THE JPITTSBtrR& DISPATCH, FRtDAT, MAT. 13, 1892L
RAISING
THE TAXES
An Increase in the Present
levy Likely if Litigants
in Their Suits.
CHAOS IN CITY FINANCES
By the Abolition of the Board of
Assessors and Their Work.
ALL IMPROVEMENTS WOULD STOP.
Large Property Holders File a Far-Beaching
Dill in Fquity.
TALTJATIOXS DECLARED EXCESSIVE
A step that has been feared for teveral
months by some of the city's more conserva
tive officials, was tnken yesterday by a num
ber of property holders who recently ap
pealed to court against the assessments of
the city's Board of Assessors. It was in the
shape of a bill in equity, filed in Common
Please Court No. 1, and if all the claims in
it are granted it will produce chaos from
one end of the city to the other, and from
which extrication will be next to impossible
for months to come. The pJaintiSs ask, in a
word, that the whole triennial assessment,
upon.which the present year's tax rate is
based, be annulled and set aside, and that
the present year's taxes be collected on the
assessment made by the ward assessors.
Tne first effect of such a ruling by the
Court would be to stop the collection of
taxes, stop work on city improvements, and
eventually to compel either a new tax levy
at a much higher rate than the present one,
or the abandonment of many of the costly
and much needed general improvements
proposed for this year.
Afraid of Serious Results.
"When the triennial assessment was first
announced and the objections from all quar
ters came in thick and fast, a few of those
interested in the welfare of the city govern
ment expressed a fear that it might result in
a complete overthrow of the assessment if
tnyone should take the necessary steps to
that end. Subsequently, the assessors had
a conference with a lare delegation of at
torneys representing the dissatisfied prop
erty owners, aud it was generally but erron
eously supposed that some plan bad been
arranged by which the appeals that had
been filed in court would be settled. As
the first complaints were simply filed in the
form of appeals it was thought the present
dangerous proceeding would not be at
tempted. Xow that it has come, the gen
eral belief is that serious results will fol
low. The prominence and standing of those con
nected with this suit are evidence of its
earnestness. The attorneys for the plain
tiffs are D. D. Bruce, George Shiras, Jr., C
C. Dickey, "W. K. Jennings and AV. B. Neg
ley. The plaintiffs are Paul H. Hackc,
James 3IcKay, Charles J. Clarke, Mary B.
3Iurtland, Eev. L S. Hartley and wife,
Frances 31. "White, Agnes G. "White,
Gcorgiana "White, Joseph X. "White, and L
S. Hartley, "William "White and Joseph
Hafferty, trustees of Jane 3L "Ward; Alex
ander Murdoch, J. R. Murdoch and J. M.
Shields, for themselves and such other own
ers of real estate and taxpayers of Pittsburg
a may see fit to join with them. The de
fendants are the city of Pittsburg, J. F.
Denniston, Treasurer; E. S. Morrow, Con
troller; W. K. Ford, Delinquent Tax Col
lector, and Frank P. Case, J. J. Larkin and
Philip Hocrr, Assessors.
Take Exception to the Assessment.
The plaintiffs, after describing the prop
erty owned by them in various wards in the
city, recite the triennial assessment made
by the Assessors under the act of May 5,
1876, under which it is the duty of the
Board of Assessors to take as a basis of as
sessment the duplicates of the assessments
of the various wards as furnished to them
by the County Commissioners, the said
duplicates being the assessments made by
the ward assessors. It is the duty of the
Assessors, it is alleged, to simply revise,
equalize or alter the assessments found on
the duplicates of the Board of Assessors, if
any errors or inequalities are found therein
by the board on examination.
The board, it is charged, in making the
triennial assessment in violation of the act,
made it without havine had copies of the
ward duplicates furnished them, or having
made any revision or equalization or exami
nation, as required by law. A primarv as
sessment was made, it is further charged,
arbitrarily and in violation oi the law. ot
all the real estate in the city before any
nard duplicates were returned by the ward
assessors, and that any attempted revision
or equalization in the triennial assessment
was made solely upon the said primary as
sessment, which differed irom, and was
largely in excess of, that made by the ward
assessors, atternard made.
Drclaro the Assessment Is Unequal.
Under the third section of the act of 1876
it is the duty of the assessors to make a re
turn to Councils in January of each year of
the total value of the real estate and tax
able property in the city with specifications
of classification built up, rural or asricult
ural property, including untillable land
In February the board made a return and
certified to the total value though at that
time they had made no reision of the
ward duplicates and had made no classifica
tion. The classification, it is charged, made
after the return to Councils, was contrary
to the act ot 1876, arbitrary and unjust, and
results in unequal taxation of the real
estate. Continuing, the bill recites that
after the mtllage ot 12 mills was levied, the
assessors, without authority of law, issued
receipts or exonerations to many taxpayers,
amounting in all to over 30,000, which re
ceipts were accepted by the Treasurer and
credit given to the taxpayers on their taxes
for 1892.
It is charged that the assessment is not
bona fide, but made at an excessive valua
tion and above the proper values for taxa
tion purposes; far in excess of values as
shown by the ward duplicate with intent to
evade the constitutional limit fixed for the
indebtedness of cities of this State, and to
enable those who have charge ot the expen
diture ot the city's money toagake extraa
gant and uncalled for expenditures.
Says the Hoard Is Illegal
The Board of Assessors, it is next
charced, has no valid and legal existence
tor the reason that the act of May 5, 1876,
creating the board conflicts with section 20,
nrtitk 3 ol the Constitution, which pro
hibits the General Assembly from "dele
gating to any special commission any power
to levy taxes or perform any municipal
function whatever."
In conclusion, it is asked that the Court
set aside the assessments as void and il
legal because not made in compliance with
the law and because the Board of Assessors
have no authority to levy taxes or perform
cny municipal functions; "also, that the city
officials be restrained from collecting taxes
or filing liens, or allowing exonerations, and
that the assessments on the plaintiffs' prop
erties be fixed at the values returned by the
ward assessors and the citv officers di
rected to give them receipts in full for this
year's taxes on payments of amounts de
termined Dy the millage on those valra
lions.
proposed bill when seen last evening and
had "nothing to say about it. "When asked
what the assessors proposed to do,said ?hey
would stand on their classification any
where. If it was wrong the court should
say so and indicate a remedy.
The assessors are now at work on the
business tax assessment and will complete
it within two weeks. They have received a
number of surprises in the returns made by
some of the big business houses of the city,
the increase in business in some
cases being wonderfully large as
compared with previous years. There
is a large diminution in the number
of appeals filed this year on the business
tax, as compared with last, business men in
a great many cases, accepting the assessors'
figures simply because the tax is so trifling
that they feel it no hardship to pay it on
any reasonable valuation.
TO FIX JUS FENCES.
Senator Quay Will Come to Pitts
burg in His Own Interest.
MUST PAY THE COSTS.
Law and Order Agent JlcClnre Is Acquitted
of Terjarj, bat the Jury Imposes a Pen
nlty Upon Htm nit Counsel Wants the
Verdict Modified.
There was a moment of pained anxiety.
The jury had just returned with the sealed
verdict in the McClure perjury case, and
the dense crowd that packed the courtroom
were anxious. Faces betokened it in their
wide-open aspect, figures betokened it in
ther tautly strained positions and the
silence betokened it in its heavy, ponder
ous stillness. There was the harsh crack
ling of paper. The people became more in
terested. The foreman ot the jury cleared
his throat preparatory to speaking. The
interest increased. The foreman spoke and
the crowd stopped the beatings of their
various-sized hearts.
"We, the jury, find the defendant, Bob
ert McClure, not guiltv of perjury in eith
er count of the indictment, but affix the
costs of the case upon him."
Then everybody let go of their heart
strintrs and breathed. The die was cast and
the result stared them in the face.
Then the crowd ebbed and flowed from
the courtroom like the surge of the moving
tide, and when once without the sacred por
tal of the court they opened their mouths
and spoke. They were in no danger ot be
ing fined for contempt of court and
thev spoke freelv and numerously.
Ther spoke together and all at once. They
spoke in all kinds of tones, voices and
tongues. "What they said about certain un
mentionable persons and things would bring
the blush to the face ol a boarding school
girl and cause the snake editors to congrat
ulate everybody on the stafE But they
would not look nice in print
"W. D. Moore, for the defense, asked for
a stay until Saturday, which was granted,
that he might argue on the question of set
ting aside so much of the verdict as related
to the placing of the costs upon his client.
ALAEJIED AT DALZELL'S STRENGTH
He Arranges for the. Republican County
Chairmen to Meet Him.
LOCAL DEMOCRACY WELL WORKED TIP
FORESTERS BANQUET.
One Hundred and Seventy-rive Defecates
to the Ancient Order of Foresters of
America Attend the Annual Spread of
the Order at the Central Hotel.
Languorous music, delicate perfumes and
an atmosphere of festivity floated about the
corridors of the Central Hotel last night
and marked the holding of the banqnet in
the long dining parlors of the Ancient Order
of Foresters of America.
The tables were loaded with the season's
delicacies and the hearty jollity and good
will of the guests marked the banquet as
one of the most successful yet held. Just
without the banqueting rooms, partially
hidden by the great shade leaves ot potted
palms, was the orchestra, from Hays Post
2Jo. 3, G. A It., furnished by Joe D. Eaton,
and during the evening the soft, euphon
ious tones floated away through the ban
queting rooms.
About the table were seated the Foresters
to the number of 175 and a tasty menu lay
beside each plate.
At the head of the table was seated the
toast-master, the Hon. Alfred Marland.
The toasts were carefully selected and in
terestingly responded to. The toast "Our
Visiting Representatives" was responded to
by Eli Moon, of Philadelphia. The other
toasts were "The Cit7 of Brotherly Love,"
responded to by Thomas Stevenson; "Pitts
burg," by Thomas J. Ford; "The .Ladies,"
by G. A. Thompson, Jr., and "The Press,"
dv x. i. jumen.
The morning and afternoon sessions' were
devoted to the consideration of amendments
to the State laws and constitution of the
grand court.
The election of officers takes place to-dav,
when it is expected that Thomas J. Ford
will be chosen as High Chief Kanger.
A MOTHER'S GBEAT GEIEF.
She May Die on Account of Her Son's
Arrest.
James McGuy and "William Hughes, of
the Twenty-fourth ward, Southside. and
employed in the Republic Iron "Works,
were arrested last night by Officer Brown
on the charge of being suspicious persons.
They are suspected of robbing an old man
named John Ryan, a laborer for the Pitts
burg, Virginia and Charleston Railroad.
Ryan was thought to be drunk, and when
last seen he was in company ot the two
suspects. About 11 o'clock yesterday morn
ing he was robbed of $10 in money and other
personal effects. Thev are both in the
Twenty-eighth ward police station, and will
be given a hearing this morning.
Hughes' father called at the police station
and wanted to bail him out, but could not
do so. He said the young man's mother
was prostrated over the affair. She had
been seriously Ul for some time past and
was getting better. She is now unable to
to talk, and it is feared she will die. The
old man left, saying the boy would have
his mother's funeral to attend as soon as he
got out.
THEY SAT FAREWELL.
Members
Church In
of the Old M. V.
Social Iteunlon.
The first session of the closing exercises
of the First M. P. Church was held in the
old building last night. It was a social re
union of the members and friends of the
church. Rev. J. F. Dyer made some re
marks about the past of the church,
and of what it had to do in
the future. After his talk the
large crowd broke up in groups, and, while
partaking of some light refreshments, told
and retold stories of the old building.
Later in the evening there were a number
of impromptu speeches.
To-night all the societies of the church
will meet, and Rev. D. S. Stephens will
make an address. On Sunday appropriate
farewell services will be held.
The Republican chairmen of all the
counties in "Western Pennsylvania will
come to Pittsburg to-morrow to confer with
United States Senator Quay, who will be in
the city at that time.
The Senator will arrive in Pittsburg either
this evening or to-morrow morning. His
most intimate friends and political lieuten
ants in the city have no definite in
formation as to the exact time of his
arrival. It is expected that he will arrive
from "Washington at his Beaver home to
day and will come to Pittsburg from there.
The Republican chairmen have been notified
ot his coming and all of them have been
requested to meet him here. The Senator
has arranged for rooms at the Hotel
Duquesne where he will open his head
quarters and will receive his constituents
for one day only. Colonel Glenn, who is a
candidate for Secretary of the State Com
mittee, is already in Pittsburg.
There is considerable speculation among
the Republicans as to what political busi
ness Mr. Quay will have with the district
leaders throughout the State, but it is gen
erally admitted that his effort at this time is
to arrange lor the election ot Quay mem
bers of the next Legislature.
Dalzell Makes Soma Claims.
There is yet considerable doubt about the
action of the members of the Legislature
even in those counties where Senator
Quay carried the popular vote. The
Dalzell people claim that in nearly
every county where Quay carried
the popular vote the Dalzell candidates for
the Legislature have been indorsed and will
be elected. This claim by the Dalzell peo
ple has not been publicly made, but it has
been circulated to an- extent, and has finally
reached the Quay lieutenants and has set
them to thinking and investigating, and
this, it is claimed, has prompted Senator
Quay in coming to Pittsburg, and has also
influenced him in sending lor the various
county ch&irmen to meet him here.
Among some ot the Pittsburg Repub
licans it is believed that Quay's visit is to
feel the Republican pulse on the contem
plated anti-Harrison movement, but the
Senatorial question is generally believed to
be the most important one to the Senator.
It is also argued that the Senator would not
come to Pittsburg to consult with the Re
publican leaders on national politics, as all
the national delegates from this end of the
State have within ten days been to "Wash
ington and have talked with Quay and other
Republican leaders while there.
Still Talking for IJlalne.
"William "Witherow, one of the Allegheny
delegates to the National Convention, who
has just returned from a visit to the East,
has declared himself for Blaine and he says
that all the anti-Harrison Republicans in
the East are confirmed in the belief that
Mr. Blaine will be nominated and will ac
cept the nomination. Mr. "Witherow's
declaration upon his returning lrom the
East is claimed by local Republicans to in
dicate that Senator Quay is not coming to
Pittsburg to discuss national politics and
that his visit at this time is purely personal
and is strictly in his own interest."
The Blaine Republicans in Pittsburg do
not take kindly to Senator Quay's recent
admiration for the Secretary. One of them
said yesterday: ''Mr. Blaine cannot be in
duced to'look with any fayor upon Senator
Quay's flirtations with him now. "When
Secretary Blaine was ambitious to be the
candidate for the President Senator Quay
was against him, and he knows that Senator
Quay is only for him now to get revenge on
President Harrison. Senator Quay could
get nothing more from Blaine if he should
be elected President that he could from
President Harrison should he be re
elected." Contest for Democratic County Chairman.
The local Democracy are considerably
stirred up just uow over the prospective
fight for Chairman of the County Commit
tee. It was announced yesterday that
'Squire Cornelius O'Donncll had positively
uec:aea to become a candidate lor unairman
Brennen's place at the head of the County
Committee. Mr. O'Donnell said yesterday
that he would be a candidate if the party so
desired.
Chairman Brennen said last night that he
had heard of O'Donnell's candidacy, but
that he would continue in the fight to the
end and would land a winner. Mr. Bren
nen's friends have been thoroughly aroused
by the report of the fight proposed on him
and they are in earnest in having him win
his fight.
WILL TURN ON THE LIGHT.
Sheriff Ehnmaker Denies Having Struck
His Insane Prisoner, and He Threatens
to Sue for Slander Ho Is Notified to
. Appear at the Inquest.
Countv Detective Beltzhoover yesterday
sent an officer to Ebensburg to notify Sheriff
Shumaker to be present on Saturday at the
Coroner's inquest in the case of John Mc
Clarrcn, who died on Monday at the Dix
mont Insane Asylum with his skull frac
tured in two places. It is likely that
the inquest will be decidedly interesting,
as the effort to fix the responsibility for
McClarren's injuries will be vigorously
fought by the Cambria county Sheriff and
his Iriends.
Dr. Graham, the assistant superintendent
at Dixmont, testified under oath at the
Coroner's partial inquest on Tuesday that
the Cambria county Sheriff had admitted to
knocking McClarren down twice with a
club. The Cambria county Sheriff emphatic
ally denies that he made any such admis
sions. He intimates that McClarren re
ceived his fatal injuries after he had been
turned over to the Dixmont authorities.
Sheriff Shumaker was in Johnstown yes
terday. He denounced as a lie the state
ment that he had acknowledged having
beaten McClarren, and said he would make
someone suffer for such statements if there
was any law to do it He said neither
himself nor Denutr Tonne had made
any such statement as attributed
to them. The Sheriff has en
gaged the services of Mayor Rose, of
Johnstown, as attorney, who will accompany
him to Pittsburg on Saturday to attend the
inquest. He will have as witnesses, Doctor
Jones, who attended the injured man at the
jail and the conductor of the train to
prove that the man suffered no vio
lence on the way to the asylum. The
Sheriff says he demands that the most
searching investigation be made, as he is
confident he will be cleared of all culpabil
ity. Dr. Jones will say that McClarren had
but the one scalp wound, and that was on
top of the head, when he was brought to and
left the jail. This is corroborative of the
statement of Dr. J. B. Green, of Summer
hill, who examined the iniured man
i i . .. y
wneu ne leit home, and, who is posi
tive there was but the one wound
and that only a flesh, when he was taken to
jail. If full satisfaction is not given he
will sue the asylum officials for slander or
libel. In view of all the circumstances, the
Sheriff's friends here are beginning to think
that the fatal blow was given after McClar
ren arrived at the hospital.
THE MAYOR ABSOLUTE.
Controller Morrow's Position, if Cor
rect, Gives the Executive
MORE POWER THAN THE CHIEFS.
He Can Annul All Contracts by Eefosing
to Sign Ihem.
AN OPFORl UNITY TO MAKE MILLIONS
H0LLIDAY LEFT OUT.
CAPTURED AN ARMY.
JACK FROST HEBE,
Ho Is Scheduled to Give Flttsbarff a "White.
Coat To-Day.
Those who were out in the world early
enough this morning no doubt saw where
Jack Frost had made his bed. At least the
weather people were banking last night on
having frost this morning, but not enough
to hurt the fruit. This depends on whether
the weather clears during the night, and
all indications were strong against such a
turn.
This spell of cold weather, which is caus
ing so many hard things to be said, is not
an unusual thing. Every year now a little
jag of winter -an be expected during the
month of May.
All of yesterday the temperature hov
ered at 00, neither gaining norlosing. This
is considered an unusual thing by the
weather governors.
The Lost Found.
"Wednesday evening somebody broke into
the yards of the Storage Company, at the
foot of Twenty-sixth street, and carried off
several valuable iron castings. Last even-
I " v"v. waui I'llllCi 1UUUU lUCiU UUUC1 fcUC
I trestle work, between
Ttr on fwfi Ft h onrl
The assessors bad not been notified of the Twenty-sixth streets, oa the river bank.
Over 20,000 rersons Arrested by the Police
in Pittsburg Darlnc the Past Tear
Disposition ol the Prisoners Classified
A ccordlns to Sex and Nationality.
The statistical addendum to the report of
Superintendent of Police O'Mara shows
that during the year there was a total of
21,801 arrests made and fines to the amount
ot 64,405 65 collected. Of these arrests
14,178 were males and 7,623 were females;
6,260 were married and 15,541 were single;
20,745 could read and write, while 1,056
could not; 20,197 were white and 1,604 were
black.
Of those arrested 5,570 paid fines. 3,492
were committed to the workhouse, 3,064 to
jail, 71 to Morganza, 1 to Bethesda Home, 9
to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, 56 were
sent to hospitals, 17 to the Poor Farm, 5,630
were discharged, 542 iorleited their deposits,
215 were held over, 394 were held for court,
209 were released, 247 were turned over to
other authorities, 1 was sent to Dixmont, 1
sent home, 1 committed suicide, 2,215 were
sent to station No. 3,65 ti ere released on
bail and 1 was sent to the morgue.
During the year the officers discovered 358
fires, 14 girls were taken lrom disorderly
houses, 9 murderers were arrested and 10
burglars.
Of the prisoners 13,046 were Americans,
22 Arabians, 8 Austrians. 6 Bohemiaus, 3
were irom Canada, 58 irom China,
3 from Denmark 55, lrom Eng
land, 47 from France, 1,334 from Ger
many, 8 from Greece, 193 lrom Huncary, 46
Hebrews, 4,912 from Ireland, 486 from
Italy, 3 irom Norway, 568 from Poland, 150
irom Scotland, 41 lrom Sweden, 49 were
Slavs and 183 were from "Wales. There
were a number ot others from different
parts of the world.
During the vear there were 2,801 lodgers
accommodated at the different station
houses.
THE K. OF L. OFFICIALS
The New York Man Lays Him Out for
Bishop Clinton Was the Other Winner
A Fittsburger In Charge of the Church
Paper.
The A. M. E. Zion Conference elected two
Bishops yesterday. Rev. A. "Walters and
Rev. J. C Clinton were the winning men.
They were chosen on the first ballot, and
the vote stood as follows: J. C. Clinton,
Lancaster, S. C, 129; Albert Walters, New
York, 90; J. "W. Alstock, Alabama, 61; E.
H. Curry, New York, 22; John HolHday,
Pittsburg, 12; J. B. Small, 12; GAY. Offlet,
Pennsylvania, 9; R. H. Fisher, 8, and "W.
G. Strong, 2.
In the afternoon Bishop J. W. Hood, of
North Carolina, was in the chair. The elec
tion of officers was continued. Rev. J. "W.
Alstork, of the East Alabama Conference,
was elected almost unanimously to the posi
tion ot General Steward, the p'osition made
vacant by the elevation of Rev. J. C. Clin
ton to the Bishop's chair. There was not a
dissenting voice when the name of Rev.
William Howard Day, of Harrisburg, was
presented for the General Secretaryship.and
he was elected bv acclamation. He has
been the General Secretary for many years
and was accorded quite an ovation when he
arose to acknowledge bis thanks.
The next election was for editorship of
the official organ of the Church, the Star of
Zion. Hon. John C Doucy, has heretofore
had charge of the paper, but resigned re
cently upon his appointment as Collector of
customs oi tne iron ot Wilmington, North
Carolina. There were two candidates for
the editorship, Rev. George W. Clinton, a
nephew of the recently-elected bishop and
pastor of the John Wesley Chapel, of
Arthur street, Pittsburg, the church in
which the conference is being held, and
Rev. J. W. Smith, of Carlisle, Pa. The
voting and counting ot the ballot took
nearly two hours. The vote was announced
and it elected Mr. Clinton by 103, to 73 for
Mr. Smith. There was a great cheer for
Mr. Clinton, and a number of the Pittsburg
delegates, in their enthusiasm, caught the
successful candidate and raised him to their
shoulders, carrying him down the aisle,
amid the cheers of the conference and of
the Home Committee on Entertainment.
KOI AN ADVANTAGE
To the Fittsburg Coal Operators to Have a
Free River.
President Alex. Dempster, of the Pitts
burg Coal Exchange, does not think it
would be very much of an advantage to the
coal operators to have a free river.
"It only costs 52 40 cents per 1,000
pounds," said he, "to bring coal down irom
the Fourth pool. That is only 4-10 of a
cent per bushel. This is cheap enough. If
the river was free we might have a little
advantage competing with the operators
along the Kanawha river, as that stream is
free. Other than that I do not see how it
would benefit the operators, but think it
would be more of a benefit to the consumer.
II the river is to be made free, the Govern
ment should run the locks.
"I do not think the operators could re
cover a cent if they were to bring suit
against the owners of the locks."
GIVEN TO THE HIGHEST BIDDEB.
Are Hard at 'Work, but Nothing Interest
ing Has Been Done Ter.
The Executive Board of the Knights of
Labor is now down to work. It is transact
ing only business of a routine nature so far.
The officials hope to reach some matters of
interest within a few days.
The members of the board visited the
painters, cigarmakers and salesmen's assem
blies last night. Their visits were to ex
plain the new work and meet the members.
To-night L. A 3.00, Window Glass Workers'
Assembly on the Southside.will be attended.
11m Government Building Completed.
This week Supervising Architect Pattison
will end his labor on the new Government
building. It is now complete lrom base
ment to roof with the exception of furni
ture. Mr. Pattison is the third supervis
ing architect that has been engaged on the
building.
The Eureka Hose Was Mot In It In Alle
gheny Last Night.
The Allegheny Public Safety Committee
met last night, and, alter approving the
monthly pay rolls, awarded the following
contracts: For drugs, to the Geo. A Kelly
Company; electrical supplies, to the Elec
trical Supply and Construction Company;
hardware, to Steiner & Voegtly; feed, to C.
Killner; stable supplies, Gold Bros.; hose,
to the Standard Manufacturing Company
(the Akron make); ice, to the Chautauqua
Lake Ice Company; oils and grease, to the
Standard Oil Company; wire, to the
Standard Underground Cable Company.
The anticipated fight over the award of
the contract for hose did not occur. The
sub-committee was instructed to advertise
for locations lor the two new engine houses,
one in the Eleventh ward aud the other on
Spring Hill, in the Seventh ward.
An Tin safe Mall Box.
While Officer Hildebrecht was making
his rounds last evening he discovered the
mail box at the corner of Fifth avenue and
Seneca street open. There was no lock on
the box and it contained a number of let
ters. These he deposited in another box
and notified the postoffice authorities.
Whether the box was broken open and let
ters taken is unknown. An investigation.
win oe maae.
A question of considerable importance
was raised at City Hall yesterday in con
nection with the fight now on between the
Mayor and Controller on one side and the
department chiefs and City Councils on the
other, in which is involved the Mayor's
right to approve or disapprove city con
tracts. The claim is made, and it seems well
founded, that if the Controller's position as
indicated in his communication to Councils
last Monday, is sustained by the courts, the
Mayor will have far more absolute power
in the letting of contracts than the depart
ment chiefs and Councils combined. In
fact he will be able, it is claimed, by simply
doinz nothing when a contract distasteful
to him, either for legal, personal or
other reasons, is presented, to totally pre
vent its being awarded or carried out in any
way. The same line of argument, it is
claimed, makes every contract entered into
for the city since 1874, including the nine or
ten years of the present Controller's tenure
of office, illegal, and everv dollar
of the many millions expended has been
improperly and illegally spent.
The Msyor Must Approve.
Briefly stated, the Controller's position is
that the approval of a contract or any other
measure of Councils is either a joint resolu
tion of Councils or must be by joint resolu
tion, and as such must go to the Mayor for
approval. The general verdict of City Hall
people is that the position is untenable and
the customs of Congress and various State
Legislatures are quoted to show it It
is claimed that when the charter
act of 1887 gave to the chiefs of depart
ments executive powers equaling the
Mayor's in all respects, save the wide range
of supervision of the city, it authorized
them lo enter into any contract or other
agreement necessary in the operation of
their department, subject to the approval
of Councils.
If it had been intended bv the framers of
that act to give the Mayor the authority the
Controller claims is implied, they would
have inserted some provision lor having a
contract passed over the Mayor's disap
proval, it is claimed, instead of leaving it
so that, if the Mayor chose not to sign a
contract, it would fall and could not by
any other power in the citv government be
awarded or carried out That, it is claimed,
would be the result if the Controller's nosi-
tion should prove to be correct
Neglect to Sign Would Veto.
If a contract for building a free bridge,
for instance, should come before the Mayor,
not necessarily the present incumbent, but
his successor, and he should have some
reason not to wish the successful bidder to
get the contract, all be would need to do
would be to refuse to sign the contract.
That would settle it No bridge could be
built until a contractor agreeable to the
Mayor received the award, or until a.new
Mavor would be elected.
There is no provision anywhere in the
city laws for the Mayor's signature to a
contract. In the case of an ordinance or
resolution it is provided that if the Mayor
lans to snow nis approval or disapproval,
cither by his signature or his veto, within
a period of ten days after final passage, the
measure becomes a law, and if he chooses to
leto a three-filths vote oi Councils is neces
sary to pass over the disapproval. There Is
nothing of the kind in the case of a con
tract.
It is claimed, however, that the Con
troller is wrong on this question, despite
his quotations from the law and apparent
familiarity with the subject, unless the
charter act itself is unconstitutional. As to
that point, it is claimed no act could be
constitutioual that would give the executive
more power than the legislative body over
which his authority extends. One section
of the charter act says:
"The head ot each department shall make
monthly reports to Councils of the condi
tion of his department, showing the number
of employes, the character of contracts
made by his department, the state of its
finances and such other matters as he may
deem worthy ot their consideration."
Arguments of the Other Bide.
As there is no provision for the Mayor's
consideration of the contracts of a depart
ment, the above is quoted as showing con
clusively that the chiefs have power to
award contracts. The ordinance passed to
put the charter act into effect, they
say, is sufficient. It provides that the chiefs
may let contracts subject to the approval of
Councils, and, it is claimed, nothing further
is necessary the one ordinance covers all.
Any number of contracts can be let under
it, as anv number have been for many years
past. The same line of argument, "it is
claimed, that would give the Mayor the
right to approve a contract would require
his signature to every pay roll of everv
bureau of the city government every month
in the year, and they could not be paid
without it
All the discussion going on in relation to
this important subject relers to the prin
ciple, not the present Mayor. The ground
is generally taken that the present flavor
might be succeeded by a Democrat, or pos
sibly a corruptible person might some day
get the place, it politically oiased ne could
practically stop the wheels of government
and if corrupt could make $500,000 a year
out of his office if the Controller's position
is correct
THE PRODUCT TOO LARGE.
Blast Fnrnact f Are Being Operated Too
Steadily to Allow Much Improvement in
That Business The Output for the
Month of May.
Joseph Weeks, in the American Manufact
urer, gives out some interesting details in
the report on the condition of blast furnaces
of the United States. He shows the aver
age weekly production of the furnaces in
blast in'the United States May 1 was 175,
343 gross tons, as compared with an average
weekly production of 188,109 gross tons
April 1, a decrease during the month of 12,
666 gross tons a week. As compared with
January 1, 1872, the reduction in weekly
production has been 16,099 tons, and as
compared with March, 1892, the month of
greatest production so Jar, the reduction
has been 17.944 tons.
"While it is true," he says, "that pro
duction is decreasing as compared with the
first of the year, our furnaces are making
58,757 tons more a week than they were a
year ago when the stoppage in the Mahon
ing and Shenango valleys was in progress.
The reports not only show a. reduction in
production, but indicate that stocks, though
large, are no longer increasing.
"All of these facts should give strength
to the market, and would were not the pro
duction still very large. We ari producing
at the present time at the rate of 9,000,000
tons a year, and on the basis of the five re
ports given above of nearly 9,750,000 tons.
Production must be much less than this
before mnch improvement can be expected."
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
Tha Leading
Dry Goods House.
rittstmr?, fz
Friday, May 13, B3J.
M HE & GO.'S
PENN AVENUE STORES.
A CHANGE TO RAPID TBANSIT.
The Contract Let for the Equipment of .the
West End Koad.
At a meeting of the West End Street
Railway Company yesterday afternoon the
contract for the equipment was awarded to
the Westinghouse Comcany. The order is
for 25 cars, which will require 50 motors and
four 150 horse-power generators.
Booth & Flinn yesterdav commenced
tearing up the old tracks, and it is expected
the chnnge to a rapid transit line will be
completed by August
CONTINUATION
OF OUR GREAT
BARGAIN -:- SALE
-OF
NO matter where your rooms are located
If they are desirable they can bo rented by
advertising In the To Let Booms Cent a
Word Columns of the Bally and Sunday
DISPATCH.
WHEN
It comes to Youths' Shoes
SIMEN
Will give you values that for service
and general makeup, combined with
low prices, will save you money.
Youths' Veal Calf Tip Button Shoes
at $1; Sizes 11 to 2, Solid Leather.
Unequaled for Wear.
And at
$1,25
A fine finished solid wearing button,
sizes ii to 2, fully worth 1.50.
Have a look at them. It will pav.
If you want something for dress for
the boy, here it is at
$1.50.
Finest calf, dongola tops, worked
button holes. Good wearing, neat
fitting. The best shoe you ever saw
at Si. 50. Lots of good solid wear
for the boys.
Youths' Patent Leathers at $1.50,
heel or spring heels.
The best assortment of Youths' and
Boys' Shoes at
SIMEN'S,
78 OHIO ST., ALLEGHENY, PA,
Store closes
urday.
at 6 p.m., except Sat-
myl3-3iwy
AN advertiser writes: "Please strap my
adlet room rented." One small advertise
ment In the Cent a Word Columns of THE
DISPATCH did this.
8:50 P. M.
SATURDAYS
Is the latest momontat which small
advertisements will be received at tlio
For insertion in the
SUNDAY DISPATCH.
On woelc days the office will remain
open until 9 r. u. aa usual.
Tho Penna. It. It. Co.'s Experience.
The experience of tho Penna. Railroad
Co. in cleaning their cars and offices is a
curious example of tho benefits of chem
istry when applied to the small things of
lifo.
1 ho railroad company had sreat trouhlo
with tho paint scufflns and wealing out on
their cats. The matter reached n climax
when a now car. built lor the director and
finished in tho finest manner, was icturncd
to tho Altoonn shops after ono trip with the
paint looking scuffed and dingy. The cauo
of this rapid doteiioiation of tho paint was
leferied to the chemist of the company, Mr.
C. U. Dudley, of Altoona. By cat ef ill in
vestigation and analysis ho discovered that
the whole trouble was caused by the soap
used in waihinrf the cars contaiuln; :i large
amount of fice and cirhonate all.ali, which,
of course, was latul to the varnish and
paint.
After many experiments and test', Mr.
Dudley advised, and tho company adopted,
specifications and chemlc.i I tests, to which
all soap purchased by them would havo to
comply. Since tho adoption of these iulo
tho railroad company have had no ttonblo
Jrom having their paints destroyed, and in
this one item alouo savo mauy thousands of
dollars annual I v.
Messis. W. & H. Walker, of Pittsburg,
havo been supplying this soap to tho Petina.
Railroad Co., and thev have now concluded .
to olFer this same soap under tho uamo of
Walker's Family Soap, lor goneral house
hold uses.
If a cioat corporation like the Penna. Rail
road Co. finds that it pays them well to use
nu absolutely puio scap, of how much more
relativo importance is It for evory house
keeper to do so.
Ask your grocer for Walkei's Family Soap
and try it. It costs no inoie than oiulnary
soap. Jim
A pew uncalled for hiecch-lnadine guns
and lilies for salo cheap at I. E. Isaacs'
Money Loan Office, 201 Smitufleld street,
corner Second avenue.
DIAMOND
FINGER RINGS.
New coods, Just received Fine White and
Blue White Gems, porfect, brilliant and
handsomely cut, mounted in solitaires, 2, 3
and 4 stones nnd clusters, and combined
with Kubv, Emerald, Sapphire, Opal and
Peatls. Prices exceedingly moderate. A
pleasure to show our stock.
E. P. ROBERTS & SONS,
FIFTH AVE. AND MARKET ST.
myll-MWF
HUGUS&HACKE
mothers, Urine Tour Little Ones
To Anfrecht's gallery, 77 Fifth avenue, and
get 12 cabinets lor $1 or a life-size crayon
Ior3S0.
DRESS
GOODS.
Something of interest for all in our
Magnificent Assortment of Spring
and Summer Goods.
New Homespun Suitings, all wool,
gray, beige and brown mixed color
ings, 50c A YARD.
Several lines of Scotch and French
Vigoreaux Suitings, stripes, checks
and mottled enects, were Si. 25 and
51.50. This week at $1 A YARD.
French Jacquard Suttings, ex
quisite designs and all the new shades,
Si to gi.50 A YARD.
In French Crepons we show some
choice new designs, mixed and plain
colors, in a variety of prices ranging
from $ 1 to S3 A YARD.
50-iNCH wide All-Wool Serges
for tailor-made costumes, all the de
sirable colors, two special.qualities,
gi.50 and $2 A YARD.
Handsome Novelty Robes and
Individual Dress Patterns at
greatly reduced prices.
Cor. Fifth Ave. and Market St.
myS-vwm
SPRING
'DRESS GOODS.
We call your attention this morn
ing to the following entirely new
items. They are fully in keeping
with the spirit of this great sale. The
goods at the prices will speak for
themselves. Come this morning:
AT 25c A YARD:
36-inch all-wool Stripe and Plaid
Suitings, in a variety of choice
new styles, all new spring colors
FORMER PRICE 50c
AT 25c A YARD:
44-inch wool Plaid and Stripe Suit
ings, in a variety of new spring
styles and colorings FORMER
PRICE 50c.
AT 37 1-2c A YARD:
36-inch all-wool Cheviot Mixture
Suitings, choice new shades of tan
and brown-FORMER PRICE 50c
AT 40c A YARD:
36-inch all-wool Cheveron and Di
agonal Mixtures, in new spring
shades of tan and gray FORMER
PRICE 65c.
AT 50c A YARD:
42-inch all-wool Cheviot Suitings, '
a large line of very choice new
spring shades FORMER PRICE
AT 50c A YARD:
40-inch all-wool Whipcord Vi
gogne Suitings, in grays, tans and
browns, the verv latest shades
FORMER PRICE 1.
AT 50c A YARD:
39-inch all-wool fancy Jacquard
Cheveron and Jacquard Cord Suit
ings, in light spring shades
FORMER PRICE 75c
AT 50c A YARD:
40-inch all-wool English Stripe
Suitings, in choice styles and most
fashionable colorings FORMER
PRICE 85c.
AT 75c A YARD:
Fine French all-wool Crepon Suit
ings, colors and weaves copies of
finest imported goods, very stylish
FORMER PRICE $1.
AT 75c A YARD:
44-inch all-wool Fancy Figured
Vigogne and Cheveron Suitings, in
a large range of spring shades
FORMER PRICE S1.50.
AT 75c A YARD:
44-inch all-French Crepon Suit
ings, the most fashionable fabrics
of the season, in all new spring
shades FORMER PRICE 51.50.
AT 75c A YARD:
44-inch all-wool Serpentine Diag
onal Suitings, in all the latest
spring shades FORMER PRICE
AT 90c A YARD:
46-inch all-wool fine French Vig
oreaux Suitings, in 10 new spring
shades FORMER PRICE S1.50.
AT $1 A YARD:
42 and 44-inch all-wool imported
Novelty Suitings, in a hundred
different styles and colorings, all
new FORMER PRICE $1.50,
1.75 and $2.
AT $1,25 A YARD:
48 and 50-inch all-wool imported
Novelty Suitings, Whipcords,
Checked Bedfor.ds, Jacquards,
Cheverons, etc. 50 new spring
shades FORMER PRICE $2 to
$2.5-
AT $1.50 A YARD:
52-inch all-wool French Drap Vic
toirc Suitings in 20 new and fash
ionable spring shades FORMER
PRICE S2.75.
Bargains in Black Dress Goods.
At 75c, 44-inch French Tamise
were S1.25.
At 50c, 45-inch French Mousse
line were 75c.
At 45c, 40-inch French Mousse
line were 65c.
At 75c, 42-inch Novelty Suitings
were S1.50.
These bargain items tell their story
without comment.
REMNANTS TO-DAY
ON
CENTER TABLE.
The choicest goods of the season
at our usual Remnant prices. Lengths
2 to 8 yards. A thousand bargains.
JOS. H0RNE & CO.,
609-621 PE3N AYENUE.
my 15