Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-31
COMMON COUNCIL WORK.
Rights Of Way for a Street Railroad Raisel
a Breeze-Snakes and Rats Drawn Into
the Discussion-The Carnegie Library
Strikes n Snag,

Rights of Way for a Street Railroad Raises
a Breeze-Snakes and Rats Drawn Into
the Discussion-The Carnegie Library
Strikes snag.
Common Council commenced its delibera-
tiOns by taking up the Suburban Rapid
Transit Street Railway ordinance.
J. E. Finn said the railway was intended
to bring the Southside closer to the country
around Whitehall.
II. Ferguson-I want rental placed on
every car run, or if that can't be done, /
want the company forced to keep the streets it
uses in good repair. All the roads in the city
should pay Tor their privileges. The city has
given up every street worth calling a street to
railways and she gets 81 900 a year for it while
vehicles pay s45 600 year for the right to use
the streets and then have to get out of the way
of every car that comes along. I think it's
time to draw the line.
Flinn-Irs wrong to pick out a new and
small road to tax. This road will use but little
| of the city streets and will not pay dollar
until the country back of the Southside is built
| up. This road is necessary for the relief of the
workingmen OF the Southside who cannot
| afford TO pay the steep prices for real estate
| now demanded within the city limits. They
| have got to go outside to get houses
Chairman Holliday-The general ordinance
the tracks and one foot on each side. think
| this answers the objections Of the gentleman
| (Mr. Ferguson.)
Farguson-I am not opposed to this ordi-
| nance in particular. 1 heard the DEVELOPMENT
| argument about the East End, but after the
roads were built the dividends came at once.
Flinn-I have no personal interest in this
| road. and / cannot find any snakes in the ordi-
| nance. The gentleman is acting as he always
| does when any railway ordinance comes up,
The mere mention of a railway Is obnoxious TO
| the gentleman.
Southside Whisky and Snakes.
Ferguson-I did not say anything about
snakes nor did see any. Perhaps the quality
of the Southside whisky
Chairman Hollday-The gentleman will
come to order and speak to the question
| Ferguson-1 did not raise the question of
snakes. The people who are building this road
expect returns from it, They won't run it for
| nothing.
road runs through, and anyone who has the
| heart 10 build it should be encouraged.
| ODonnell-Do We know that the general
street railroad ordinance will hold any railway
company
Magee-Mr. Chairman. there is nothing be-
| fore the house but the call Of the roll
The ChaIr-The gentleman from the Six
| teenth ward TO- O'DoDnelD is in order.
| ODonnel-How do we know that the gen.
era street railroad ordinance is coustitu tional?
Just at this point Mr.. M agee made a remark
| i'll,
cit NAV be rars, as stated by the gentleman
from the Fourteenth ward, (Magee), but it is a
proper question to raise at this time"
The ordinance was passed by a vote of Is to
s. Messrs. Ferguson, King. MCGUIRE, O'Don-
| nell and President Holiday voting in the mega
| tive.
Wanted an Old Ordinance Revived.
The ordinance regulating the awarding of
contracts was taken up. Mr. O'Donnell held
that the old ordinance passed before the new
charter went into effect still held good, but was
| informed that that measure would not be legal
now. Mr.. ODonnell then objected to the bids
being opened by the chief of each department
alone.
Magee-Tne bids are to be opened in public.
and the gentleman can be present at every ses
o'Donnell--win the chiefs send me notice of
| every session.
Magee-oh, no; but you can stay here all the
time. No one will stop you.
Ferguson-Too much power is given the
chiefs. There are too many chances to tamper
with the bids. If the bonds of the past few
years we're examined 1t would be found that
there are more straw bonds than good ones
The ordinance was parsed by a vote of 81
ayes TO 2 nays, Messrs. Ferguson and O'Don-
nell voting in the negative.
Mr.. Magee, from the Finance Committee,
presented the sinking fund ordinance as pre-
viousIy published. Mr.. ODonnell said it was
ellis for years. 1t was passed unanimously.
Mr.. Ferguson presented resolution request
ing the City Treasurer to extend the time for
the end Of April. The Chair ruled it out of Of
order, and Mr.. Ferguson managed to say that
he had presented the resolution by request
izing the erection of the Carnegie buildings at
Schenley Park, and moved for the suspension
Of the rules. Mr.. Bigham objected and the
vote being taken there were 20 ayes and IL
noes As a three-quarter vote was required
the resolution failed for want Of legal ma.
iorfty.