Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-25
SEEKING FOR VOTES.
City Attorney Carnahan'S Trip
Through the Slate to Secure
SUPPORT FOR THE STREET BILLS.
Curative Legislation Which May Prevent
Future Trouble.
FRAISE FOR THE BOARD OF VIEWERS

Assistant City Attorney T. d. Carnahan
left for Harrisburg last evening, his pockets
bulging with copies of the six bills which
are expected to get the city out of the hole
into which it was cast by the Supreme
Court. The action of the Legislature upon
these bills is given in the telegraphic COL
umns of this issue. AT Harrisburg Mr..
Carnshan will meet City Attorney More
land, who has been spending several days in
the Quaker City for the purpose of convinc-
ing the Philadelphians that the proposed
legislation will not affect them.
Mr.. Carnahan returned 10 Pittsburg yes
terday from a trip TO several of the third
class cities of the State, among others Erie,
where he WAS showing the officials that
Justice Williams decision affects their
municipalities as much as it does Pitts
burg, and obtaining pledges of support for
the bills drafted by Messrs. Watson and
Rodgers. His trip was highly successful,
and he returned assured of the passage OF
the bills. Chief Bigelow is also in harris
burg.
A Legislative Cure-An.
The curative act, which is expected to
authorize the city to collect for street i'm
lrovements already made or in progress, is
the one around which the most interest ceu-
ters in Municipal Hall. This bill. in the
opinion of some legal gentlemen who have
examined it, Is not only worded In a manner
to meet the present exigencies, but will OBJ
viate any such trouble in the future. For
instance, if the curative act becomes a good
passed in the future are declared unconsti-
tutional, the cost OF the work performed
under tuese later street acts can be collected
by virtue of the curative act. On the other
hand, Controller Morrow, who knows some
law doubts if the curative act Will be so
fdr-reaching and thinks it will apply simply
10 the present dilemma.
The proposed street acts provides for the
appointment OF viewers by court, which is
simply a return ID the old street law. The
assessments will still be made on the basis
Of benefits and damages.
An Expeditions and Economical Board.
Mayor Gourley, while conceding that the
Supreme Court is the sole Judge OF the
coustitutionality OF the Board of Viewers,
now de:unct, thinks the appointment OF
viewers on each and every improvement by
court, will be both expensive and cum
brous.
There is no doubt" said His Honor,
that the methods of the old Board of
Viewers were both expeditions and econom-
lcal. The members of the board were ex-
perieHced, knew the value of city property
and how it would be benefited by improve
ments, and performed their work without
waste of time When the matter of street
improvements is settled by the courts the
costs and lees of attorneys will run up into
large sums, which will have to be liqudated
by the property benefited. 1t Will take
much longer. too, to secure an improvement,
than ii did under the law which the Supreme
Court declared unconstitutional.
IF the Engineering Bureau is abolished
1t will add expense 10 the making of an i'm
plovement This bureau has plans which
il would take a hrst-class engineer six
months to prepare. The bureau contains
data which is the work of years. and would
have to be obtained by the viewers before
they could determine what property was
benefited, especially in the matter of
sewers"
Chester Didn't Go Far Enough.
The success OF the city of Chester in OBJ
tanning curative legislation, when, several
years ago, it got into the same dilemma as
Pittsburg is now, is given as assurance
that it will be successful in the present
instance.
One of the city's legal advisers said yes
terday: THE reason Chester's street i'm
provements have been at a standstill for
several years is this: When that city's street
act was knocked out and the municipality
was rendered liable for large sums OF money
due contractors, the officials went to the
Legislature tor an act to help them out of
the financial quagmire Having gotten out
Of the hole, they went no further, perhaps
fearing that they might 60 in over their
heads again. They virtually said to the
people-'You were not satisfied with the best
we could give youJ now you can prepare an
act to suit yourselves or wade through mud
They have been wading in mud ever since"