Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-19
he Was Sure of a Sufficient Major
ity on the Second Ballot and
BOTH HIS OPPONENTS WITHDREW.
Arthur Kennedys Novel Plan for Forming
the Sinking Fund
GERwIG PUTS sonE POINTED QUERIES


votes out of the 16 and that on the second
ballot Thomas, Lapsley supporter, would
cast his ballot for Stevenson. As this gave
the present incumbent sure thing, Miss
Lapsley yesterday withdrew. j. B. Flach,
| the other candidate, discovered he had not
been resident of Allegheny long enough
to comply with the requirements of the
charter ordinance and his name was also
| withdrawn.
Chairman Knox was a much disappointed
man and stated after the meeting that he
had not put Select Councilman Hannah on
any of the sub. committees because he did
not regard him as member of the commit
tee. He declared he was only put there
BY President Lindsay to secure another
vote for Stevenson. He said if it had come
to q close vote he would have refused to
count Hannah.
"Why?" asked City Clerk Dilworth.
Knox Wanted to Rule Hannah Out.
"Because I was not notified of his ap-
pointment on this committee.
81 was notified, replied MI. Dilworth.
ST was not, and would have thrown out
his vote if had to 60 to court for it."
When the meeting was called to order
John P. Ober nominated Mr.. Stevenson and
the nominations were closed. He was
elected bv acclamation. On motion of Ar
thur Kennedy the entire old corps of assist
ants were retained.
The report of Librarian Stevenson for the
period from February 20 to April 16 was
received. It showed the number of books
in circulation in that time to have been
1853.
A communication was received from
Messrs. Chalfant and Walker declining the
appointment on the committee of citizens to
consult with the committee on art in
making selections tor the art gallery.
They stated they believed there were others
more suited for the position than them
selves and they therefore would not serve.
The contract for printing 500 copies Of
the Librarians 8 annual report was awarded
to John Ogden for SAT 23 An application
from Joseph R Orwig, of Harrisburg, for
the position of Librarian was opened. As
the election had been held it was placed on
file.
New sub-Library Committees.
ment of the following subcommittee of the
Library Committee for the ensuing year:
Library-Messrs Mercer Henderson, Elm
stein Lewis and Bucute.
Art-Messrs. Horne. Kennedy. Boutwell,,
ROderick and Thomas.
Lecture Room-Frasher, Lang, schondel-
myer and Oher.
The first named on each committee are the
chairmen.
The committee visited the art gallery and
inspected some pictures placed these by
Artist W., II. Artzberger who desired to
have an exhibition there. On their return
the committee refused to allow the ex-
hibition for the reason that it would injure
the permanent donation of pictures to the
gallery to allow such exhibitions
There was some discussion after the
meeting as to reducing the librarians
salary. The State constitution does not
allow the reduction of public officers
salary during the term for which he is
elected, but a recent Supreme Court deci-
sion states that in municipal Offices the
body creating the Office has power to
change the salary during the term for
which the official has been elected.
Whether this decision applies or not
Councils have the power to turn the libra
rian out if he does not accept the reduction,
SO it is altogether one-sided case.
Anew Feature in City Finance.
The initial meeting of the new Finsn ce
Committee was held last night, and among
other things steps were taken to look after
the commitment fees which figured so prom
inently in the Pearson case. The first food
for a scrap that was tossed into the ring was
the fact that 100000 worth of per cent
city bonds would become due on July l.
They are held by Philadelphia peo-
made for them in the sinking fund,
but as most of the money there was invested |
in per cent interest bearing bonds, Arthur |
Kennedy advanced the idea of issuing $780, |
600 worth of 81 per cent renewal bonds. |
He believed these renewal bonds would be |
accepted by the Philadelphia holders, and |
thus the city would be able to realize Il per |
cent interest on $780, 900 each year. Chair !
man Lindsay, of Select Council, Chairman |
Wertheimer and Mr. Eshelman were all in |
favor of paying off the bonds, as there was
about S4O0, 900 in the sinking fund now and |
it should be used for the purpose it was in
tended. Others held to the interest idea
until Treasurer McFerron said there would |
probably be that amount of uninvested capi-
tai in the sinking fund at that time. Then |
it was decided to pay off the bonds.
The resolution to pay Joseph Hastings,
the contractor for the California avenue |
grading, S22, ,412 shook the bones of the
already feeble contingent fund. This was
part OF the contract money which should
have been paid by the property owners,
but it has not been collected.
The Contingent Fund Nearly Wrecked.
It has to come out of the contingent fund.
This fund only amounted to o$71 900 and now
though only few months of the fiscal year
have elapsed, S33, 900 of it has been ex-
said if this bill was approved it would leave
only SIG, 900 and the Herr's Island bridge,
which was to come out of this fund, would
wipe it out of existence. This started the
inquiry as to what had become of the con-
tingent fund and on motion of Mr.. Gerwig
Brown was asked to furnish an
itemized account at the next meeting. The
resolution on the bill was afirmatively
The matter of police magistrates was
brought up and referred to committee
composed of Messrs. Lewis, Ober, Hender-
son, Thomas and Nesbit, together with the
Mayor and City Solicitor.
An attempt was made to secure a rebate
of $50 on the price paid for Carnegie Hall
by the G. NJ. B. A. on ST. Patrick's Day,
but it was held over. A similar rebate was
asked for by the Ladies of the G. A. R. and
the whole bill was wiped out. A resolution
Welghmaster Dalzell, of
Woods Run, from all charges against him
was afirmativelv recommended.
The other matters were all routine save a
question raised by Arthur Kennedy as to
whether the unfinished business of the old
committee was not properly before the new.
Mr. Lewis declared the City Solicitor had
.uled that all such matters must be pre-
,ented again, while Kennedy and Dahlinger
that ex-City Solicitor Rodgers
,ad ruled to .the contrary, and
t has always been the custom to refer
matters at the end of councilmanic year to
committee in order to keep it alive. A SUBJ
committee was appointed to investigate the