Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-17
THE BUBBLE BURST.
West Bellevue Councils EXonerated
From All Charges.
LIGHT ON THE SCHOOL PURCHASE.
People Who Raised the Objections Are
Called. Soreheads.
FULL REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE

About 60 citizens of West Bellevue as
sembled in the old schoolhouse last even
ing to hear the repor; of that part of The in
vestigating committee appointed at
the meeting of citizens that con-
tinued after three of its members
declined to act AS has previously been
stated the work of the committee was to
investigate charges against members of
Councils of alleged Irregularities, auch as
removing dirt from streets to
their own properties: using monev
for purposes other than that which
it was set aside for; receiving pass favors
from the railroad and other things. As
was shown in the report last night an in
vestication showed nothing seriously wrong
and the accused councilmen were exoner-
ated.
r. D. Barr, Chairman of the committee,
called the meeting to order and stated that
it had been the intention to hold the meet
ing in Blacks Hall, but the use of it had
been refused them. He said the committee
was ready to make its report On motion
T. B. Scandrett was chosen Permanent
Chairman.
W. NJ. McGill, Secretary of the commit
tee, prior to reading the report made an e1-
planation Of the committees action, all of
which has been published, and how after
three of its members had withdrawn. They
reorganized and proceeded with the inves-
tigation in which they were assisted in ev
ery way by the members of Council and the
Burgess. The report was as follows:
Nothing Wrong !sbnut Il.
We find the first charge unfounded. As to
the second charge, We find that Councils in
the summer of 1891 purchased from William
Jackman the old schoolhouse property jor
$1,000; that in paying the vender the Council
used S1,0O0 of the street funds then on deposit
in bank and not at that time needed for
street purposes; that the $1,000 was tempo
rarily borrowed from the street funds and
shortly afterward repaid; that the transac-
tion was conducted under the direction of
the Borough Solicitor: that the purchase
was necessary; that the title to the property
is in the borough and that the people have
not lost cent by the TRANSACTION, and there
is to-day a standing offer for the purchase
OF the property Mt substantial advance
charge unfounded, and further find that the
Clerk of Councils actually receives less COM
rensation for the same amount of service
than his predecessor in office or the Secre-
tary of the School Board.
We find the fourth charge totally un-
founded. As to the fifth charge, we find
that the Pleasant Valley Company was
never granted the right of wa- through aud
over the streets Of the borough, but such
right of way was granted to the Allegheny
and Bellevue Railway Com pany, which is n
line TO be operated. when built, in con-
nection with the Pleasant Valley line; that
the said Allegheny and Bellevue line was
never granted the exclusive right of way
over the borough streets.
Posses Came After the Ordinance.
After the railway ordinance had passed
and become A law some of the then Council
men were offered and accepted books OF
tickets emitting the holder to 100 trip rides
over the Pleasant Valley lines. These were
not. promised, offered or by the
recipients, thought of or, contem-
plated at the time the ordinance
was introduced or pending, and were
not offered or by the recipients accepted or
until some time after the
ordinance had become n law. While the |
would have been justified in re-
frlsing to exnupine into the matters sought
10 be char red in the sixth assignment by |
reason OF the ambiguity and lack of special |
liza ton, vet rs these objections apply to |
other of the charges, the committee patiently |
the conduct OF the policeman |
and find that he hrs proven himself familiar |
witU and active in the performance OF his |
duties. |
The report was signed by R. D. Barr, E. |
P. Stevenson and William McGill, commit !
tee. After some few remarks George r. |
Boardman moved that the report be ac-
,cpted and the Councils be exonerated. On |
he question being.put the chair decided the |
motion carried unanimously, when few
dissenting voices were heard and. division |
called. The chair called all in favor of the |
notion to rise and about 80 stood up.
On the contrary four arose. One of the |
lissenters claimed that persons were voting |
who were not citizens of the borough, and |
;ome words were exchanged, but the Chair |
,alled for order and they subsided
Called the Charges Fiimsy.
Remarks were then called for and the
members of the committee gave their rea-
IONS for their action, claiming they were
appointed for a specific purpose and al
hough they were deserted by half of the
committee, they felt justified in continuing
he investigation and had done so with
,arnestness, and that the charges
we're of such himsy ma
ure and so poorly constructed
hat it was hardly necessary. The Burgess
md Councils had turned over the books,
\ rhich they did not have to do if they did
Tot want to, as the court was the proper
nlace for an investigation. Chairman
'candrett then made a speech in
which he said lot o: 'soreheads"
we're at the bottom of the whole
rouble, making charges, and when the op-
,ortunity was given them they failed to
ppear and substantiate them. He said
hese so-caIled citizens held meetings and
'ilified the borough officers and even made
he II. |
hey were right and it settled down to a
ase of mud singing.
Mr.. Black, one of the voters on the ega-
i've side, arose and said that one of, the
harges had been substantiated-tha of ac-
cntinp nasses This ihe committee denied