Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-24
BURIED IN MYSTERY.
Supporters Of the Proposed Curative
Bill Acting Very Quietly.
OPPOSITION ALREADY APPEARS.
Northside Councils Want Wharf Bill No. 80
Voted Down.
DEFICIT IN ALLEGHENYS FINANCES

Alfred Marlanu, e4-memDer OF tne Legls-
lature, went to Harrisburg last evening to
protest against the proposed curative legis-
lation, whatever it may be. which is hard
thing to find out, so Mr.. Marland claims,
as the persons who have charge of the bill
refused to show it to him. He says the act
is carefully snrouded in mystery.
Charles O'BrIen was on the same train,
but his mission is before the Pardon Board.
He remarked that he would look into the
features of the bill while there, and if they
didn't suit him he would add his emphatic
protest with others.
Mr.. Marland argues that retroactive legis-
lation, if not unconstitutional, is bad on
general principles. He denounced "put
up" jobs, and then having them leg allied
by subsequent act of the Legislature.
He claims that according 10 the act
of 1871 Councils in second class cities are
not allowed to appropriate money for park
Improvements without a vote of the people,
and he insists that the funds expended on
Scheuley Park are illegally authorized and
could be revoked by the courts. Mr.. Mar
land added that he had spoken to a number
of citizens about curative legislation, and
they were all against it. The trouble has
been that the laws have not been obeyed.
He said at present he was going to Harris
burg as private citizen, but he limited at
organized opposition.
Another Objector in the Party.
Representative w. 7. Marshell, of ALLIE
gheny returned to the Legislature last even
ing.
He doesn't like curative legislation, and
thinks it is unconstitutional.
II was expected that Arthur Kennedy would
read the proposed curative bill in Allegheny
Select Council. last night, for the purpose of
having that body take action on the measure,
but for some reason 1t was not brought up, and
Mr.. Kennedy said he did not even have a copy
of the bill. Legislative matters were intro
duced, however, by Mr.. Hartman, who wanted
a resolution passed asking the members of the
Legislature from Allegheny to do all in their
power to defeat bills "a and S5 AS "a does not
apply to Allegheny it was stricken out, and the
resolution passed.
A resolution was passed instructing the rep
resenlatlyes in Harrisburg to oppose any bill
looking toward the creation of police magis-
trates, or anything that may tend to increase
the city taxes. There was discussion the
resolution, Messrs. Kennedy. Wertheimer and
Lare opposing it; but 1t passed almost unani-
mously.
Mr.. Cochrane called up the appropriation
ordinance. and moved that they adhere to
their former action and non-concur in that of
Common Council; also that a committee
conference of three be appointed to act with a
like committee from the Common branch,
which was adopted without discussion. Con-
tracts for printing the annual reports were
awarded to Z. f. Peck d Son and John A.
Ogdon.
In Common Councils the first item of busi-
ness was one that occasoned considerable
discussion. An ordinance for the issuance of
81. 900 California avenue bonds was taken up
and passed finally. An ordinance authorizing
the issue of s200.0 900 per cent municipal bonds
to provide for an excess in appropriations was
called up.
MIR. Stauffer wanted to know who this money
was owing to and when obtained who it would
be paid to- Chairman Hunter explained that
the deficit was in the Treasury and was owed to
banks. The deficit was caused by committees
over-drawing their appropriations yearly for the
past ten years. Mr.. Stauffer offered an amend
ment that the Controller be requested to give
a statement to the Finance Committee of the
fetal amount of the shortage, to be accompanied
by statement showing banks to which the
money was owing.
A Conference of Both Branches.
Treasurer Macferron happened to be present
and explained that the money was owed to the
city repositories, of which there are six. This
caused the withdrawal of Mr. Stauffer's amend
ment. At this point Select Council asked for a
committee of three for conference on the
appropriation ordinance. This was granted,
Messrs. Neeb, Stauffer and Parke being ap-
pointed. The committee reported back that
they had agreed to concur with Select Council,
which gives the police department sl25,OOO and
the Allegheny General Hospital $4,000.
Mr. Dahlinger moved that the ordinance be
referred back for further investigation, but
the motion was lost and the ordinance was
passed finally. Mr.. Parke again called up the
appropriation ordinance. saying that those who
were at first opposed to it acted through a mis-
understanding and desired to change their
vote The ordinance was taken up and passed
finally. A resolution praying the Legislature
to defeat wharf bills "a and 35 from Select
Council was read.
Mr. Dahlinger stated that before adopting
the resolution they had better understand the
BILL Bill 35 was simply giving Pittsburg Sc
lect Council because of the fact that the city
employees have not been paid for three four
months, and they were badly in need of money.
1t was wholly for harmony that they agreed
with Select Council
The former action of Common Council was
reconsidered and the appropriation ordinance
was voted on. The vote stood % for to
against MIR. Mcdonald refusing to vote. The
ordinance was laid over for want of legal ma
jority.
Mr. Mech said that bill "a was measure that
would not in the least hurt Allegheny Some
people, through damagogy, made 4 muss over
tigate the matter before any action was taken
Mr.. Knox was opposed to bill 81 because
Pittsburg proposed building wall along the
river bank. and that would throw more water
over to Allegheny during foods. Mr.. Robson
was also opposed to the bill for the same rca-
son. The action of Select Council was con-
CURED in and the resolutions adopted.