Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-02
BIGEL0W IS AHEAD.
BlaIter Takes Revenge on the Mayor
and Turns Out the Light
HE HAD ANOTHER BID HANDED In.
The Chief Will To-Day Let the Contract
Over Gourleys Head.
CITY HALL LIGHTED BY TALLOW DIPS

Controller Morrow's fight on electric
lighting at City Hall eliminated yesterday
in the shutting off of every light in the
building. Superintendent Blaxter, of the
Allegheny County Light Company, called
at the Hall earlo in the morning and had an
interview with the Mayor regarding his
veto of the company's bill, asking what OBJ
lection he had to paying for the light fur
nished in April.
81 have none at ALL" answered His
Honor. "You are entitled to your money;
but this matter has been annoying US tor
some time and 1 had no way of bringing it
to an issue until this resolution came before
me. 1 deemed it only the proper thing to
bring it to public attention. The city's Off
GERS must, if can compel them, utilize this
$4,000 worth of free gas each year. If it is
impracticable TO use 1t in the City Hall, and
i think it at least disagreeable light where
light is needed all day long, then some other
means of utilizing it must be adopted. 1t
could be used on the back alleys where gas
oline lamps are used now in the lower part
OF the city and in the market house, but un-
til some such step is taken l will oppose in
every possible way the burning of any other
light in this building or paying for any,"
The Mayors manner was determined and
his Ian, uage emphatic. Mr.. Bla1ter agreed
that his position was right and said he had
simply called to ascertain what his company
had better do.
I'VE don't want the contract for lighting
either this building or the market house."
continued Mr. Blaxter, because we lose
money on them. 1t has cost us consider
able more than $1,000 year to light this
building, and We could not get more, so L
am glad of an opportunity to close the
thing mp. 1 will have our lamps taken out
at once and that will end the matter"
Turned Of Every Light.
The Superintendent was as good as his
word as far as shutting off the light was
concerned. Twenty minutes after he left
the hall every light in the building went
out 1t was nearly an hour atterward be-
lore any of the clerks or officials knew the
cause. The clerks in the dark rear offices
sat at their desks waiting tor the light to
return, supposing that, as is frequently the
case, the current had been shut off Temporal
rily at the works and would be turned on
again at any moment Controller Morrow
was as much surprised as anyone else. His
Office is the darkest in the building and he
was in the act of signing the warrants for
the monthly pay roll when the light went
out He sat in his chair in the darkness,
cussing gently at being delayed in his work,
until finally, growing too impatient to con-
tain himself, he rushed to the telephone
and rang up the light company.
What's the matter with the light at City |
Hall?" he exclaimed. |
''shut off," was the laconic reply.
what for?''
Don't pay"
''How long is this nonsense going to last?"
was the next query.
Until the city pays her bills, guess
the man at the other end
The truth dawned on the Controller then ]