?
THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 189a
12
THE MAYOR'S VETOES.
Three Ordinances Fail to Eeceive
His Honor's Approval.
REASONS AGAINST THE EXCHANGE.
Objecting to Gifts of Valuable Railroad
Franchises.
FREE G1S CHEAPER THIN ELECTRICITY
Mayor Gourley exercised the prerogative
of his office yesterday, and set his veto heel
upon three ordinances. He decided that
Councils was mistaken in granting fran
chises to the Exchange and the Pittsburg,
Allegheny and Manchester Street Railway
Companies, and in authorizing Controller
Morrow to settle with the Allegheny
County Light Company in the electric
lighting of Municipal Hall and the market
house.
In vetoing the Exchange Street Railway
ordinance, the Mayor says:
Under the ordinance the company will
have the right to enter upon and construct
its railway or branches or extension thereof
with a single line or track over and along
any and all of the following named streets
or highways or parts thereof: Beglnnine at
the intersection of Fpurth avenue and Mar
ket street, thence along Market street to the
intersection thereof with Liberty avenue,
thence with the consent of the Allegheny
Traction Company and the Transverse Pas
sencer Railway Company along the south
eastern side of Liberty avenne to Sixth ave
nue, and with consent of the Pittsburg,
Allegheny and Manchester Passenger Rail
way Company and Traction Company alone
Sixth avenue to Wood street and to operate
its cars thereon.
An Act of Asicmbly In the Way.
There are several street railway tracks on
Liberty nnd Sixth avenues at the present
time. The act or Assembly of 1S89 expressly
fays: "So extension or branch of a street
railway shall be constructed on anystreet or
highway upon which a track is laid or au
thorized under any existing charter, except
as hereinafter provided." The "hereinafter
provided" refers to the use by one company,
n ith the consent of the city authorities, of
such portion, not exceeding 500 feet, of the
tracks of another company, as may be neces
sary to enable such company to construct a
circuit upon its own road at the end thereof.
If the distance from Market street to Wood
street is more than 500 feet, I cannot see how
the Exchange Street Hallway Company
could, in the lace of this provision of the act
of Assembly, construct its railway upon
Liberty and Sixth avenues even with the
consent of the city and of the company al
leady occupying the streets. Ir 1 am wronc
in my understanding? or the provision re
ferred to in the act of 1SS9, 1 hope some mem
ber of Council more lamiliar than myself
with legislative enactments will explain
what the law really does mean.
It is hardly teasonable to suppose that the
Exchange Street Railway Company desires
simplv to run cars from Wood street by way
of Sixth avenue. Liberty avenue and Market
street to Fourth avenue and stop there. Yet
that is what the ordinance seems to Indicate.
The intention must be to lease the franchise
and property to companies having rights
and privileges upon other streets. This
s-tateuient is justified by the language of sec
tion two. Undoubtedly the object of the
ordinance is to authorize the Buquesne
Traction Company to run it" cars over the
route designated to Fourth avenue, thence
along that street to a connection at Wood
street with the tracks of said comrjanv now
used on Fourth avenue.
Public Sentiment Against the Ordinance.
Where the Exchange Street Railway Com
pany or the Dtiquesne Traction Company
ncquires the l lght to occupy Fourth avenue
between Market and Wood streets, I do not
know. There is nothing in the present ordi
nance granting authority to use that portion
of the street. IIo ever, the important feat
ure of the ordinance is contained in the
provision authorizing the construction of
railway tracks on Market street and the
operation of the cars thereon.
Is it wise to permit street railway com
panies to occupy this street between Lib
erty and Fourth avenues? To this question
I have devoted considerable thought. I
have done mora than this. I have talked
with many of our citizens. In order, if pos
sible, to ascertain the feeling of onr people
on the subject. I have not confined my in
terviews to persons doinir business upon the
line of the street, because I realize, and I
say this witn all respect, that their opposi
tion, while entitled to consideration, is very
largely the repetition of history as regaids
the construction of railways upon any
street. I have talked with citizens in all
partB of our city, and eo far as I am able to
determine the sentiment of the community
is against the operation of cars on this
street.
Market street belongs, peculiarly, to the
general public, and the people of the city
have perhaps a greater interest in It than in
almost any other avenue. Our city markets
are on this street and they are visited by the
great mass of the people of the city on every
market day. The best interests of the city
demand that these market houses should, at
all times, bo accessible to those who bring
to maiket the goods and supplies necessary
to meet tlio wants of the people. These
market houses ate busy places on market
days, and I firmly believe the running of
cars upon the street would prove a constant
annoyance, and a porpetual source of danger,
not only to horses and vehicles, but to men,
women and children. This street is but 22
feet from curb to curb aud is one of the most
crowded thoroughfares in the whole city.
That portion of it between Fifthand Liberty
avenues constitutes the narrow passageway
through which the great mass of people
going to and coming rrom Allegheny City
dally pass. Perhaps 50,000 to 75,000 human
beings pass back and forth along this por
tion of the street every day of the week.
Not Convinced by the Arcnment.
Very frequently, especially in the after
noon, the whole street is converted Into a
footway and crowded with men, women and
children, who are unable to find walking
space on the sidewalk. Add to this mass of
moving humanity the innumerable vehicles
that are constantly coming and going
through this contracted passageway, and
you will be able to form some conception of
the condition of Market street at the pres
ent time. I know it is claimed by the advo
cates of the oidinance, that it only requires
a line or several lines of street oars to re
move this piessuro and relieve the street.
Jiut how a streetcar, rusning Into this nar
row neck every minute or half minute, is to
effect this radical chnnge is a problem which
1 confess my inability to understand. The
argument is based on the assumption that,
outside of the driver of an iron wagon or of
an ice wagon, the people have been taught
to believe that they have no rights that
street cars and street car companies are
bound to respect.
At the intersection of Fifth avenue and
Market street the cars of the Fifth Avenue
Traction Company cross Market street one
w ay or the other on an average about once a
minute. If the cars of the Buquesne Trac
tion Company and the cars of the Allegheny
mid Manchester line are permitted to occupy
JIarket street what will be the result7 We
will have a car crossing Fifth n venue every
30 seconds and a car crossing Market street
every minute; in other words, the intersec
tion of these two prominent streets will be
practically monopolized bv stteet railway
companies. The principal Inlet and outlet
for the people or two great cities will be
turned over to street cars.
That such a condition of things will seri
ously interfere with public travel and the
rights of the people must bo apparent to
any person who will tako the trouble to
carefully examine the situation. 1 am In
f ivor of rapid transit, but I am not In favor
of giving railway companies absolute pos
session of important streets in the business
center of the city to the detriment of the
general public
Interests of the Public Paramount.
It is the business of this city that main
talus and supports our people and insures
our prosperity. Street railways are an
outgrowth of the prosperity of the city, and
while they are a great convenience, they
ought not to be permitted to interfere with
the free and unrestricted use of the streets
for business purposes. The persons most
deeply interested in the passage of this or
dinance are the persons most deeply inter
ested in street railway and railway corpo
rations. Paramount to their Interests are
the interests of the general public which
will, in my Judgment be eriously infringed
upon by the surrender of this Important
street.
The Mayor's second veto was directed at
the ordinance granting additional privileges
to the Pittsburg, Allegheny and Manchester
Passenger Railway Company. His Honor
bets:
The first preamble to this ordinance de
clares that by reason of the termini of
various railways being situate at the inter
section of Ubirty avenue ana Sixth street
the operation or tiu Oiri of Mid traction
companies is attended with nor or less
danger to the publlo. The seoond preamble
proposes to remedy this erll by making
such a distribution of cars of said ttmotlon
companies as will send said oars to other
and additional termini throughout the city.
The ordlnanee then proceeds to give the
Allegheny and Manchester Passenger Sail
way Company the right to oonstruot, main
tain and operate an eleetrlo street railway
beginning at end of Xorthstde bridge on
Seventh street, tbenoe along Duquesne way
to Water street, thenoe along Water street
to-Wood street. Also at end or Northslde
bridge to conneot with tracks of Transverse
Passenger Railway Company, thence along
Seventh street to Liberty. Also at corner or
Sixth and Fenn to connect with south track
of Citizens' Passenger Railway Company,
thence along Penn'a venue to Seventh street,
with authority to straddle said track on
Ponn avenue If permission cannot be ob
tained from Citizens' Railway Company to
use the track already there.
With th Consent or Another Company.
Also with consent or the Allegheny Trac
tion Company to connect with the tracks of
the Transfer Passenger Railway at Sixth
and Liberty, where said streets intersect
with Market. Also with consent of the Alle
gheny Traction Company, said company
shall have the right to operate its cars over
all the streets now used and occupied by the
Allegheny Traction Company for the opera
tion of Its cars, and alsq upon such other
streets as the Allegheny Traction Company,
as lessor of the Transverse Passenger Rail
way Company, may have the right to oper
ate its cars on.
Also, beginning at Liberty and Market,
thence along Market street to Fourth ave
nue, thence along Fourth avenue to Wood
street, thence nlomr Wood street on Trans
verse tracks, with consent of the Allegheny
Traction Company. The ordinance pro
vides also that if the Exohange Street Rail
way Company be authorized to lay tracks
on Market street, then the Pittsburg. Alle
gheny and Manchester Passerger Railway
Company, its successors, lessees and assigns
shall obtain consent of said Exchange Street
Rallwav Company to operate over its tracks
on Market street. Also, that it shall be
authorized to agree with such street railway
companies as nave rights and tracks on
Fourth avenue between Market and Wood
to use sach tracks for the operation of its
cars. If permission from other companies
cannot be had for the use of tracks on Mar
ket and Fourth avenue, then the said Pitts
burg, Allegheny and Manchester Passenger
Railway Company shall have the right to
lav additional tracks upon Market street
arid Fourth avenue, over the route specified.
The ordinance provides for numerous other
rights and franchises which 1 have really
not the time to enumerate.
A Wide-Sweeping Omnibus Measure.
It is an omnibus measure in the fullest
sense of the term. It seems to have been
drawn especially In the Interest of lessors,
lessees, successors and assigns. It Is evi
dently intended to convey all the authority
and grant all the rights, powers, privileges
and franchises which the company may see
fit to use or exercise at any time In tho fu
ture. It is tho most comprehensive and
complex piece ot legislation that has been
submitted to me for approval since I have
occupied this office. Never before, as far as
I have knowledge, has any one ordinance
conferred such extensive rights and privi
leges, and these, too, without one scintilla
of compensation to the city. It even con
tains a provision modifying the section of
the ceneral ordinance requiring companies
to pave between the tracks and one foot out
side thereof. This paving, as provided by
the ordinance, is to be limited to streets not
faved with block stone. The Tiansverse
assenger Railway Company, which occu
pies Wocd street, paved between the tracks
and one foot outside thereof with block
stone as a small compensation to the city
for Its occupancy of the street.
Under this ordinance, the Pittsburg, Alle
gheny and Manchester Passenger Railway
Company is authorized to use the Wood
street tracks Jointly with the Transverse
Company. It will be relieved from all
paving because the street is already paved
with block stone, and yet the ordinance re
quires no other compensation. The com
pany Is granted permission to operate its
cars upon this important street without the
payment or $1 to the city. What Is true or
this street will apply with equal roice to
many or the other streets cnumeiated in
this ordinance.
This ordinance succeeds in distributing
the dangerous termini mentioned in the two
preambles already rererred to, bnt it forget
to say anything about the numerous cross
ings and corners that this distribution con
verts into places of constant danger to the
public
Danger at Fourth and Wood.
Let me refer to one of these. If the Pitts
burg, Allegheny ana Manchester Railway
Company Is permitted to ocoupy Market
street and Fourth avenue, all Its oars will
swing around the corner of Fourth avenue
and Wood street ana oross the tracks of the
Wylie avenue lino In order to reach the
tracks of the Transverse Company on the
east side of this street. We will have cars
circling round Wood to Fourth, and cars
swinging around from Fourth to Wood,
every minute In the day, thus converting a
corner already dangerous Into a place of
ten-fold greater danger. I might speak also
ot Fourth and Market, Filth and Market,
Fifth and Wood and many other crossings
and corners, but time will not permit.
I mention these things to show that while
the ordinance may lessen the danger, as
claimed by the company, at Llbeity and
Market, it will Increase the peril in a dozen
other places. And yet there is no provision
in the ordinance requiring the company to
station men at these dangerous crossings
and corners for the protection of the public
By and by the city will be asked to play the
philanthiopist, as usual, and supply officers,
who shall be paid by the taxpayer, to pro
tect the lives and property of our people
from the companies and corporations that
have become rich, and are becoming richer
by wrestling gratuitous franchises trom our
municipality. Aye, it is said that after
awhile an ordinance will be passed placing a
tax of $50 on each street car operated on the
streets of our city.
nave you calculated the amount of reve
nue this tax will producer Well, just about
$12,000 or $15,000; while it will cost the city
not one cent less than $10,000 annually to pay
the officers required to signal the cars of the
companies and corporations at the crossings
and corners of onr streets. We are told that
street railways are a convenience to the
?ubllc. So one detles this, but It does not
ollow that they should be permitted to
absolutely monopolize the business streets
of the city without some reasonable com
pensation. They are a convenience, but the
peoplo pay for the convenience. They are
primarily for the benefit of the companies
and the pecuniary advantage of their pro
jectors. Giving Away Too Much Value,
We have given away very many valuable
franchises without demanding any equiva
lent return to the city. Some of these have
been utilized by the companies receiving
them, while others have been transferred to
other corporations for valuable considera
tions. Is it not our duty as the sworn repre
sentatives of the people to see that these
numerous ngnts ana privileges which are a
source of so much profit to companies and
corporations are made a source or some rev
enue to our cityT My obj ectlons to the plaoing
of tracks or the operation or cars on Market
street are fully presented In my communi
cation accompanying the Exchange street
railway ordinance.berewlth Inclosed. These
objections apply with equal foroe to this or
dinance and need not be repeated here.
The Mayor's third veto was placed upon
the ordinance authorizing the Controller to
issue his certificates upon the Mayor for
warrants in favor of the Allegheny Light
Company for lighting Municipal Hall and
the market house by electricity. The Mayor
says:
Under a contract with the Pittsburg Gas
Company the city is entitled to the use or
about ten thousand ($10,000) dollars' worth
of gas free. Last j ear none of this gas was
utilized, for the reason that the lighting of
all the public buildings was covered by con
tracts with the electric light company. As
the contraot with the Allegheny County
Light Company expired several months ago
and has not yet been renewed, there seems
to be no obstacle in the way of lighting the
Market House and Municipal Hall with
gas.
Gas Would Cost Nothing.
Gas, I am informed, was substituted for
electric light In the market house April L
but there seems to be some objection to Its
use In Municipal Hall. The market houses
and this hall will consume about all the gas
to which the city Is entitled without charge
and they are the only buildings, It seems, In
which it can be conveniently used. To light
these buildings with eleetrlo light will cost
the city not less than $8,000 or 10,000; to light
them with gas will cost nothing. The light
ing or Municipal Hall with eleetrlo light la
now costing the city at the rate or $1,000 a
year. To light It with gas will cost nothing.
While electric light may be preferable to and
somewhat more convenient than thai of gas,
the difference Is not, in my Judgment, suf
ficient to justify the use of the former when
we can obtain the latter without expense to
thn city.
It was the Intention, when the Appropri
ation Ordinance was under consideration, to
light these buildings with free gas, as the
Item of $8,000 for eleetrlo lighting was
stricken out of the estimates or the Depart
ment of Publlo Works. Why that intention
has not been carried out, I do not know. I
can see no good reason why we should ex
pend four or five thousand dollars in light
ing this hall when we can light It for
nothing. The light that Is good enough for
the great mass of onr citizens in their
residences, is certainly good enough for this
hall, especially when it can bo obtained
free.
WHAT SAY YOU !
Are These Bargains
OR
Are They Not?
It would be a useless waste of
words to comment upon any of the
following bargains which are offered
this week. Mere mention of the arti
cles, with the prices at which we pro
pose selling them, should make things
decidedly lively in our Dress Trim
ming Department. Read and decide
if you cannot save money here:
200 gross fine "White Pearl Buttons, 18 to
26 lines, at lOcperdoz.; worth fully 20c
200 gross finest Cup-shape Pearl Buttons,
18 to 24 lines, at 12fc per dot; worth
fully 25c These were imported before
the McKinley bill became law, and sold
to ns by an overstocked importer.
Fully 1,000 gross Jet, Crochet, Gilt, Steel,
Silk, Mohair and fancy shaped Pearl
Buttons for dress and cloak trimming,
all new styles, at figures remarkably
low.
Nickel-plated Curling Irons at 25c very
cheap. 15 styles of other Hair Curlers
to choose from.
All-Bristle Hair Brush at 23e; worth fally
50c
The "Chic" Dress Litter, used by all first
class dressmakers, and indispensable
for the new trailing skirts, two styles,
at 40c and 50c
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
WE ARE
ALWAYS BUSY.
T3
3T?
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
Because our prices are lower than those of any other house.
Because our goods are all new and of latest design.
Because our terms are so reasonable that anybody can buy.
CALL AND SEE OUR LINE OF
PARLOR SUITS,
BEDROOM SUITS,
BABY CARRIAGES,
FOLDING BEDS,
CARPETS,
DRAPERIES.
DINING ROOM FURNITURE,
HALL FURNITURE,
And everything to completely furnish the home.
XOASH O-R, CTE3DITX
ftLARD'S SHOE STORES are the largest and most pop
ular in Pittsburg. The finest goods, the latest styles and the ut
most satisfaction can always be had at LAIRD'S.
LAID Nil SELL
4,000 PAIRS
OF
KEECH,
923, 925 AND 927
PENN AVE.
my25-Mw
H
AVE you been paying $35 00 to $40 00 for
your Clothing Made to Measurer Don t
do it again until you see the handsome
things we have for $20 00 and $25 00. Twenty new
styles received to-day. lhats the beauty of our
goods. No old stock Everything bright, new and
fresh. Money returned if not satisfactory.
WANAMAKER & BROWN,
39 SIXTH STREET.
SHOES
KATCDH
"ft
OXFORDS
THIS WEEK AT
ESS THAN IF PRICE.
ANDEESON BLOCK.
my31
SKIRT PROTECTORS Combination
Dress Facings, rubber and velvet com
bined. Every requisite for dressmak
ing, and a full assortment of linings,
black and colors; standard qualities
only,
XSpecial rates to dressmakers.
myS0-Jiw
"WELL BRED, SOON WED." GIRLS WHO USE
SAPOLIO
ARE QUICKLY MARRIED. TRY IT IN YOUR NEXT
HOUSE-CLEANING.
ap8-65-TBrT
THIS INK IS MANUFACTURED
-OBK--
J. HARPER BONNELL CO., yS
my30-7-
WOOD ST.
STORES
MARKET ST.
Pairs Ladies' Fine Dongola Lace Oxfords, patent tipped or
plain; Common sense or Opera lasts; very neat and desira
ble, at
Pairs Ladies' Fine Dongola Button, heel or spring heel,
tipped or plain; worth gi.50 to $2, at
Pairs Ladies' Fine r Slippers
Worth $1.50 to $2, at..
720
460
300
480
290
780
t" i. ft Pairs Gents' Fine Slippers and Low-Cut Shoes, worth from
04U $I-S to $2, at
Pairs Misses' Fine Dongola Spring Heel Button, tips or plain,
fully worth $1.50 and $2, at
Pairs Child's Fine Dongola Spring Heel Button
Worth S1.50, at
Pairs Gents' Fine Dress Lace or Congress, Seamless,
toes or tips, -sewed fine style, worth $2, at
SEE IF YOU CAN
KEEP YOUR EYES
ON THIS ARTICLE.
IF YOU DO, IT . WILL CERTAINLY INTEREST YOU.
There is no item in this paper that is more worthy of consideration than this one, because it is a
GUIDE and Warning to the UNTHINKING
Who are in the habit of biting at poisonous bait. WE won't dwell much on this subject, but will say that there
is one thing certain, and that is, THE HARD WORKING MAN who has a family to support will ap
preciate this slice of news, because the workingman is the one who has to struggle to make ends meet, if he
only earns small wages, and is the one who tries to make
HIS DOLLAR
Go the furthest and who appreciates the extent of its purchasing power the most.
G-TUlsrTLEdlEIsr,
Never in the history of our big increasing trade, or during any of our former special sales, has there been such
universal satisfaction, such demonstrative approval and such a grand outpouring of the people as there has been
THIS "WIEIEIEC.
The great surging crowds were a sight to behold, and we will try to make it more interesting before the week is over.
THIS IS WHAT KEEPS US BUSY:
You can have your choice of Light Colored Suits that many houses charge $26, $24, $15 and $18 for
TWELVE DOLLARS!
And perfect beauties in Cutaways and Sacks for
TEN DOLLARS!
Boys' and Children's -Suits at Unheard-of Bargains!
HATS and GENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING GOODS at prices that will encourage you to extend your patronage to
Men's and Boys' Baseball Shoes
Best duck leather trimmed.
Pairs Men's, Boys' and Ladies'
Tennis and Bicycle Shoes at..
99c
99c
99c
99c
99c
plain QQC
99c
99c
99c
360
290
QftA Pairs Men's Splendid Seamless, all solid leather, tap sole, QQC
OUU Lace or Congress, tipped or plain, worth $2, at JJ Jj
680
Pairs Men's Splendid Hob-Nailed, Double Sole Shoes, or OflC
double soles and tap sole without nails, worth $1.50 to $2,at
99'
Cdrne While the Bargains Are Plentiful.
Every Pair Warranted.
Goods Cheerfully Exchanged.
W
M. LAIRD,
limn warn m stores.
r 1
I
433 AND 435
WOOD ST.
7
406, 408, 410
MARKET ST.
m f 4f d Haft! WlfcJl
rllEERsuH II 1 1 Dl
l'JIll MB 1 1 - mAm
CORNER OF
Fifl Ave. aid M St
Jel-U
4 Floors Devoted to Wholesaling in connection
with our Wood Street Retail Store. Power Elevator
my29-10O-MWgn
A WALL PAPER TRUST
Has been formed to take effect July 1. During the- month of
June we will sell you Wall Paper at 6c and jc that sold under
the last trust (or pool as they called it) at 25a We have re
duced every grade in some cases to half die former prices.
We have 1,000 patterns, the finest productions of art, all
less than 50a We have some new patterns of Gold Picture
Moulding at 5c and 6c a foot that costs 12c at any other store.
Have you a room you would like an estimate for papering? A
house or a dozen nouses? If you telephone 1471 or write us a
postal, we send a man with salnples of any kind of paper you
may wish; or we mail samples free to anyone.
We sell strictly pure Linseed Oil, White Lead, all colors
in Oil, Glass, Putty, Varnish and Brushes wholesale. Strictly
pure White Lead and Linseed Oil Mixed Paint at I2jc per
pound. Send for price list
' We sell the Adams Extension Ladder (the best made) at
lower prices than any house in Pittsburg. Also, the Household
Stepladder. Send for price list
We pay freight on all orders of Wall Paper over $3.00.
Also, .freights paid on extension ladders.
G. G. O'BRIEN'S
PAINT and WALL PAPER STORE
292 Fifth Ave",
v V .vwl -.mmmr k., . .,1 .. r,. -
THREE SQUARES
LVjfabfrfc
FROM
xaglo
COURT HOUSE.
.
? H
mttfiUlif 'yfj&SitrW-Hi xit .Hi$tSili$irfrtV 'rifeiltrf-3 'ai ui:k"Si&&i&L
wTvrnc : .w,, .r t w..iMW'np'WBaBrfiji.LWKqpWiiPU 'it liMHUBlj
fuaJP