Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-26
MORE BAD EFFECTS.
The Controller Says Street Ordinances
Cannot Be Advertised,
WAITING FOR THE CURATIVE ACT.
Mayor Gcurley and Mr.. Ferguson Have
Doubts on the Park Bill.
WAITING FOR THE CURATIVE ACT.
CITY TAXES BEGINNING TO CONE IN

New phases of the peculiar position In
which the city placed by the overthrow
OF its street laws are developing every day,
and municipal transactions are meeting
with additional difficulties at every turn.
When the City Clerk sent to Controller
Morrow number of recently enacted ordi-
nances, fixing grades and locating streets,
the latter sent back word that he could not
issue the customary orders for the advertis-
lug OF the bills until the Legislature settles
ihe present perpIexing street problem.
"As ] understand the recent Supreme
Court decision" said the Controller, ''the
CITY has no right to pass any ordinances re-
laiing to opening or improving streets in
anv wav, and | will continue to prevent
their being advertised until the Legislature
takes some definite action on the street bills
now before il. We must respect the court"
Fear for the Park Bills.
City officials, as q rule, are confident of
the passage of curative legislation. The
prospects of the public park bills, however,
are rot looked upon as being so bright Coun-
Gilman Ferguson was speaking Of the merits
OF the bin in the Mayors Office yesterday
and said:
The bill intended to legalize the action of
Chief Blgelow in purchasing park property
may pass the Legislature. but / hardly think
that the Governor will sign it. 1t differs from
the proposed curative act, in that the latter
only attempts TO repair the damage of the city
acting under an act of Assembly But in the
park matter Ihere WAS no such act and the point
NAV be raised that il was directly contrary to
uhr act. The advocates of the curative bill can
argue that the city had every reason to believe
il was acting uEder ! Constitutional street law,
while liz the case there no such law. This
j. the opIIion of several gentlemen well yersed
in the law
Mayer Gourley agreed with Mr.. Ferguson on
This pUlrt and apparently has some doubts
about the bill getting through.
Wanting for a Legal Opinion.
City Treasurer Denniston is still In state of
inGccislou about extending the time for pay
ment Of taxes with a discount. He expects to
receive az opinion the question from the
CI:y Attorney to-day, and will act in accord
auCe Uitnl.. II the extension is not MADE
there will he large number who generally pay
IN time lU get the September iHstallment dis
counted who @lll have to pay the full amount.
IAusc Mi.O get their statements and pay by
Checl provided he check is mailed on be-
fore tIie 3sJ INST, will get the discount. All
requests Tor statements are promptly attended
90. "id those who ask Tor them by Monday
n5uran- Will have time tn send IN their checks
helore the expiration of tie month.
he C'ty Treasurer Yesterday received about
siUUUO IN taxes at the desks ia his Office and as
over half the tax books will be III this morning,
to-day expected TO bring in large proper
ton OF the prompt taX-paying citizens. Up 10
the closing hour last evening the assessors had
turned IN the books for the first ten wards also
the Twelfth. Fifteenth. Twenty-fourth. Thirty
iEird aad Ihirty-iOurth wards. The assessors
worked late last night and will have quite q
number of additional books ready this morn
ing Il viii probably require until tomorrow
night 10 finish Up their work.
city Attorney MOre!and Will return from the
last ;his morning and report to the anxious
city cficlllS the result of his etfnrts in Phila-
dc!pEIa and Harrisburg to get the new street
bills intn favor among the Senators and Rep
reseulatiyeS.