Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06
THE BOND INCREASE.
Finance Committee Recommends the
Issue of 100000 Worth.
NO RATE OF INTEREST WAS FIXED.
II Will Be Voted Upon the Second Tuesday
of December.
BINDERS OBJECTIONS SQUELCHED

The people of Pittsburg are to vote on a
proposition to increase the bonded indebt-
edness to the extent of $4,000, 900. The
election is to take place on Tuesday, De-
cember 8. At meeting of the Finance
Committee yesterday the reconstructed or
dinance to this effect was presented and
afirmatively recommended to Councils.
The money is to pay off the contractors for
city work done under the defunct street act.
Though there was So, 600, 600 involved there
was scarcely any discussion. The only
point raised was by Andrew Binder, who
called attention to the fact that no provision
had been made as to the manner in which
this money was to be raised, what time the
loan was to run and what interest was to be
paid.
Chairman Magee answered this with the
statement that such matter would have to
be incorporated in later ordinance. There
was no use in settling that matter until it
was decided whether the money could be
borrowed.
NOT ANY NEED FOR METHODS.
Messrs. Robertson, Heating and Paul
agree with Magee. and such weight of
evidence satisfied Mr.. Binder. The recon-
mendation was made unanimously. The
full text of the ordinance is as follows:
WHEREAS, Recent decisions of the Supreme
Court of the State with reference to the leg
islation relating to street and sewer inn
provements in cities of the second class
have imposed obligations on the city of
Pfttsburg for payment of improvements
made or authorized to be made under the
provisions of said legislation which obliga-
tions amount to about 81, 900, ,00n, and
Whereas, Under existing laws and oon-
tracts made in conformity Herewith the
bulk of such obligations will have to be paid
during the coming year, and
tion would necess1tate an increase of at least
ten (10) mills in the annual tax levy, and
Whereas, 1t is provided by existing law
tbe as by sd
and sewer improvements shall be assessed
the cost thereof, and
Whereas. 1t is evident from the manner in
which said legislation Is being contested in
the courts that there will be considerable
delay in the collections of said assessments,
and
Whereas, It is provided by the Constitu-
ton and laws of the Common wealth of Penn
sylvania that the bonded indebtedness OF
cities may only be increased by vote of the
citizens thereof, and believing that the in
crease of the bonded indebtedness of the
city of Pittsburg TO an amount sufficient to
pay said obligations at this time would re-
lieve tho taxpayers from an onerous and
burdensome increase of taxation, and be-
will eventually be met by collection of as
sessments against properties benefited;
therefore
DATE OF THE BOND CONTEST.
SECTION Be it ordained and enacted by
the City of Pittsburg in Select and Common
Councils assembled, and it is hereby or.
dained and enacted by the authority of the
same, That the question of increasing the
indebtedness of the said City of Pittsburg to
an amount not exceeding 81, 600 01G. shall be
submitted to the electors thereof at a special
election to be held on the sth day of Decem
Der, A D., 1891, in the manner and upon the
terms provided and prescribed in an Act OF
Assembly of the Commonwealth of Penn.
sylvania, entitled IAN Act to regulate the
manner of increasing the indie btedness OF
municipalities, to provide for the redemp.
tion of the same and to impose pc naltfes for
the illegal increase thereof" approved the
supplements thereto.
That the Mayor shall be and he is hereby
authorized and directed to issue his procla.
nation lin conformity with said actl and to
supervise and provide, Mt the expense of the
city, the ballots, return sheets and other
papers necessary for the holding of said elec-
tion.
Concerning the ordinance Controller
Morrow says: 'In many of the contracts
payments are due and under the decision of
the Supreme Court the contractors could
get judgment against the city and compel
Councils to incorporate the amounts in the
appropriation ordinance for next year.
This would run the millage up to one-third
more than it ever was before The bonds,
however, will eventually be met, if cura-
tive legislation is sustained, by the persons
on whom improvements are assessed"