Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-13

achievements during the past three years.
1t contains some excellent men, to whose in
tegrity and faithfulness would be only too
willing to bear unreserved testimony.
But what / want to bring home to you is
the anomaly that is presented by an officer
who is Superintendent in name but subor-
dinate in fact. He may at intervals go
through the tedious monotony of inspecting
pay rolls and station houses: he may act as
superintendent of dog pound and issue
canine licenses, but from the day you ap-
pointed him to office until this hour
you have never committed to him the duties
which rightfully belong to the head
of the police bereau. If you have just
grounds for withholding from your Superin-
tendent of foi9e the powers duties @ ece ANA
then upon what theory do you justify his
continuance at the head of that bureau? Is
there an explanation, or must the mystery
remain unsolved?
Why are the two most important bureaus
of your department impaired by the incom-
petence of one head and the mastery mac
tivity of the other? The situation is not,
am sure, in harmony with your own convic-
tion, nor has it been forced upon you by the
mandates of the people. The controlling,
irresponsible power is elsewhere, and it Is
for YOU to determine whether or not your
administration of public office shall be regu-
lated in obedience to its behests.
The administration of municipal govern
ment is matter of public interest and
should at all times be open as the day to the
inspection of the people.
About the Rights of the People.
If there is anything wrong with my ad-
ministration of the office which for the
time being hold, the people have right to
know it, and it is my wish that they shall
know it. If there are any defects in the de-
partment over which you have the honor
to preside it becomes my duty as Chief Exc
cutive of this city to bring them to your
notice. You may correct them and you may
not, but in any event the responsibility is
with you.
When assumed the duties of this Office 1
publicly gave solemn pledge that whatever
power and influence might be able to exert
would be used to secure to this city honest
and efficient government To such policy
l committed myself unreseryedly on the
evening of my nomination by the Republi-
can Convention in this hall.
The words then spoken were uttered with
all the earnestness of speech, and the gen.
tlemen who are to-day proclaiming ingrati-
tude from the housetops knew full well that
/ would in good faith endeavor to redeem
have no personal ends to accomplish, no
political aspirations to foster, no ambition
whatever for future office.
My first and only object is to eour city
government administered wisely and in the
interest of the people. If this be ingratitude,
then am an Migrate. If this be treachery,
then have broken my plighted faith. To
this line have tried thus far to hew, some
times in weakness, sometimes discouraged
by the opposition of former friends and the
hostility of secret foes. With personal malice
toward none, but with firm conviction that
over and above the interests of individual
men stand the interests of a great city, I
propose with unfaltering trust to pursue
this course to the end of my official career.
have no desire at this time to prose
cute the study of ancient or medieval his
tory; nor do wish to compile biography, or
trace the history and career of living men
during years that have passed away. What
ever ability and energy may possess pre-
fer to devote to the present hour and its at
tendant duties.
Such an issue is not sought by me; 1t must
ness, forced by others; but if it comes, as
has been publicly announced by those who
speak not for me, shall endeavor to meet
it with becoming dignity and unf1inching
courage. Respectfully yours,
II. l. GoURLEY, Mayor.