Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-17

both opposed in Common Council by
Messrs O'Donnell and Ferguson. Mr..
O'Donnell presented his $50 tax amend
ment for them, saying: "These companies
pay Allegheny City tax of S35 per car,
but We give them everything they want for
nothing. It's only fair that every railway
company should pay a tax here, as they do
in other cities The amendment was lost
in both cases. There was little or no op-
position in Select Council to either ordi-
nance, while the supplementary ordinance
of the Highland Street Railway Company
went through without dissenting vote.
1t Jared almost as well in the Common
branch.
Vain Hunt for the Owners.
The Exchange Railway ordinance, which
runs from Fourth avenue and Market
street. along Market to Liberty, to Sixth
avenue, to Wood, along Sixth street to
Duquesne way, and thence to Market
street. was bitterly opposed in Common
Council.
Mr. Ferguson-Who owns this road?
Chairman Holliday-I can't say; don't
Mr. Ferguson-It is ridiculous, if the Chair
doesn't know, to ask us to pass this ordt-
nance. He should be our source OF lnforma-
tion. We don't know who is in the COM
pany, yet sit here and vote away to it the
most valuable streets in the city.
Mr.. O'Donnell's $50 car tax ordinance was
offered and provoked long discussion. All
other cities imposed a tax and in some cities
large parks were entirely maintained by the
street car tax. In Pittsburg with nearly
$4,000, 600 debt and excessive taxa
tion something should be exaeted for its
franchises, to lessen the burden on the
people. Mr. O'Donnell also gave lot of
figures showing how local traction companies
had watered the stock to the extent of IS to
81, and inside of three years the new stock
was worth more than par value, and paying
dividends showing they were well able to
pay tax and good one.
Suggesting a General Ordinance.
In order to meet objections raised that it
would be unfair to tax one railway when all
others were untaxed, Mr.. Wright presented
a resolution instructing the Chief of Public
Safety to prepare an ordinance taxing all
street railways not less than $50 per car
each year. "Chief Brown has asked Coun-
ellis to pass such an ordinance on two or
three occasions" said Mr.. Wright, "and
think he is the proper person to prepare it. "
Mr.. O'Donnell here called attention to
and had read an ordinance he had presented
and which provided a tax of $50 per car on
every line in or partly in the city. He said
he was not sure that the tax could be col
lected even ifpassed, but even if it could not
the insertion of the provision in the new
railway ordinances would not do any
damage.
The discussion with the motions to ad- |
iourn, amend, calling of the roll and other
dilatory proceedings lasted over an hour on |
this ordinance, which was finally passed by |
a vote of % TO 8, and Mr. Wright's resolu- |
tion was adopted. Those voting against the |
ordinance were Messrs. Eiler, Ferguson, |
Giltinan, King, McHugh. O'Donnell, Rus |
sell, Stewart and Wainwright.
The ordinance granting an extension of |
time TO the Williamsburg branch of the |
Duquesne line and another allowing the |
Craig street branch to change its tracks
from Bavard to Neville streets were both
passed without much opposition in both
branches.