Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-09
THE PEOPLES VOTES.
J. W. Breen Says an Election Is Not
Req uired to Increase City Debt.
CONTROLLER MORROW'S VIEWS
On the Economy Of Getting Out of Trouble
by Issuing Bonds.
CHIEF J. o. BROWN HOLDS A MEETING

| Ihe question OF whether or not the popu-
lar voice should be heard in the matter of
increasing the city debt to relieve the strain
resulting from the recent Supreme Court
decision on the street laws is just now
| causing considerable conjecture in the minds
of the legal and municipal authorities in
terested. Responsible parties have expressed
| adverse views on the subject, some holding
that the law requires popular vote and
others that 1t does not.
Another serious question is whether it
would be better to issue bonds than certif-
Gates of Indebtedness. Controller Morrow
has expressed himself as in favor of the
former. Mr.. J. w. Breen, who took an
active part in the recent public meetings,
was seen yesterday and asked his views.
DISPATCH Reporter-Why should not
the people be permitted to pass upon al
increase of the city debt as now proposed by
The DISPATCH?
Not Required by the Constitution.
J. w. Breen-For the very obvious rea-
son, as I understand it, that the Constitu-
tion and the act of 1874 do not require it. 1
think the language of the law is sufficiently
clear. Take the act of April q, 1874 and you find
it reads: "The Indebtedness of any county. city,
borough, district, or other municipality or in
corporated district in this Commonwealth may
be authorized to be increased to an amount ex-
ceeding 2 per centum and not exceeding per-
centum of the last preceding assessed valua-
tion of the taxable property therein, with the
assent of the electors thereof duly obtained,
etc.
I'm considering this section several things
are to be consdered: First, present indebted
ness; second, mode of increase; third, assessed
valuation. 1t will be noted that the act refers
to an increase which word has definite and
accepted meaning and obviously refers to an
antecedent debt. The antecedent debt in this
instance is, according to Official data $40 900 OUo
The assessed valuation of Pittsburg, following
the words of the Constitution. is S207 000, 000
Seven per cent of this IS Sl4, 1000 Deduct
the present debt from this and we have 81, 490,-
600, which is the margin the city has yet to go
on before reaching the constitutional limita-
tion of the Indebtedness. On this construction
we may yet add per cent or 81, 10000 to our
present debt and still be SS50,000 within the
constitutional limitation. On this view we can
add the 81 000 900 of street debt under the acts
of 1887 and lSS9 and still be inside the Const-
tuition 249O.OOO SO that In either contingency
the per cent, as indicated by the Constitution,
is not reached.
Not Specified in the Constitution.
ut is contended on the other side that
popular vote could do no harm and that it
slegally required. If this was the view of the
that they failed to make their meaning plain
to courts. fiscal officers, legislators and:lawyers
in this Commonwealth for all the years since
1874 The wording Of tho act declares plainly
enough that it is only when the increase ex-
ceeds per cent that popular vote is required.
If the Constitution and the act of IA insist thas
a popular vote was necessary the word not
would have been likely used before the word
exceeding. As 1t reads at present, the
excess and the increase must be con strued
together. 1t is only when the increase ex-
c,eis per cent that the contingency arises
providing for a popular vote. As l have
shown, the increase IN no event at present will
exceed or even reach the per cent limit, and
hence there is no constitutional requirement to
60 to the people.
"Wnile this seems to me the legal mode and
there are no decisions in this State against this
view, l am free to say that in my judgment Il
would be better for all concerned to subyeS
questions involving such Indebtedness to a
popular vote. 1t would be more in harm ny
with the idea of pcpula: government if all
questions affecting the welfare of the citizen
were more frequently submitted to test,
by we, the people,
Five Questions Asked the Controller.
The following correspondence passed be-
tween Mr.. Breen and the City Controller yes
terday, in which the latter gives his views as
to the best method of raising money for the
payment of contractors and the necessity for a
vote by the people:
PITTsBURe, April s,
E. s. Morrow, Esq, City Controller:
DEAR SIR-As the proposition to issue bonds
instead of certificates has invoked in some
quarters unfair criticism, both as to its general
merits and its constitutionality, would re-
spectfully request reply to the following:
First-Is not the bond proposition an ec0nom-
ical measure for the public!
Second-As between a bond and certificate
which is preferable?
Thirds it not legal to invest the sinking
fund moneys in such bondsP
Fourth-1s popular vote required under the
Constitution to increase our city debt at
present?
Fifth-Is not such bond issue expressly pro-
vided for and legalized by Section TX, Article
g. of the Constitution
A reply will oblige Very respectfully,
J. w. BREEN.
Controller Morrows Reply.