennedy who said he must keep quiet or
else stick to facts. Continuing, Mr. Ken
nedy charged the Auditing Committee with
being a partisan organization running
literary bureau Of which the chief work
was the misrepresentation Of Councils. He
said Gilliford's letter was an insult to the
committee.
count up their life insurance policies, Chair
man Wurtheimer called time and hostilities
were suspended.
The monthly report of the Controller was
received and some other routine business
transacted.