Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-10
SUPERVISION OF AWARDS
Is What His Honor Believes the Law
Has Intended for Him.
CHEF ELLIOT SELECTS A FARM.
A Suitable Tract Secured for Much Less
Than Its Former Price.
DoINGS OF THE LOCAL LAW MAKERS

days meeting was chiefly centered about
two papers. One was an ordinance in refer
ence to the powers of the Mayor and pro-
vided for q supervision on his part Of the
contracts awarded by the chiefs Of depart
ments. The other was the report of Chiei
Elliott on his selection of new Poor Farm.
The former paper was heralded in Select
Council by a long communication from
Mayor Gourley on the subject. He SET
forth the necessity of having specified by
ordinance the true extent of supervision
of all the department." as expressed in the
city charter. He held that he had the right
to supervise the awarding of contracts for
department supplies and asked that this be
granted him by ordinance. He also held,
that as Mayor, he was the proper person to
receive all complaints from the people and
direct the heads Of departments to investi-
gate and abate any violation of law that
may exist The Mayors letter was as fol-
lows:
Necessity of a Change.
To the President and Members of Select and Com
mon Council:
GENTLEMEN-I deem it my duty in the in
terest of the public to respectfully call your
attention to a matter which appears to me
of vital importance as touching the efficient
government OF our city.
In order to explain its relation and char
acter reference to our present charter be-
comes necessary, to the end that the mat
ter may be readily understood.
The Constitution of the State prohibits
special legislation relating to private cor
porations and other matters, as well as to
cities nj the Common wealth.
The Legislatu has passed general law
for the organization of private corpora tions,
and prescribed n brief form of four or five
requisites which must be complied with be-
fore letters patent will issue giving the cor
poration its life under these requisites. Un-
der the letters patent the corporation has
full power and authority to adapt Its charter
to its business and to carry on the purposes
OF its creation, by its bylaws changing them
at any time to suit its wants and con-
venience.
Our municipal charter is of similar char
acter The form of government, simple in
its nature, embodied in this charter, is given
by the Legislature, and with the authority
to adapt it, bylaws called ordinances, to all
the requirements and necessities of the peo-
pie of the city. Under it a more efficient gov
ernment can be obtained than that enjoyed
by any city of any different class in the
State. Under it we have:
First-The Legislative body to enact ordi-
nances.
Second-The departments to attend to the
defined severally in the fifteenth, sixteenth
and seventeenth sections of the charter.
Third-The Mayor to supervise and ap-
prove the legislation of Councils, and to
supervise the different departments and
direct their officers within their duties under
the law ard ordinances.
What the Mayor Should Know.
It is very apparent that no proper super
vision can be had, and few directions can be
given to the officers, unless specific informa-
tion in relation to the business of the de-
partments be brought to the knowledge Of
the Mayor.
Your honorable bodies have not as vet
enacted any ordinance prescribing the
duties of the different departments in rela-
tfon to this supervision and direction. I
you most respectfully and urgently to enact
such laws regarding these duties as may be
required to fully perfect the efficiency of the
city government. Each one OF these differ
ent branches of the government is essential
to the other, and they are all of vital neces-
sity to the welfare of the city. Unless,
Serefore, provision is made by Councils de-
inning the duties OF the heads of departments
to the Mayor that officer will remain power
less to discharge in a satisfactory or efficient
manner his duty to the city, and the section
the Mayor, will continue practical nutllity
The efficiency of the different departments
and the integrity with which the duties are
discharged are directly involved in this
right of supervision, and this right ana duty
are as directly delegated to the Mayor by
the charter as is the legislative power to
Councils.
/ would, therefore earnestly and respect
fully suggest that your honorable bodies
make provision requiring that all estimates
for the wants and supplies of the several de-
partments all plans and specifications for
work OF materials, and for the purchase Of
property, apparatus etc., shall be submitted
and reported by the different departments
for inspection and supervision by the Mayor
before advertising for bids or proposals
While such a provision would in my judg-
ment be in strict accord with the spirit of
the charter, it would tend to preclude the
might deprive the city of the advantage of
the lowest responsible bidder for the work
or materials which might be required. 1t is
also the duty of Councils under the charter
to provide by ordinance method of hearing
complaints from the public.
Would Bring Better Government
If provisions were made by Councils re-
quiring all complaints OF the public to be
made to the Mayor, under suitable rules and
regulations to be established by him then
the city government would be aided and
assisted by the whole people who maintain
the government and in whose interest it is
administered. Under such an arrangement
any direction of duty on the part of any
officer, any nuisance in a neighborhood, any
breach of the laws, such as selling liquor
without license, or gaming, or keeping dis
Mayor, who could have the proper investi- |
CATION made and suitable action taken in |
relation to the violation of the law, without
inyo living the party making the complaint:
With such an ordinance, the efficiency and |
OF the departments would be per-
fected. Without it the forces of the depart |
ments are disorganized, their unity is de-
stroyed, and the power of the governments |
itself becomes in a measure parslyzed and \
Inefficient. |
The people at large are not familiar with |
the powers and duties of the several depart |
ments and their multiplied bureaus, and |
when they have a complaint to make they |
can hardly be expected to know the proper |
officer to whom to present their grievances. |
In consequence of this lack of knowledge |
they are very frequently directed from place |
to place until they become weary in a vain |
attempt to find the officer in charge of the |
matters concerning which their complaints |
are made. They do know, however, that |
the Mayor is the head of the municipal gov |
and they naturally come to him, |
feeling that he he is the officer to whom they
of which they complain. This supervisory |
and directory power in the Chief Executive |
is the keystone in the arch Of the city gov
ernment which gives IL drmness and ef- |
fciency. Respectfully submitted,
H. 1. GoURLEY, Mayor,
The message was read in both branches |
In Select, after it had been been received |
and filed, Mr.. Warmcastle presented an
ordinance containing the provisions asked
for by the Mayor. Re ordinance reads:
The Ordinance in Full.
To perfect the efficiency of the different de-
partments of the city government pre-
scribing the duties OF the heads of depart
ments relative to the general supervision
thereof by the Mayor, and the direction by
him of the officers thereof within their
duties under the law and ordinances, and |
prescribing the mode OF receiving COM |
plants of the public.
Section l-Be it ordained and enacted by
he city Of Pittsburg in Select and Common
,x,,ile lod arnd ia harahxr |