Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-29

Controller during the month of November in
each year TO set apart on the books OF his once
the moneys appropriated to the several sinking
funds. and it shall be the duty OF the CITY
Treasurer to deposit the cash balance IN the
several sinking funds
Section con maturity of the loan for the pay
ment of which any sinking fund is pledged the
securities in sucn sinking fund shall be sold for
the purpose of paying such maturing indebted
ness Preference in the matter of purchase OF
such securities shall be given to any other
sinking fund of the city of Pitisburg having
money TO invest. and if there should be any
surplus in such sinking funds after payment of
Indebtedness for which such sinking fund is
pledged, the City Controller is hereby author
lied and directed to transfer the same to
municipal sinking fund.
Section 7-When any sinking fund at time of
maturity of bonded indebtedness for which it
is pledged shall not contain sufficient money to
pay the same. the City Controller is hereby
authorized to apply the money or securities in
the municipal sinking fund or SO much as
turing bonded indebtedness.
Section s-When bonds held by any of the
sinking funds shall mature prior to the matur-
ity of bonds for which such sinking fund is
pledged, the money received for such bonds
shall be placed in the city treasury by the City
Controller to the credit of the sinking fund to
which such bonds belonged.
Chief Elliot Must Find the Farm.
The other ordinance recommended pro-
vides that each chief shall award contracts
for the supplies for his department subject
TO the approval of Councils. The new
charter created a Department of Awards,
composed of the Mayor and the three chiefs,
bus as that was declared illegal yesterdays
action was taken. Under this ordinance the
duty OF selecting a new poor farm will
devolve upon Chief Elliot alone, always
subject to the concurrence of Councils.
These ordinances were at once sent to the
printers, so that they NAV be ready for the
meeting Of Councils tomorrow afternoon.
Controller Morrow is well pleased with
the sinking fund ordinance, as it largely en-
bodies the ideas he has advocated for several
yesrs. An ordinance somewhat similar in
character was defeated in Councils some
yesrs ago. 1t was again presented at the
last regular meeting of Councils, merely to
get the matter Immediately under way. 1t
was referred to the Finance Committee, which
evolved yesterdays legislation from it.
Chairman Magee, fthe Finance Commit
tee. was asked the reason for holding secret
sessions and replied: "Well, think all
committee meetings should be secret. In
this case we expect to have some discussion,
and it is possible that we may send for some
gentlemen to address the committee, and
they might not care to talk for publication"
A little later, during the progress of the
meeting, Mr.. Magee announced that he had
asked PERMISSION oil the committee TO open
the doors, but they had refused.
The Mayor Opposed to Secrecy.
SIT is hardly proper for Council uen, who
are the servants of the people, to take secret
action on the disposition of the millions
turned into the city treasury by their con-
stituents," said Mayor Gourley. every
taxpayer in the city is vitality interested in
the manner in which municipal affairs
are administered, especially when it
relates TO financial matters. They not
only desire to know the conclusions
of their represen tatives, but they desire a
full understanding of the reasoning leading
up to such conclusions. The Finance Com
mittee is the most important of all Council
manic committees, and the public are espe-
cislly interested in its discussions. This is
more particularly true at this time, when
fiscal affairs of the city are in a muddle. |
Every man who owns property is intensely |
anxious to know just how the city is going |
70 get out OF its trouble, because of the ef- |
feet 1t may have upon their holdings.
''In my Is years experience in Councils l |
never knew of any reason for holding secret |
committee meetings. 1 do not approve of |
such secrecy, as 1 believe it is both unneces-
sary and very poor policy"