Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-22
LIVELY MEETING.
Sharp Tilts Between Mayor Kennedy
and Councilman Nesbit
ON THE WATER IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Bubb Takes Hand in the Fun and
Asserts Himself Very Strongly.
DOESN'T BELIEVE THE WATER IMPURE

| At the special meeting Of the Finance
Committee of the Allegheny Common Coun-
ell held last evening, couple of sharp but
very short tilts occurred between the agi-
tators of pure water system. The
| first was between Mayor Kennedy
| and Mr.. Nesbit. The latter gentle
man objected, to the expenditure of $3.50, 900
on the grounds that there was really no
cholera in the country and he seriously OBJ
| jected to throwing that enormous amount of
money away in any imaginary emergency.
Mayor Kennedy said the cholera was in
the country; that it was no myth and would
in all probability make Its appearance here.
The most important thing, in his opinion,
to be done to improve the health of the city
was to extend the water main up the river
to Herr's Island.
Jumping from his seat Mr.. Nesbit in q
rather excited manner asked the Mayor if
he would be one of ten citizens to give S10,-
900 to stamp out the cholera.
A Pointed Charge.
In the most pointed manner and with
marked emphasis Mr.. Kennedy retorted
that Mr.. Nesbit's question was both silly
and ridiculous, and could only come from a
diseased mind.
In an instant Mr.. Nesbit was on his feet
and in strong terms openly accused the
Mayor of wanting to spend S150,0OO of the
taxpayers money in a job.
Mr.. Gerwig took objection to any such
statement, and stated when the best citi-
zens of Allegheny gathered to take action
on subject it was ridiculous to talk of any
Job.
Mr.. Henderson thought the Councils
should act quickly in behalf of all citizens.
Here the second eruption occurred and was
caused by Mr. E J. Bubb, an ex-Council-
man. who obtained permission to speak.
He said they ought to have some system of
liberation on Herr's Island. If cholera
germs we're in the water they would get
them up as we'll as down the river. "Any
man" he continued, "even if he is q State
health officer, who says from merely look
ing at the river that the water Is impure is
fool" This assertion produced mild SEN
sation in the Council chamber.
Defending the Water.
Mr. Bubb further reiterated his statement
by adding that even though DR.. Lee did
say so, he himself did not believe the water
was impure, and that the proposed expen-
diture would be illegally incurred. He
gave notice that If the taxes were increased
he would not pay the increase, but fight 1t
in court.
The resolution which caused all the fuss
was that for the proposed purchase and lay
ing of 900 feet Of 60-Inch pipe to be run up
the river to Willow Grove. It come from the
Common Council Immediately after the ad.
journment of their meeting, when the
HIDQnne fao int
Only Asked as a Loan.
The amount was asked for as a loan to be
refunded in 1893 in such manner as the
Councils would direct. 1t was proposed to
submit the matter of such loan to a vote
of the people, with the question of increas-
ing the bonded indebtedness of the city
$500, 900 for street improvements and
sewers. The Mayors idea was to incor-
porate the water extension with the streets
and sewers.
Chairman Lindsay said they should be
separated, and the City Solicitor backed
him up in the statement The Mayor moved
for the appointment of q committee of five
to prepare an ordinance for increasing the
debt to cover the street, sewers
and water extension, and also to
submit to the Finance Committee
q statement showing what the increase in
crease in the debt of 81, ,OOO, 900 or 50, ,00O 900
would not increase the millage over mills
Don't venture anything too much on
fgures!" shouted Mr. Henderson.
The Resolution Laid Over.
After some further hot discussion of the
resolution the Mayor proposed to lay it
over, with the suggestion that the Presi-
dents of Councils take steps for calling a
special meeting of Councils to act on the
proposed ordinances. of which Chairman
Lindsay said there ought to be three, and
submitting the bond question to vote of
the people. Mr.. Kennedy's resolution was
adopted.
The committee next afirmatively recon-
mended to Councils an ordinance for the
creation of a sanitary fund of $40, 600 and an
ordinance transferring S3, 900 to the Health
Bureaus appropriation.