Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-20
VIGOROUS PROTESTS
Entered Before the Finance
Committee by Property
Holders Who Are
OPPOSED TO THE ARM0RY.
Chief Bigelow and Controller Morrow
Join Mayor Gourley in
GUARDING THE CITY'S INTERESTS.
A Very Lively Discussion Upon the Fifth
Avenue Market House.
OPPOSED TO THE ARMORY.
GUARDING THE CITY'S INTERESTS.
THE MATTER Tc GO BEFORE COUNCILS

ing held in many months. The business for
which it was called was of an important
character to the people, and the discussion
among the members took highly interest
ing turn at several stages There was
present a large delegation of property
holders, representing many others, who are
opposed to and would be undesirably af-
fected by the use of the Fifth Avenue Mar
ket House as an armory for the military.
These gentlemen. in addition to presenting
their claims to the committe, had numer-
ouSly signed remonstrance against the
proposition and promised that they would
furnish thousands of other names from the
people in that part of the city. As result
of the opposition shown by these citizens,
one concession has already been gained.
The term of the lease has been cut down
from so to 25 years If they continue in
their vigorous efforts they NAV yet compel
the abandonment of this scheme.
Even if the citizens fail to prevent the
lease being entered into, it cannot become
law with the present Councils unless there
should be a special meeting called for the
purpose There will be only one more reg
ular meeting before the new Councils are
sworn in. If the joint resolution is passed
then the Mayor will veto it, and it will not
be possible to pass it over his veto before
the old Council passes out of existence, in
which case it will need 20 be reconsidered
from the beginning by the new Councils.
Bigelow Standing With Gourley.
The only chance therefore of making it a
law lies in a special meeting next week.
1t was learned yesterday that Chief Bigelow
has taken stand with the Mayor in regard
10 the lease and declares that the property
should be turned to account for the city
instead OF giving it away.
Controller Morrow headed the delegation
which had gathered in the Mayors Office
ard led them over into the City Attorneys
Office where the meeting of the Finance
Committee was held, where the Controller
stoutlv supported the position Of the cIti-
zens whenever in the discussion an oppor-
tunity was presented. When the visitors
had crowded into the room Chairman Ma
gee called upon them for whatever state
ments they had to make.
George Shelter, holder of considerable
Fifth avenue property, was the first to re-
spond His remarks embraced substantially
the same points raised by him in speech at
a citizens meeting in the Fourteenth ward
on Friday night. He was opposed to build
ing an armorv on this valuable property,
and he and all the people of that part of the
city were opposed TO giving it away for
armorv or any other purpose. He was not
prepared to say it would be success if re-
opened as market, but if the city had no
use for it the property should be leased to
parties who would pay good rent Tor it, or
sold. If sold the city would get something
out of it in taxes and the buyers would
make improvements that would enhance the
value of surrounding real estate.
Not the Place for an Armory.
George Smith, the Fifth avenue grocer,
was next called on and in a general way
corroborated Mr. SHELTERS statements As
to the disposition of the property he said:
eff the city wants TO use this property for
the benefit of the people the proper thing to
do would be to rent it to some firm for
good rental The business part of the citv
is not the place for an armory. That
property NAV not be suitable for a market
now but it will be in few years and the
city should hold it"
Mr.. Keating-Then you would advise
the erection of an armory up on Ruch's
Hill?
Mr.. Smith-Exactly. Either there or
somewhere else out in The country. / don't
think il is any concern of the city where
the armorv is built. Let the soldiers take
care of that themselves.
Mr.. Magee took up the discussion at this
point, claiming that the military should be
encouraged by the citizens, and this was an
easy, simple way of doing it. If the city
did not now take steps to provide them
with an armory it would only be a matter
Of few years until she would be compelled
10 by a State law. Such laws had been
adopted in Other progressive States and
PENNSYLVANIA would soon follow suit. Any
how, he thought those opposed to this lease
did not know what they were talking about;
they did not know what it provided for.
Mr.. Ford-I would suggest that the lease,
as proposed, be read, so that the gentlemen
will thoroughly understand it
Another Lost Document.
This proposition met with the approval
of Messrs Paul, Angloch and Mcguire, of
the committee. and Controller Morrow went
to the City Clerks office 1or the document,
but returned in a moment without it, say
ing it could not be found. Mr.. Magee said
the lease had been given to the clerk. who
had probably temporarily 1nislaid it, but he
could state its terms. 1t provided that the
property be leased for 81 year for term
of 90 years to a board of trustees represent
ing the military, and who would be held re-
sponsible by the city, the trustees binding
themselves to erect an armory building
costing about S75, ,000 and the drill hall to
he subject TO the use of the citizens for pub
lie meetings when not in use by the mill
tarv.
Mr.. Paul seemed skeptical about the
lease and wanted to see it, his desire being
shared bv others present, but it was not
produced. Mr.. Paul then wanted to know
where the money was.
Mr. Keatinc-When this proposition was
approved bv Councils in 1859 subscriptions
amounting to over $4,000 were secured.
Everybody visited subscribed. But the
panic of 1890 caused the parties having it In
hand to stop, preferring to wait until the
trouble passed over / have no doubt but
that the money can be secured in short
time after the lease is signed.
The Money should Be in Sight.
Mr.. Paul-In the first place, L am op-
posed to giving anything until they show
the money and we get good guarantee
that it will be expended. 1 don't take
much stock in promises unless there is
something to back them up. In the next
place. l am opposed to 50-year term. If
we must give up this property, make it for
a short term-25 wears at the most Really,
think it wrong to lease under such terms
to anybody. Why, the bonds that were
issued to put up that old building have
never been paid 1t is still debt against
the city. The proper thing to do would be
10 make some money out of it instead of
giving it away.
Mr.. Keating-The gentleman probably
does not know that the money is ready to
pay of those bonds when they come due
next year.
NJ u l.I