Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10
MORROW WILL BRING SUIT.
No More Warrants 10 Be Paid Until
the Case Is Decided.
THIS WILL DELAY IMPROVEMENTS.
Some New Street Railway Privileges Are to
Be Granted.
THREE IYCLINEs FOR THE SoUTHSIDE

the present week So1I.ollcr MorroW VIII
next Wednesday carry into execution the
threat made by him week ago to stop pay
uent on any and all contracts for supple,
or work let by the chiefs of de,
partments without the Mayors ap-
provsl. n is immateriul to the Con-
trcller who takes the necessary step,
but he insists on its being Immediately car
ried up to court for decision.
At the meeting OF the Finance Committee
aweek ago yesterday the Controller stated
his position very succinctly and served
noti,e on the committee that he would
compel somebody to 60 into court by refus-
ing to pay the money due them unless the
committee arranged for settle
ment OF the point without forcing
him to adopt arbitrary measures
The committee. in the face of this plain and
business-iilze statement, either because they
didn't know what to do or because they de-
sired to show their contempt for such a
threat, took no action at all on the question
before them, notwithstanding the pointed
advice contained in an opinion they had
under consideration from the City At
torney The opinion clearly stated that the
question raised by the Controller was a
grave and important one, and the only way
to settle it was by decision from the Su-
preme Court
Hard to Get Decision.
To get such decision will require con-
siderable time. The Supreme Court moves
slowly, as a rule If the Controller sticks
to his resolution 10 refuse to draw warrants
for the persons having contracts un
til the decision is handed down no
end of inconvenience will be
entailed on the various departments The
contractors furnishing supplies will be
wary, ii is thought, about keeping up to
their contracts, when they are receiving no
money for the goods furnished and are not
likely to for months to come and NAV take
the opportunity of getting out of their con-
tracts If the rule is applied to street con-
tracts it may cause badly needed improve
ments to be DELAYED over the coming winter
In discussing the matter yesterday the
Controller said: 81 was given to under
stand last week that suit would be entered
yesterday or to-day to secure a decision on
The question as to the Mayors right of ap-
proval of contracts. But the suit has not
been brought and 1 have heard nothing
about it since. would have closed down
on contract warrants last week but for that
understanding. !
Will Give Three Days Grace.
will allow two or three days for Coun-
ellis, the Finance Committee, or whoever
chooses to settle the matter, to make a be-
ginning and if nothing is done will stop
payment. 1t won't be long then until some
of the contractors will sue for their money.
rrl- r s-+A ond foE
ground that the contract had not
been approved by the Mayor and
was consequently not legal. In order
to decide whether 1 must pay the money
the court must decide on the legality of the
proceeding. If decided in the affirmative
will appeal to the Supreme Cour. at once.
If in the negative the other fellow will.
] have no doubt as to the outcome when the
higher judiciary gets to work on the ques-
ton. This will require time, of course, but
i expect TO make it somewhat interesting in
the meantime.
The Ordinance VIII Have Good Effect.
A general ordinance applying to street
railway companies which was approved by
the Committee on Corporations yesterday
will have an excellent effect if it becomes
operative. 1t was introduced by Mr..
Warmcastle, and requires that in putting
ready down the railway companies must re-
pave the street between their rails and one
foot on the outside with new block
stone. Failure on the part of the COM
panies to comply with this rule within q
reasonable time will necessitate the De-
partment of Public Works doing the work
and charging the cost to the respective COM
pany, to be collected by legal process
Several companies have of late been putting
lines on streets paved with cobble stone,
and as their ordinances do not require block
stone paving they could not be compelled to
improve the streets over which they secured
valuable privileges without new legislation.
New Street Car Privileges
Among the other business transacted bv
the committee was an ordinance for the !
Second Avenue Traction Company, allow
ing permission to extend its tracks from
the present terminus at Hazelwood to the |
city line. 1t was favorablv recommended,
but an amendment was added by Mr.. Nc 1
Gunnegle. providing that the company pave |
the street between the tracks and one foot |
outside with block stone, and also that the |
work be commenced within one wear.
The ordinance of the'CentraI Transit Com |
pany, part of the Pittsburg Traction system, |
providing for a loop connecting the Fifth |
avenue and the Duquesne lines,
was also favorably considered. |
1t provides for a line beginning
1t Howe and South Highland avenues,
thence along the latter to Fifth avenue, |
thence to Denniston avenue and back to |
Howe street.
The ordinance of the Penn Street Rail- !
way Company, providing for line on
avenue and giving the Citizens
Traction Company a branch to Wilkins
burg, was affirmatiyely recommended. The
line begins at the intersection OF Fifth ave-
nue. and continues along Frankstown ave-
nue. to the city line, returning the same
wav.
The Pittsburg and Connellsville Railroad
was granted the right to lay switch on
Greenaugh street to>connect the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad with Lloyd's rolling
mill Mr.. Warmcastle added an amend,
ment, allowing the Pennsylvania Railroad
the use Of the switch on payment of one
half the cost of construction and msinte-
nance The license was fixed at S75 a yeaE.
New IncIines for the Soutnside.
There were three ordinances asking the
right Of way for inclines from South
Twenty-frs street to Mt. Oliver, and all on
about the same survey lines. They were the
Park Incline Plane Company, the H. S.
Mckee Incline Company and the Mt Oliver
Incline Railway Company. They were all
referred to a subcommittee,
The Morningside and Highland Park
Street Railway Compaay's ordinance was
also referred to subcommittee to look into
he necessity of a road over the given terri
ory.
In court yesterday all exceptions were
dismissed and reports of the Board of View
,rs under the new street act were confirmed
absolutely on the assessments for the cost
If eight sewers. The sewers are on Kirk