Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-04-11
THE PITTsBURG RECORDER
SHIP.

called the Ripper Bill
So called Sta1warts. like Senator Pen
rose and John Elkin, and so called In
surgents ike Director Brown and Cit
Attorney Burleigh Of Pittsburg tool
part in il, it lasted till o'clock IN tn
nornino-and a few hours after Gov
Stone appointed Major A. NJ. Brown tc
be the first Recorder of PittsDurg, ane
John r. Murphy to be the same foI
Allegheny.
Major Browns appointment was
most agreeable surprise to the good peo
pIe Of Pittsbnrg. 1t is commended BY
all the press and all the people there
excepting factional fanatics who talked
OF being gold -bricked.
Major Brown is native Of this coun
ty, his standing at the Bar Of Allegheny
county il as high as ever man had there
and If the Supreme Court approves oi
the law. and he accepts the Office, he
viii undoubtedly give the city good
administration Of his Office.
Regarding his appointment he il
quot ed as follows:
II tell you candidly that there is no
arrangement under heaven to which
am party There was no deal what
ever, and | will not permit Gev. Stone
or anybody else TO control me. he
doesn't expect 10 do 70. ! may take a
kindly suggestion from him the same az
/ would from any other friend but. as
to anybody debating me, that is ont Of
the question. The appointment was
thrust upon me and it in question ~
my mind even now whether | should
accept it, When Il compile Of gentlemen
first spoke to me about the position !
said | would not have it, but they urged
me and brought pressure to bear, and
told me the Governor was troubled over
the matter and was in qrandary as TO
who would fill the place to the best in
tereets Of the people Of Pitfsburg. !
know there have been political dif-
ferences, but it can hardly be said that
/ leaned either way. At times | sym
pathizei with both sides. / believe
that my appointment was the result Of
the friendship the Governor has for me.
1t did seem bit strange at first that
the Goyerg0r should take two ont Of the
same family for important appointments
but recorder who would not be an
tagonistic, nor public persccutcr was
desired | never sought Office, never
wanted IT, and, really for the sake Of
my law practice and my sons who are in
business with me / shOnld not accept.
Why, friend OF mine told me to-day
that figuring from the standpoint Of the
general good Of the people Of the city i
ought 10 take the recorderebip, but for
my personal interests should not. Bat
NO many kindly words have been spoken
10 me about the thing that i yielded.
But / guess it will be as hard now for
me TO decline the place as il
was for me 10 make up my mind to ac-
cept.
And regarding the present heads of
the departments: II don't know that all
will be disturbed III / am installed
Mayor w. j. Diehl necessarily must be
disturbed, but the Mayor and / won't
fall out about it, / viii not try to aB-
sumo charge az soon as ! get my com
mission. The mayor will not be dis
turbed until the Supreme court passes
on the legality Of the law. The case
will be argued ON April ~, and the
court may hand down decision in a
few days and perhaps not for several
weeks. 1t would be folly for me TO try
10 disturb him now. He might get
cross and delay matters. | have the
greatest respect for the mayor; have
known him, ! might say, from his
childhood. But am not prepared to
say who will be nly department diIec~
tors | will have 10 fill the recorderBhip
first and zee who or what Ii aft fault
BY passing the ripper IL II conceded an
improvement WAS wanted, but IL ig not
the. heads of the departments 1T fault
NO much as the system in vogue. ] will
first have 70 satisfy myself, and then
consider the interests Of the people be-
fore doing anything Nobody has been
assured Of anything. | will give TO no
particular party at the expense Of the
people. have not proiniaed, agreed to
or consented 10 have anybody placed or
displaced. Now. frankly, no Jobs have
been asked Of me. have no personal
ends 10 satisfy i'm this thing.
1T II little awkward for me 10 dis
cues the recorderehip nj this stage. but
as 10 the relative merits Of the old char
ter and the new one / think the latter
" an Improvement; Htill il may have its
defects. | never expected this appoint
meut and therefore did not examine
closely into the new law. Anyway il Is
not for me TO pass an opinion now in
view Of the fact that il Is in the hands
Of the Supreme court, Under the new
charter the head Of the city government
has great powers, and lot of RESPONSE
bilitisg. He will have to do his very
best or answer to the people. The head
OF the government under the old charter
il nonentity. The position Of recorder
Ii one Of power.
The Pittgbnrg Times says In It's news
columns Of Tuesday.
That there was an agreement drawn
up between the Representatives of Gov.
W. A. Stone and Senator William
Finn was apparent from the circuin-
stances surrounding the movements Of
the parties concerned prior 10 the M
nounccment Of the appointments. IL
developed yesterday that this agree
Inent was drawn up in writing. Attor
ney General John II. Elkin acted for
Gov Stone and City Attorney Clarence
Burlcigh represented Senator Finn 10
drafting this agreement, which work
WAS done in the executive mansion
while Coy. Stone and Director, J. o.
Brown. Of the Department Of Public
Safety, were present.
Before the agreement was drawn M
there was read letter from Mai. Brown
stating that he would accept the re-
cordcrship The letter was obtained
from Maj. Brown on last Friday by
Senator Finn. Brown knew he was
TO be appointed before the appoint
ment WAS announced and this fact wag
also known 10 Senator Finn last Fri
day night
While the exact nature of the written
agreement has not been made public,
and likely viii not be made known until
after the adjournment Of the Legislature
there was general understanding III
political circles yesterday ms 10 what
the article IN writing emb0diea III
what ~ general impression i8 founded
on fact, Senator Films interests politi
cally IN Allegheny county are not 10 be
disturbed by Gov. Stone. and In return
senatar Finn viii not interfere with
certain political Interests which lie
near Gov. Stones heart.
The Dispatch quotes Quay as say
ing:
They've made n nice mess Of II
haven't they2' be commented, between
chuckles
Did you send Biglow such tele
grant was asked
II suppose did. We had good deal