Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-11
Councilmen Don't Wish to
Act Hurriedly in Return.
ing Carnegie's Gift.
MAY NOT HAVETHE POWER
Since This City Has Already Entered
Into a Contract.
MIGHT REPEAL THE ORDINANCE,
But It Is Not Known Whether That Would
Have Any Effect
NOT POLICY TO DECIDE AT PRESENT

Pittsburg Councils will meet in special
session tomorrow or Wednesday. 1t wa:
reported Yesterday that meeting would be
held to-day, but as none of the member,
had received the customary notice up until
last night it is not believed possible meet
ing can be held before tomorrow.
The special object of the meeting seems to
be the passage of street ordinances ap-
proved by tie Corporation Committee on
Saturday, Improvement ordinances ap-
proved BY the Public Works Committee,
several other measures of minor import
ance and a number of contracts let by the
department chiefs
1t is likely a communication of interest
from the Mayor will be feature of the
meeting, but the most interesting subject at
this time expected will be proposition to
return to Andrew Carnegie the 81, ,00O,00
he gave to the city to be used in erecting a
free library at Schenley Park.
How Councilmen View the Gift.
Various labor organizations have within
the past three days passed strong resolu-
tions demanding that Councils take such ac-
tion, and it was stated yesterday that a
member of councils had already volunteered
to present a resolution to that effect. An
effort was made to find out who the men,
Der was and what the character of the pro-
posed resolution would be, but it proved
Intellectual. In visiting various members of
Councils their opinions were asked as to the
probable fate of such resolution.
Councilman John J. King is enthusiastic
in his support of the measure and says: 81
shall certainly vote to refund the money if
it is possible to do so. 1 am opposed to
raising monuments to Carnegie with money
that represents the sweat of the working
men. 1t would only be erecting a men,
orial to Carnegie which the people
of Pittsburg will literally have to take care
of, while he will get all the glory of it.
The events at Homestead Justify US in re-
turning the money The differences be-
tween capital and labor should be settled in
business-like way, and not by shooting
men down. There is no excuse for bringing
Pinkertons to Homestead and Carnegie de-
serves this rebuke.
King Wants the Money Returned.
f'The library is to be located in Schenley
Park where it will be out of the way of the
working people, and those whom it would
most benefit would not be able to avail
themselves of it. 1t would be good busi
ness move to give the money back, because
the city cannot now really afford to give
the money to keep it, up. 1t is more
needed IN otherdirections"
81 heartily indorse the action of these
workingmen," said Councilman James Nc
Hugh. "In 20 years the city will have as
much money invested in the library as Car
negie, vet the city will get no credit for it.
l saw give it back and in time some one who
is really philanthropic will give us
library. If otherwise we could appropriate
each wear the money it would cost to main
could huild library that belonged to the
people and it would not be an advertise
ment for any particular man."
Councilman Donahue spoke in the same
strain, and said he was willing that the city
should return the money. He did not be-
lieve in building monuments with money
made by cutting down wages of working
men.
Beyond the Power of Councils.
Councilman w. A. Magee, a member of
the Library Commission, took a different
view of the matter, and said he doubted
whether Councils had power to return the
money. Said he: "Councils no longer has
control Of the money. 1t is in the hands
of the Library Commission and Councils
has signed contract to give S40,-
900 year We cannot break the
contract and as Mr.. Carnegie controls
the board, they. will not. They can build
the library, and if the city does not paw
har ipfn NJ do, al
controller, and compel him to pay the
money.
SIT is not a question that should be set
tied just now any way. The entire gift for
the library and the endowment
for an art gallery and museum
amounts to about 81, 100000 No
matter how Mr.. Carnegie got this money,
he has it. If it belongs to the working
people this is good way of getting it
back, ard why not take it"
John s. Lambie, also member of the
commission, said:
Might Repeal the Ordinance.
81 doubt whether the agreement with the
Library Commission can be called a con-
tract Councils could repeal its ordinance
of acceptance, but don't know Just what
effect that would have.
"At all events doubt whether it is adyis-
is too much feeling Just now and this matter
should be done deliberately. The money is
now in the hands of Mr.. Frick as secretary
of the commission"
Select Councilman John Laughran, of the
Thirty-third ward, said that he had not
given the matter any thought and was not
prepared to say what he would do. :'The
sentiment have heard expressed" he said,
sis against receiving the gift, but as to what
/ think, will require some deliberation."
Councilman William holden, OF the
Thirtieth ward, said: ''The idea of erecting
a million-dollar monument to Carnegie will
be a blot on this community forever
Common Councilman Russell and
O'Donnell were both backward about dis
cussing the subject, preferng to think it
over before saying what they would do.
Mr.. o'Donnell's manner suggested that he
was not hostile to such resolution though
he would not talk for publication.
Mayor Gourley also declined to talk but
in response to the direct question, "Would