Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-09
FIGHTING OVER TAXES
Allegheny Councilmen Struggling to
Reduce the Millage.
LIGHT TOWERS ALLOWED TO STAND
A Very Stormy All-Day Session of the
Finance Committee.
SOME ESTIMATES ARE BADLY sLAsHED

| Allegheny Finance Committee met yes
terday afternoon at o'clock and continued
in session until after II o'clock at night,
when an adjournment was taken until Mon
! dav evening. The work before the body
was consideration of the estimates of the
various departments, of the money neces-
sary to run the city during the year-March
1, 1892, to February %, 1893.
The, estimate of Chief Murphy, of the
Department of Public Works, was the first
taken up. The estimates for the Depart
ment of Public Safety in the various bu-
reaus show: Fire, S144, 993 20; police, S114,-
oil; health, s1O,75O: electricity, s11,54O,
and general Office, $4,000; total of $685.
794 TO-
Never Singed the Fire Bureau.
In considering the needs of the Fire
Bureau and of the estimate offered, dis
cussion arose and terminated in an increase
of the amount asked. This increase was
upon that asked for the establishment of the
new hose carriage houses. In place of CIV
ing S9,732 80 for each, as was asked, $4,000
was given. In the Bureau of Police STA, OIL
was asked.
In the Bureau of Electricity, 81, $40 was
the sum requested The salaries aggre-
gated 81 200: new patrol boxes, 81, ,O5O; new
fire boxes. g., 500; supplies, 81, SIS.
All of these estimates were approved.
The following communication from
Mayor Wyman was read:
I desire to call your attention to the
necessity of appointing three or more police
city charter, and would be plea sed to have
you include in your annual appropriation
at least 5000 as salary tor three police
magistrates. Trusting you will take favor
aDle action on this matter, am yours re-
spectfully, JAMES G. WYMAN, Mayor"
This communication was laid on the table
and no action taken, although it provoked
considerable discussion. Mr.. Lewis claimed
that additional station houses were neces-
sary, as were also additional police magis-
trates, and that the law in that respect
should be observed. Mr.. Henderson said he
thought such legislation ill-advised as far as
Allegheny was concerned, and that it would
be preposterous to appoint additional police
magistrates, because all they could do would
be to sqeeze money out of vags and be gen.
orally useless. The city, He said, was
adapted to better legislation. AS result
of this debate the message was received and
filed.
The Light Towers Will Stand.
Immediately after the question of light
ing was incidentally brought up and the do
ing away with the towers was considered.
Mr. Gerwig believed the towers gave salts
faction and claimed if they were taken down
from three to five times as many mast arms
would be needed and this would be a use
less expense.
Mr.. Wertheimer thought that it was folly
to think of abolishing the present system of
lighting.
DR.. Clifford asked whether the present
lighting was up to the expected require
ments. Mr.. Hunter replied that it was not,
but that it gave general satisfaction.
The estimates for the Department of Pub
lie Works was then taken up. The appro-
priation asked was large, and among the
items covered were Bureau of Engineering
and Surveys, SIS, ,120; water distribution
and supplies, $3.50, 200; water assessment,
$1,000; public lighting, s5s, 1856; parks,
S25, 900; roads, S25, 900; property, SIs 600 33;
wharves and landings, So, ,5S5; library, S1o,-
$50 so; sewers and highways, S114, 900; new
streets, $4,000; old streets repaired,
$40, 1000.
mates The request for S25, S07 for 30-inch
main from the basin to Howard street was
refused. For water pipe extension S37 900
was asked. 1t was reduced to S35, 900;
$1,000 was given for smoke consumers in
stead of the request for $1,000, and the
proposition of erecting tank on Troy H,ll
to cost SO, 900 was knocked but, as was also
that referring to the employing of two or
more additional plug inspectors at 81, $50.
Where All the Water Was Squeezed Out.
In the water department::S226, ,655 Sc was
asked. A deduction was made amounting
to SIG, S15 81, leaving a total of S179, $40
This was all that was considered of the
estimates of the Department of Public
Works, on account of the lateness of the
hour and the committee adjourned until
Monday evening For lighting S75, S35 was
asked, but only S5S, 335 was granted, S17, 500
being cut off by the refusal to grant so
additional mast arms In the library de-
partment So, 1000 is asked for salaries and
new books.
In considering the question of the appro-
priation for the extension of water pipe, in
which S37 900 was asked, proposition was
made that this be cut down to S25, 900. This
stirred up considerable feeling.
Mr.. Espy claimed with considera-
BILE warmth that such policy
was poor one, that the Tenth ward, where
the benefit was supposed to go, needed
water extension and had every right to |
claim it. Several other speeches were
made and the appropriation was cut only |
s., 600.
An adjournment was then taken until |
Monday, when the Market, Library and |
Charities Departments will be considered.
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