Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-13
COMMITTEES AT WAR.
Allegheny Auditors and Financiers
Draw Their Swords.
WHITEWASH SAID TO BE IN STOCK,
A Compromise That, 1t Is Feared, Will Be a
Precedent.
CHAIRMAN WERTHEIMER EXPLAINS

There is war between the Allegheny
Auditing and Finance committees. The
heated debate in the latter committee
meeting last Tuesday night between DR..
Clifford and Arthur Kennedy was simply
the forerunner of the lively times that will
follow. Mr.. Kennedy and other members
of the Finance Committee are looked upon
by the reformers as champions of Mayor
Wyman, and whatever steps they take
are watched with suspicion. Politics
is said to be the potent factor,
and every move which Kennedy
makes for the protection of the accused
officials is heralded by the other side as
bid for support in the coming mayoralitv
canvass. To this Kennedy makes vigor-
GUS denial. He declares he is not a candi-
date for any Office and that he only wants
fair play.
The reformers claim he will be a candi-
date, however, and to prove that he and the
majority of the Finance Committee intend
to cover up as much as possible the facts
laid bare by the Auditing Committee, the
statement is made that q discrepancy Of
$14, $50 discovered by the auditors in the
settlement of weigh scale funds was COM
promised by the Finance Committee for
$4,000. The money is due from the Hers
Island and Woods Run stock yards.
Didn't Pay for the Privilege.
The manner in which the debt was in
CURED was explained yesterday by Mr..
Henricks, who was Chairman of the sub
committee which, in 1886, made an agree
ment with the stock yard companies where
by they were to pay 81, 400 per year for the
privilege Of weighing their own cattle. Pre-
vious to that time, while the stock yards
were on Buens Vista street, all cattle sold
in the city were weighed on the Second
ward scales at 9 cents per head. The reve-
nue. derived therefrom amounted to about
81, 400 per year in addition to paying the
salary of the weigh master. When the
stock yards were started at Herr's
Island and Woods Run in order to avoid
driving cattle to the center of the city, an
paid annually for the privilege of weighing
their own cattle. The contract was signed
by Mr.. Greenwalt for the Woods Run
yards and Mr.. Gallery for the yards at
Hers Island. No money was ever paid,
however, and the bill, with interest, now
amounts to $14, $50. Mr.. Greenwalt, Mr..
Henricks said, was recently sued for his
share, and judgment was secured. A COM
promise was afterward made by the Finance
Committee whereby he was to pay 1000
and the Heirs Island yards $500. The
former has paid his sh re, but the latter
bill is still hanging fire.
From this and the combing down which
Dr. Clifford got in the Finance Committee
the reformers have formed the conclusion
that the city wa.chdogs are disposed to let the
discoveries of the auditors slide quietly by.
The work of the auditors ends when q re-
port is made to Councils, and it is then for
the Finance Committee to make collections.
Secret of the Committee War.
There is little objection to the settlement
of the bills against the stock yard COM
panies, but the reformers are afraid it will
be precedent which will be used to let
down Mayor Wyman when their claims
against him are ready for collection. 1t is
asserted that they will be about 81, ,00O
Whatever other proceedings are taken will
emanate in the Citizens Reform Associa-
tion, but deficiencies, if any, will be col
lected by the Finance Committee, which is
already charged with having a coat of
whitewash in stock for the accused officials.
Wertheimer, of the Finance Committee,
that the compromise with the stockyard
companies was made previous to the time
the Auditing Committee reported. This
Mr.. Henricks denies, and says that steps
were not taken by the Finance Committee
until September 8, while the Auditing
Committee reported August 4. Mr.. Vert
heimer also gives as an explanation for
the settlement that the money could not be
collected, and that a compromise was made
as q good business move.