Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-08
TOO FAST FOR THEM.
Swift Action of the Senate on the
Amendment 10 the Charter
STARTLEs THE HOME COMMITTEE.
An Endeavor to Secure the Desired Changes
in the House.
STRUGGLING WITH THE CONSTITUTION

William r. Ford, a member of the COM
mittee appointed at Mondays meeting Of
citizens to visit Harrisburg for the purpose
of coaching Legislature on the wants of the
people in the matter of street legislation,
last evening telegraphed to Harrisburg to
know when the House Committee would be
able to meet the Citizens Committee.
The members of the latter committee were
astounded yesterday when they heard that
several of the bills had already passed the
Senate. The passage of the three curative
acts was all right, as they had been passed
upon at Saturdays meeting, at which Sem
ators Finn and Neeb were present. The
passage Of the act amending the
city charter was surprise, as this
bill was hotiy discussed and rad
ically amended at Mondays meeting.
The most important feature of this bill lust
at this time was the provision authorizing
the issue of certificates to meet the claims of
contractors for Improvements already made.
This was amended by substituting an issue
of bonds in place of certificates.
Raised a Constitutional Question.
A meeting Of the committee was held
yesterday afternoon in the Mayors Office, at
which j. F. Hudson raised the point that
the Indebtedness of the city could not be in
creased by the issue of either bonds or certih-
Gates without first submitting the proposition
to the vote Of the people. Mr.. Hudson based
his argument upon section 8, article TX, OF the
Constitution, which says: THE debt OF any
county city, borough, township, school dis
trict or other municipality or incorporated dis
trict, except as herein provided. shall never ex-
ceed per cent upon the assessed value of
the taxable property therein, nor shall any
such municipality or district incur any new
debt or increase its Indebtedness to any amount
exceeding 2 per cent upon such assessed valua-
tion of property without the assent OF the
electors thereof at public election in such
manner as shall be provided by law"
Mr.. Hudson held that as the debt of the city
already exceeded per cent of its valuation,
the Constitution plainly forbade that it shonld
be increased except with the consent of a major
Mayor Gourley agreed with Mr.. Hudson, but
Mr.. Ford was not quite clear about it and
thought that even the oft-quoted and much
relIed-upon Constitution was not quite as
plain as IL might be.
Two Ways of Looking at 1t.
His Honor was positive that certificate was
just as much an obligation upon the city as
bond, and therefore came within the constitu-
tIonal provision. The Mayor was in doubt
which was the best way out of the city's
financial strait-whether to issue bonds, or
certificates, or to raise the money by direct
taxation.
Controller Morrow reads:the Constitution diff
ferentlS he holds that it simply prohibits ill.,
creasing the city debt more than 2per cent at
one time without an election, or to pass be-
yond the 7-ger-cent limit in any event.
He says: by my understanding of the
Constitution, and believe am right, we can
issue bonds Tor this Indebtedness to any extent
less than per cent of the total va uation- The
M NM
that that would amount to s., I'D, 600. 70 meet the
obligations incurred under the now defunct
street acts of 1857 and 1889 will require about
s. 2000 600 or less than per cent. There is really
no difference between certificates or bonds.
Several cities among them Boston, call their
bonds certificates of Indebtedness. We can
call these certificates bonds. If we issue either
bonds or certificates we can apply to their pur-
chase the sinking fund money now lying idle in
the banks 1t is a mistake to say that all the
contractors will have to wait two years before
they can sue the city. number of contracts
were completed Is months ago. and these will
be due in six months more. Some of the con-
tractors. of course, Will have no claim until q
longer time elapses."
Might Not Be the Same Bills.
W. R. Ford and II. p Ford. President of
Select Council, held a consultation yesterday
afternoon as to the position of the city in the
matter of the proposed legislation. w. r.
Ford expressed himself as greatly surprised at
city charter, but said the committee would en-
aeavor to have it amended in the House in ac-
cordance with the wishes of the citizens. He
referred to the statement of NJ. A. Woodward
that the bills taken to Harrisburg did not bear
3 strong resemblance to those presented TO the
citizens. The Messrs. Ford knew nothing posi-
tive about this but expressed considerable
curiosity.
H. P. Ford declared himself in favor of rails
ing the necessary money by direct taxation.
He said: Il don't think there would have been
any difficulty in raising the amount by one as
sessment, or we might have taken two years to
make it. 1t would be the best way to get this
debt paid and the whole matter settled up. I
think we will have no trouble in collecting the
assessments for this work, for have not heard
one man say that the work was not worth fully
the amount paid for it,"
A number of property holders have deter
mined to have improvement anyway, and are
making themselves responsible for the cost
Wharton street. Southsde, to be paved be-
tween Twenty-nrst and Thirty-second streets;
Westminster street, between Aiken and Amber
son, and same between Highland and Emerson
avenues. The property owners are putting in
sewers along Mayfower street. in the Twenty
first ward, and Juliet and Cato Streets in the
Fourteenth ward. On Lilac street the people
have advertised for bids from contractors for
the construction of sidewalks.