Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-24

Ferguson-If their Councilmen had been
attending to business it would. Here we are
going to give $4,000 to the electric light COM
panies, and the city is no better lighted than it
was several years ago. We ought to own our
own plant.
Advised Keating Not to Laugh.
Ferguson (continuing)-The Mayors veto is
a sensible and well prepared paper. oh, you
need not laugh (referring TO Mir. keating, who
was smiiing). Everyone here seems to have a
drawn sword for H. l. GourleY. I do not know
why: he's good friend to the taxpayer.
J. Z. Flinn-I have no doubt Mr.. Ferguson
lives in one of the well-lighted portions of the
city. The increase of SS5OOO for electric lighting
was demanded by the Southside. There is an
item of 100000 for free bridges. Why
doesn't the gentleman kick at that? Why not
vote US out of the city?
Ferguson-The gentleman misunderstood
me. l refer him to the Eighteenth ward.
There's not an electric light in il.
Flinn-You ought to have them.
Ferguson-I don't ask you for them.
Mr.. Magee took the floor. and stated that of
the money appropriated 81, zS3. 800 had to be ex-
pended for education, fire. police, charities and
other matters which could not be lodged.
Then he presented paper which the clerk
read, as follows:
The Position of the City.
"In the recent decision of the Supreme
Court that body holds that the city is liable for
the street improvements made under the acts
of 1857 and 1889, and that they are unable to
furnish the city any relief, as the Legislature is
the only body that can do so. And. further,
that they had hastened their decision so that
the Legislature might. during its present ses-
sion, have an opportunity to do SO.
acting on this suggestion the Finance Com
mittee and the Councils have estimated that
under the curative legislation so suggested that
rPraivP assessments
properties benefited a sum appro1imating the
appropriations made necessary by the Supreme
Court decisions. Now it is held by the Con-
troller aud the Mayor that these estimates will
not materialize in the shape of actual money
during the fiscal year.
Now, MIR. President. even if this should
prove to be true, the reductions which can be
made in next years appropriations on this
account are the amounts included in appro-
priations n Nos. 81 SO and 40 aggregating S247 III
and the appropriations to the public parks will
be at least Sl26S0l 40 below that of the present
year. If nothing at all should be received from
the street assessments, the highest deficiency
claimed will be more than met by reduction
of appropriations already in sight without IN
crease of the tax levy or amount of money
raised by taxation. While if the reasonable
expectations of the Finance Committee are
realized by the receipt of the money estimated
to be received from this source there
equivalent 10 at least l mill. AS to the
particular items in the appropriation
ordinance objected to by the Mayor, l believe
them to be right and for the benefit of the
community, and for these reasons, MIR. Presi-
dent. L shall vote to pass the ordinance not
withstanding the objections of the Mayor"
Put to a Vote.
Mr.. Russell said that, in view of Mr. Bige-
lows statement that the money for parks was
not 10 be paid ont until ordinances were passed
authorizing the same. he would prefer to wait
until the law is passed, and he would therefore
vote to sustain the veto.
A call for a vote was made, and those voting
to pass the ordinance over the Mayors veto
were as follows:
Mcssrs. Arngloch, Bigham, Brown. Williams,
Crawford, Donley, Delancey, Dunn, Elliott. Ertz-
man. Finn. Fox. Gala CHER. tiroetzinger, Jar
rctt- Johnston, Kelly, King. Larkin. Lowrv
gle, O'Conner, Pitcairn. Pftifer, Shannon. Stew
art Iaggart, poCL, Wallace, Wilson. Wright
President Holiday. Total, 36.
Those voting against the passage were:
Messrs: Brewster. Ferguson, Metcalfe o'Don-
nell and Russell. Total S.
Mr., Magee offered resolution extending the
time for payment of city taxes at per cent dis
count from March 81 to April 10, which was
passed, after which Council adjourned.