Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-16

these companies and became the contracts
between the companies and the city say:
"And covenanting that any failure to com
ply with the terms hereof shall at the option
of the city work r. revocation in the priv
ileges herein granted"
The terms of these ordinances have not
been complied with in many particulars,
and Councils can at any time declare the
PRIVILEGES forfeited and proceed to sell
these privileges for term OF years at an
annual rental proportionate to their value.
Under present circumstances Councils can
compel these companies to pay up or vacate.
Bnt if these resolutions are passed all the
violations and villainies OF tho past are
compounded, and the city is barred from
getting any compensation for these i'm
mensely valuable franchises.
Criticising the City Solicitors Opinions.
1t is true that the City Solicitor has given
an opinion unfavorable TO some OF the
claims of the city, but when was the City
Solicitors opinion ever favorable to the city
when the contest was with parties or cor
porations having political influence? Has
not the opinion of the City Solicitor, when
coupled with his associations with repre-
sentatives of the street railway companies
and the support he received from the
friends of the street railways when n candi-
date for Office, raised doubt in your minds
that the opinions have not been given with
u sole regard for the interests of the city?
Is it not true that on Il Sunday, the day be-
fore the meeting OF the caucns which named
the solicitor, that our solicitor went to the
house of one OF the street railway directors,
and that after that interview received the
support of friends of the street railway
companies?
This and other matters of common rumor
should be considered in weighing these
opinions.
body can afford to vote for these resolutions.
or that our Mayor can afford to sign them
without risking the loss of the confidence
and respect of the people of this city. wish
1INi ALI tn fhn nnrEn nf
gross negligence and dereliction
Of duty as applied TO Councilmen
reason to believe until the inVestls9tions fii % OF
troller had been guilty of gross negligence
and dereliction of duty and this accusatton
should not stand against the Counctlmen
except those who voted to 1ndorse ana re-
ward by re election to responsible Office th
official guilty of the gross negligence and
dereliction OF duty.
The Company's Former Offer.
"Does the gentleman wish to file his phil
ippic, or does he make it part of his re-
marks?" the Chairman asked.
sTt's nv remarks" replied DR.. Clifford.
DIR. Clifford then called attention to the
assertion that the Manchester Company
had once offered to pay S11, 500 for what the
city now proposed to accept $4,000. This
was new feature to many of the members,
and there was O demand to know when this
offer had been made.
The CITY Solicitor was then called in, but
DR.. Clifford objected to any speeches.
Mr.. Elphinstone was admitted, however.
He was pale with feeling, but was deliberate
and careful.
Solicitor" said Mr.. Kennedy, 81 do not
know whether you heard the charges"
'I heard part" Mr.. Elphinstone broke
in, ''of the most villainous libel ever made
in a public organization. Such statements
could only come from heart that is cor
rupt and rotten"
DIR. Gilliiord was on his feet in an instant.
"NIr. Chairman, 1 object 1 will not sit
here and listen to that" he shouted.
Mr. Elphinstone stopped when DR.. Gilli-
ford began, and. leaning over the clerk S
desk, waited until the objection was made.
Then in an easy tone he answered: "Oh,
I'll say more than that before am through
with YOU"
''The Solicitor don't understand what
said," the doctor answered. "I siad," pick
ing up his paper as though to read from it.
Mr. Kennedy raped him down. II
asked you to file your paper and you
wouldn't do it. You can't read it again.
Denounced as an Infamous Lie.
MI. Elphiustone continued: "I'll keep
he said. 81 will not insult this council.
1 don't propose to descend to Billingsgate
and libel. The best thing for me to do is
to consider the source of this most infamous
lie. The statements of fact are true, the in
ferences drawn are false and could be drawn
only by a conscience corrupt. 1haVe never
had an nything to do with libel suits unlike
the gentleman from the Sixth ward, but I
may have to figure in one now. The state
ments made have come with bad grace from
a man whose seat should be declared vacant
and who only prevented it from being de-
clared vacant by the meanest act man ever
made to keep seat in public assembly. y
DR.. Clifford was on his feet angry and
determined. He broke in again:
'"That is a lie, that is lie," he cried.
Mr.. Kennedy with his gavel raped the
member from the Sixth ward to order and
quelled the noise that began to buzz about
the room. "The City Solicitor has not
crossed the parliamentary line. You will
have chance to answer him." he said.
Mr.. Elphinstone continued: 81 am sorry
touched the gentleman where he is raw.
But we all know about these things, and it is
not necessary to refer to them. In city
where I have lived and practiced law for
years, where 1 am known, in a county
where 1 took my professional oath as an
attorney, L can not be expected to say
much to such charges. With the gentle
man from the Sixth ward it is case of
little learning being a dangerous thing.
He decided the question of the stock
dividend promptly and has not changed his
opinion.
Fell Back Upon the Law.
cat first blush thought the point good
But 1 hunted up authorities, 1 sought
books. consulted better, older attorneys,
and came to the opinion that there was no
case in it. In three other cases the city is
concerned in about street railways 1 differ
with some who hold the city has no case,
and gave my opinions in these cases to
your committees.
Mr. Fielding-Mr Elphinstone, was this
your honest opinion? Personally believe
it was, but ask the question to give you a
chance of answering
Mr. Elphlnstone smiled as he replied:
eyes, it was my honest opinion. There are
questions of fact and questions of law. I
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