Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-25
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
PITTsBURG, WEDNESDAY. MAR. 25. 1881
THE NEW CURATIVE BILLS.

THE NEW CURATIVE BILLS.
The greatly discussed new curative
legislation is now before the Senate, and
the leading provisions thereof are given in
this mornings DISPATCH. How some oi
these provisions are to work out in detail
cannot be grasped at first glance where
there is such a multiplicity of them; and
besides there is the Supreme Court still sit
ting up aloft to keep watch over the consti-
tutional and technical questions which in
these days of intricate law making no Or
binary lay mind may fully comprehend.
But the general features of tine situation
are clear enough TO warrant plain opinions
on the subject. As to the necessity of a
curative bill to provide a legal system
for future improvements in place of the
Illegal system which has just been knocked
out all are agreed. The text of the measure
Just offered at Harrisburg seems to travel
closely on the lines of the old law, except
ing where it calls for majority in interest
10 petition for Improvements in place of the
one-third interest which was formerly allow
able, and the precautions which are taken
very elaborately to insure property owners
their fall constitutional rights in the courts.
As We have said, there must be some law
for future work. This seems to follow the
suggestions of the Supreme Court, and will
doubtless be passed without objection.
The second bill, which is more particu-
larly designated as curative" aims to deal
with past and suspended Improvements. 1t
practically tries to place the cost of the dis
puted pavements on the property abutting
and benefited. There is no question that in
plainest equity there is where the cost
rightly belongs. But there is serious doubt
whether the Supreme Court will sustain
this curative act in view of the expressed
language of the late decision that the bur-
den would have to be met by general taxes
on account Of the irregularities at the incep-
tion of the work. There is also to be counted
upon the prejudice against retroactive leg
islation, besides the well-known opposition
of Governor Pattison to the principle upon
which these improvements were ordered. 1t
seems probable that even if the act is passed
another Supreme Court deliverance will be
asked for its construction.
The next most important of the bills is
the one allowing the city authorities to
issue, wheE in their judgment occasion
arises, per cent interest bearing negotiable
obligations of the city. This will be gener-
ally and justly regarded as the most OBJ
jectionable and dangerous of the city meas
ures now at Harrisburg. The vote of the
people, of course, if provided for in the bill,
will be a salutary check But on the
whole, the principle of running into a fresh
lot of interest-bearing Indebtedness at
time when the city is getting out of that
class of debt is open to the gravest objec-
tions, which will be fully discussed later
on. Serious complications and heavy losses
have resulted to municipal corporations in
the past, our own included, from loose
handling and loose powers in issuing such
obligations.
Finally, as for the bills curing the ilregu-
larities in the departments, they appear to
be required if the Government under the
new charter is to go on. 1t is equally in
place to say that it is not improbable the
next serious demand for curative" legisla-
ton as 10 these departments is more likely
to come from the taxpayers of the city than
from the officials themselves, unless dispo-
sition to reform in matters OF fiscal policy be
more or less speedily evidenced.