The Pittsburgh gazette. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1866-1877, February 23, 1869, Image 4

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Eijs rtht6 etaittte.
MEM= DAILY, BY
TENMEAN,IIIIED 00„ Proprietors.
P. Pk PINNIKAIf, ~, JOSIAH SING.
T. P. ECIUSTON, Y. REED, /
Editors and Proprietors.
°mos:
SABETTE BUILDING, NOS. 84 AND 86 FIFTH ST.
OFFICIAL PAPER
E Pinot) gh. Allegheny wad Mir
gimiy Counsy.
Ident- Weettx.l Weekly.
One year., • 00,0neyear.02.5015Ingleeopy..41 1 . 50
One molten 75? Six woe . 1.505 eoßies,e.selvl.2 s
By the week 15iThrenmoe 76 110 . • /..15
5II•M wrier.) t =don . . to Anent,
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 23, 11369.
1 - WE PIIINT L an the ifuide pages of
this morn,tinp's EfAZETTB--'fid vole:
Ephomeria, Slat; News. Third nd Sixth
pages: 'Commercial, .hinancia ifel4,an
, tie and Biter News, MarketB, l imports.
&Dina p 54 6 : Farm, Garden and Iroise
hold. • •
PE'rnor,nuat at Antwerp, 572 f.
U. B.' Balms at t'rankfort. 821
Gow Closed in New York yesterday
at 1382.
ENfaLAND is about to release her Fenian
prisoners by way of conciliation to her
Irish subjects.
Tax House yesterday refused to extend
the free letter carrier ,system into all
towns having' population of more than
ten thousand!
TEE communication from "D. L.,"
touching the proposed modification of the
Jury Law of '67, expresses the very
general sentiment of the bar in the other
counties of Western Pennsylvania, and
to some extent in our own county also.
AN effort to harmonize the views of
Itepubliam Senators upon the , bill to re
peal the Tenure of Office Law, was made
imsuccessfully, yesterday. A majority
evidently favor some action upon the bill,
but it, is not.clear that all of them support
an_abs9lute repeal.,
3rirr another veto from Mr. ANDREW
Jonmson 1 He - finds insuperable difficul
ties in the way of his assent, to such led
islation as can alone revive the languish
ing interests which the Copper bill seeks
to protect. The veto will be acted upon
to-day, bdt we hardly dare hope for the
xe•passage of the bill.
"IN CITY Connens yesterday a motion
was made, - intsport we judged, to accord
President J0112;1130N a welcome on the oc
42asionit his visit to the city on i liis way
to Tennessee. There were three votes
in favorof the motion and twenty times
that many in opposition to it; so, it
seems, A. J. has gained little popularity
since his last visit here.
NErxrinu of the important projects be
fore tge City Councils was disposed of
finally yesterday. The Park matter went
over to a second reading, under the rules,
in the Common branch. The Paid Fire
Department excited earnestliscussion in
the Select Chamber, and Several amend
ments were offered, but the measure was
defeated by a close vote, 23 to 19. It will
probably be reconsidered. at the next
meeting. .
TREY are attempting, at Washington.,
to revive the public interest-in their "raw
head and bloody bones" story about the
removal of -General GRANT from the
' command before Vicksburg. There is
just about an 'omnibus-load of mousing
politicians engaged in engineering the
raid upon Ex Secretary Srszttorr, which
promptedless by their toward
him than by their sycophantic • hope to
- propitiate the favor of the President-elect.
How little these people 'understand Gen.
GRANT I .
THE CONSITSIITIONAL ABISSD/18.1i.T
was again discussed in the Senate yester
day without any- action being reached.
It is not bnprobable thatthe measure will
be Permitted to go over to the next Con
gress, and as that body will have at the
organization, in the House, 145 Republi
cans to 63 Elemocrats, a clear two-thirds
majority, there Can be no doubt as to
;
the fuel result. Howeier, Mr. STEW
err, 'of the Senate, who has charge of
the matter, is determined to put it through
before adjournment - in, some shape, and
he may in the end prove successful.
• , -
THE JOLEASAWUATALLEY RAIL
' •- • - WAY, • ' •
We are assured that the bill, now pend
, ing before the Legislature, and upon
which were based certain strictures in the
GAZE/111 of Saturday, is to be amended,
at the instance of its own friends, the
Pleasant Valley Railway Compiny, so as
to obviate entirely any fair objections: _ As
aniended, it will omit all reference told
. legheny, (within the conionie finits of
which its friends claim already to possess
the requisite franchiges;) and will simply
confer upon the Company the right to
gross the Hand street bridge and ellen
d
their trick up Hand, stopping at the cor
zer of Liberty—and this abject to the
approval of our Councils. We also un
denstsuid that the proposition in that
shape has already secureifthe assent' of
. members of Councils although notin
any official form, so that there IS no doubt
that this ratification can be secured.
This amendment completely removes
the objections which we endeavored to
present the other day. It is but just to
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the friends of that project to add, that
they disclaim any intent to obtain any
improper advantages under the phrase
ology of the bill as first introduced. As
it will now be modified, no additional
complications will result in Allegheny,
the rightkof all parties standing as now
under the existing grants from the au
thorities, which are said to authorize the
Company to come to the Allegheny .end
of the bridge. The authority to cross
the bridge and thence to Liberty ought
not to be denied. The Company now
conforms its purposes to the general prin
ciples which are most wisely to regtdate
our municipal policy, thus placing itself /
right upon the record, and upon a meri-1
torious foundation in point,of tact. Tite
it becomes entitled to the favor of Coun-:
cils, and to the goOd will of the commu-1
Tilly. I
So far from our strictures upon especial
features of that bill being a mark of and
friendliness to the Pleasant Valley Rail
way project, we take pleasure in saying
that, in our judgment, no projeet of the'
sort has greater intrinsic merits than this,
or upon which Councils and the public
ought more heartily to concilr:. While it
was unfortunate that their bill was so
loosely and vaguely drawn up as to re-
Anirt - ithe censure of the press, it Ms af
forded an opportunity La the considera
tion of the , general principles which
should control all these questions, and
which we desire to recur to and develop
still more, at an early day, having in
view, alike, the public good and the more
systematic and provident adjustment of
our street-railway system.
-OUR COMMON SCROOLS.
We have,in a volume of 406 pages, the
full Report of Superintendent WICKER
SHAM, upon — the Schools of the Common
wealth. We have heretofore given to
our readers a partial synopsis of this ex
,ceedingly interesting document, but find,
upon a close examination, some facts
which are worthy of public attention and
of the notice of the press.'
In congratulating the people upon the i
last year's subetantial proofs of the pro
gress of our system of public education,
the Superintendent is amply sustained by
the record. While we deplore the fact
that seventy-five thousand of our children
seem to be. altogether excluded, by pa
natal neglect, from the instruction which
the Public policy presents alike at the
service of all, it is gratifying to know
that the increased average attendance of
last year, which was 23,234, if continued
in the same ratio, or anything like it,
will, in a few years more, bring every
child in the State within the range of in
struction, and, thereby, of preparation
for useful citizenship. The Common
wealth, has been niggardly of nothing,
either of her authority or of her means,
which should contribute to one of the
noblest and foremost of public duties—
that of : laying the solid foundation of
ood republican citizenship deep and
broad, in . the intelligence of her youth--
the future State.
The system taught, last year an average
of 508,104 children, at a total cost for all
purposes of $6,200,537.96—0r a trifle
over $12.00 per head. What this system
is worth to the mass,of our people, each
of our readers can judge, when he will
take the trouble to reflect upon the dif
ference there might have been, if he had
been called upon to pay this annual charge
for each of hiss.hildren thus taught at the
public expense. How many parents there
are to whom this expenditure would have
seemed onerous 1 How many tq whom
it, would have been onerous in fact !
How many, who found that the other ex
penses of their children's instruction, in
the way of, baoks and somewhat better
clothing, seemed quite as much as ,they
could support . Haw many, who still
grudged even these outlays, not pausing
to consider that the Commonwealth—its
tax-payers, its people of substance—con
tributes everything else
The school property of the State is es
timated it nearly $11,000,000. Within
a fraction of $2,000,000 were expended
for building purposes last year, and prob
ably quite as, much will be spent in that
way in the year now current. The de
tailed reports from the cities and counties
show a general interest 'in the improve
ment of edifices, in many cases marked
by the strongest desire to render the build
ings, not only ample in- essentials, but at
tractive to the children themselves.
There remain but ten districts in the
Commonwealth which still refuse to pat
schools in operation under this system,
one of these being in Beaver, one in
Somerset and the residue in McKean,
Northumberland, York and Wyoming.
Their continued refusarwill impose upon
the authorities the imperative duty of in
sisting upon compliance with the law.
The State Normal Schools and the Dia
trict and County Institutes continue to
justify the encouragement which has
been {diem them. The creatidn of Coun
ty Superintendencies has proven of the
greatest value in securing the faithful and
Judicious; administration of the system.
A few of the cities, Allegheny being one,
have so far neglected to elect . Superin
tendents mider the law—an omission
which the Report might have characteriz
ed as something more than "strange."
Certificates, permanent for three years,
have been granted to 282 teachers, of
whoni 66 were in Allegheny. The atten
dance at Normal Schools has increased
nearly one-half; The qualifications of the
Pinner and the - zeal of tho latter give
gratifying , assurance that the work of
instruction is to be, committed, more and
more,"to competent hands.
Our own county of Allegheny returned
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PITTSBURGH GAZETTRir TUESDAY, - FEBRUARY 13, ° : ls69•
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629 schools, with 677 temihers, and an
average attendhnc.e of 27,793 pupils. The
total of taxes levied was $448,443.73, the
total receipts from all sources $446,373,
and the total expenditures $525,951.25,
showing a balance l i of debt about $90,000i
Twenty.one new houses were built, at
cost of over $225000, some of them,
such as the Fourth Ward of .Alleghenl,
Seventh Ward of Pittsburgh, and those
in East Birmingham, Tarentum, Char
tiers and Scott, beam especially to be
admired.
The Institute h ld in Pittsburgh; in
/March last was atte ded by six hundred
and four teachers, itta(l was the largest
educational meeting) ever held in the
county./ Its proceedlngs awakened the
liveliest interest. and l gave the most flat
tering auguries for the future of popular
education among us.
Our dwindling space has other de
mands, and we dismiss this subject with
the highest commendations for the zeal
and capacity exhibited by the State Super
intendeut, and our grateful testimony to the
wise forecast and splendid generosity
which have shaped, and are pledged to
sustain the comthozschool system of
Pennsylvania.
THE JURY LAW.
Eni'roas GAZETTE: I see by your re
port of the proceedings of the Legisla
ture at Harrisburg that a bill passed the
House a few days. ago,nmending the jury
law of 1867, by substituting the County
Commissioners for the President Judge,
in conjunction with the Jury Commis
sioners. The law as now in force con
fides the selection of •juroni to one Repub
lican Jury Commissioner and one Demo
cratic Jury Commissioner, together with
the President Judge of the Court., In
practice, the President Judge takes no
part in the proceedings whatever, leaving
the whole of the duties to the two Com
missioners, .which of catu ( se secures ju
ries equally divided, one half of one par
ty and one half of the other, and abso
lutely and completely excludes all , politi
cal bias and influence from the jury-box.
This is a very salutary law, and renders
the highest satisfaction to all honorable
men wherever the Commissioners elected
have been men of probity and intelli
gence, and have conscientiously dis
charged their duties.
There is another class of persons who
are very restless under the opetatlon of
this law. This class of persons is corn
posed mainly of lawyers, whose abilities
are just sufficient to secure their constant
defeat, unless they have a jury always
committed through political motives to
'give a verdict on their side, right or .
wrong. The fairness of the law is ex
ceedingly repugnant to their natures,
and its working is injurious to weir prac
tice. Of course we cannot expect from
a - dabster, who deals in political trickery,
that dignity of professional demeanor and
scrupulous honor in his professional deal
ing, which, trom time immemorial, have
distinguished the lawyer from the petti
fogger, and therefore appeal to those
members of the Legislature, and to Gov.
Cleary, who can relishes fair and equita
ble transaction, even if it does justice to
a political opponent, to act themselves
against the repeal or modification of this
Jury bill of; 1867 as originally enacted.
-D. L.
Regulir Monthly Meeting. ,
A. regular monthly meeting of City
Councils was held yesterlay, (Monday,)
February 22, 3869.
Members present—Messrs. Aid, Arm
strong, Brown, Burgwin, Coffin, Craig,
Edwardi, Gallaher, Gross, Hallman,
Hartman, Holmes, Herron, Jones, Kane,
Bellew, Kirk, Leaman. =fel, Lloyd,
Marshall, MOITOW, Murray, Muidoch,
McClelland, McEwen, McMahon, Phil
, Quinn. Rafferty, Rees, Rush, Scully,
Shipton, Schmidt, Torrens, Wainwright,
Z. Wainwright, S. J. Wilson, White,
Watson, Zern and President McAuley.
The minutes of the preceding meeting
were read and approved.
The President presented a petition(
from Oscar. S. Lamb It Co., relative to
busineas tax. Referred to Finance Com
mittee with power to act. '
Mr. Phillips, a petition from members
of the Fire Department, asking Councils
to takethe necessary action for the crea
tion of a Paid Fire Department. Received
and filed. .
Mr. Bees, a petition for a lamp post at
Diamond and 14berty. street. Referred
to the Committee on Gas.
Mr. Gallaher, a petition from members
of the Vigilant Fire Company against the
appropriation of their private property
by the city authorities. Received and
Mr. Murdoch, a petition from property
owners on Shady Lane, &eking that Bald
lane be opened to a width of fifty feet.
Referted to the Survey Committee, -
Also, a petition :askingthat said lane
be opened to a width of sixty feet. Re
ferred to the Survey Committee. .
Mr. Littell, presented a ixfmmunlea
tion from the members of the Allegheny
Fire Company favoring a Paid Fire De
partment. Received and flied.
Mr. Holmes, a petition for the change of
survey of Liberty avenue. Referred to
the Survey Committee: .
Mr. Poillips presented a communion
from the City Assessor, Mr. Phelps,
transmiting various exhonorations from
assessment. Referred to the Finance
Committee.
Mr. Hartman, a piititio4 for a wood.
en building on Seventh avenue, above
Grant street. Referred to Committee on
Wooden Buildings.
Also, a petition for the grading and
paving of Charles alloy. Eighth ward.
Referred to the Street Committee.
Ms. Watson, a petition for opening
Pearl street. Referred to the Survey
Committee. •
Mr. Laufman, a petition for the grad
ingend paving with Nicolson pavement
Liberty Avenue and - Forbes street. Re
ferred to the Street Committee..
Mr. Phillips, from the Finance Com-.
mittee, submitted a communication from
the City Controller, acconmanying which
ty r - = must the city fbr the wa
if the , Diamond alley sewer.
and the billof Y. R.
for serving grading
ds(l, a comentinica
tad. relative to husi
lent from the Om-
Mg the disburse-.
reentry to the 19th
te indebtedness of
mai year. The dis
so,6Bo 28, leaving
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CITY COUNCILS.
Select Council.
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a balanee of 11497,48 b 44, - of the appropria
tion for the present fiscal'year.
The.communication was received and
filed, and the bills ordered to be paid.
Mr. White, from the committee on
wooden buildings submitted a report ad
verse to the erection' of an iron clad
building on Congreis street. The bill
was received.
The report from the special committee
on the assessments for the change of
grade On High street, submitted a coin
munication from the city solicitor, relative
to the payment of said assessmennts,from
which it appears that there has been
money enough collected to pay siXty
eight per cent. of the damages assessed.
The report was accepted. ,
Mr. Edwards, from the com mittee ap
pointed to audit the accounts cif the Cen
tral Board of Education, pres nted a re
port.ii • i
On mo on or Mr. Edwards ; , he report
was acc pted./and the Centr , . 43oard of
Education instructed to have it pub
liehed.
Mr. Holmes a petition asking that the
fire alarm telegraph ,be extended to the
18th ward. Referred to Committee on
Fire Alarm Telegraph.
Mr. Shipton presented a resolution rel
ative to the Water Committe, aontinning
the Water Extension Committee of last
year.
On motion of Mr. Craig, the resolution
was laid over.
Mr. Brown presented a petition for a
board walk in the Sixteenth ward, from
Liberty avenue along Elm street. Re
ferred to Committee on Roads.
'Mr. Jones, Chairman of po Special
Committee appointed to Investigate the
accounts, &c., of Mr:ltiobbs, City Gauger,
presented the following report:
To the Honorable the &Zeit and Common
Councils of the City of Pittsburgh:
GENTLEMEN: The Committee appoin
ted by the Select and Common Council
on the 12th day of January, 1869, to in
quire into the Gaugers construction of
law in relation to his fees for gauging oil,
tiz.c., in the limits of the City of Pitts
burgh, submit the following report, to
wit :
After a full and careful examination of
the Act of Assembly of April, 1862, and
the several ordinances regulating the
ganging of oil, ctc., in the city hmits,
have come to the conclusion that the
Ganger, J. H. Nobbs, was mistaken in
his oonstrnotionof the laws and ordinan
ces regulating the gauging of oil in bulk
in the city limits.
We have heard the statement of Mr.
Nobbs, and examined the article publish
ed over his name in the Leader of Janu
ary 10th, 1869, have examined Thomas
Steel, Esq., late Controller, and Messrs.
Litton and Edwards, former Gaugers.
Mr. Nobbs does not claim that he re
turned any oil that he gauged in bulk—
only what he gauged In barrels—admits
that certificates were given for the oil
gauged in bulk, &c., signed J, H. Nobbs,
Gauger, and City Gauger thus using his
official signature withou t official
returns.
J. H. Nobbs, in the returns made by
him during the past four years, (during
which time he has been,City Gauge r,
paid into the City Treasury amounts as
follows:
bl 4. Gusged. AWL raid Clt
3,3,050 12.137 59
:55.197 9 636 46
76,117 2.963 95
45.191 1,7/6 81 •
sse.:..
5....
It will be observed from the above re
turns that there has been a great falling
off in said four years. The proof was
that there was but little, if any, falling
off in the trade of liquid merchandise.
We submit the figures without com
ment.
Nobbs admits in his letter of Jan
uary 10th, 1869, that be received for gaug
ing
Cars in 1868
Barges'
Total . 86,410 00
For which no return was made to the
City, Treasurer.
' Me. Littell says he returned to the City
Treasurer all oils ganged by him in bulk,
.e.c., In the limits of the city during his
term of City Gauger. '
The Committee believe the ordinances
regulating gauging oil and other liquids
in the City 9f Pittsburgh are very im
perfect, and ought to be so amended as
to prevent city officials hereafter from
putting two constructions upon them.
AU of *hich is submitted.
E. P. J 07.471,
S. MORROW.
Mr. Jones presented a minority report,
as follows:
The Committee appointed by resolu
tion of January 12,1860. to examine the
ordinance ,- relative to gauging, etc., ro•
spectfullY report:
That they have met from time to time
at the office of E. P. Jones, Esq., and
given the parties a full, fair and impar
tial hearing. They had before them and
heard the statements of Thomas Steel,
Esq., late City Controller, J. H. Nobbs,
Esq., City Gauger, and Messrs. Littell
and 'Edwards. former gaugers, and after
mature deliboratien they have arrived
At; the conclusion that J. IL Nobbs, the
City Ganger, has fully, fairly and hon
estly discharged the duties of his office,
and has regularly paid into the City
Treasury ail the monies which he was
.bound to return under existing laws.
The only point of difference and dis-
Ede is as to whether the City Ganger is
trAti to return and pay into the City
&dory a portion of the com
pensation . received by him for
measuring oil in , bulk. Whether
he is bound to do so or not
depends upon the true construction of
the laws, now in force on the subject,
which consist of the ordinance as con
tained in Foster's Digest, page 88, and
the act of Assembly of the 6th of April,
1862, "relative to Inspectors and Gangers
for the county of Allegheny and city of
Pittsburgh," also, ordinance "regulating
the bringing of carbon oil into the city,".
passed February 24, 11162. t :
By reference to the first two, it will be
seen that provision is made only for the
ganging of oil contained in barrels, or
portable casks, which the gauger Is di
rected to inspect, measure and brand, so
that the 010m:ice oft he contents of each
may be apparent to each purchaser into
whose hands it may pass. That neither
the ordinance Or act of Assembly em
braces and covers bulk oils is apparent,
not only froth the phraseology of the
laws, but from the construction put upon
them by the ordinance of the 24th-of
February, 1862, which expressly prohib
its, find makes it a penalotlonse, to bring
buit oils within the city limits.
No rate of fees Is fixed by law for the
ganging of bulk,oil; but on the contrary,
the gauger is 'prohibited bylaw from
ganging it, in his official,capacity, and
by what rule of right or rale can the
city claim and take ; from an Officer a
portion of the proceeds received by - him
for services for doing what the city by
Its legislation hati declared to be an. Me.
• Sal - W 2 4 ., ' - • - , - ' '
Mr. Nobbs has been in the habit of
ganging or measuring • bulk boats and
tanks, situated, along the - Allegheny
river, from Pittsburgh to Aladdin, in
Armstrong county.' So have other par
ties; but:111 the opinion or 'your Commit
tee, he is no more entitled to pay any
portion of his earnings from this source
into the city treatetry, than he would be
to pay over his earnings, dozing his.
c i
term, as a carpenter: ..•
When Mr.Nobbs gauged 11 inbarrelt,
casks, etc., within thecity HMOs, he
gave his as city ganger, bdt
, .
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when acting as an individual in gauging
bulk oil in boats or tanks, he issued his
certificate as gauger merely. By reference
to the proceedings of the Councils
under date of July 25th and 27th. 1868, it
will be seen that Mr. Nobbs, anticipating
d fficnity on this subject, brought the
matter to the attention of the Ordinance
Committee, who reported an ordinance
to supply the deficiency in the city leg
islatiop on this subject, which, unfortu
natelyj for the interests of - the city, was
not enacted into a law.
We understand that the committee ap
pointed to revise the city code will pre
sentkan ordinance on the subject which
will obviate thelifficulty in future. We
therefore respectfuly pray to be discharg
ed from the further consideration of the
subject.
JOHN BARTON.
PHILIP WEDIENBERGER.
N. P. REED..
i
Mr. Brown moved the reports be re
ceived.
Mr. Shipton moved toamtmd by laying
the majority report on the table and re
ferring the minority report to the City
Solicitor.
Mr. Phillips moved to amend by re
ferring both reports to the City Solicitor .
for his opinion. •
Mr. Shipton accepted the amendment,
provided the City Solicitor be instructed
to institute legal proceedings in order to
have the matter finally settled.
Mr. Brdwn objected to passing a reso
lution instructing the Solicitor - to ineti
tnte legal proceedings, but thought the
matter should be referred to him, allow-
Intl him to use his own judgment in re
gard to it,
Mr. Burgwin asked that the Solicitor,
who was present, give Councils his
opinion.
Mr. Slagle, the Solicitor, stated that
the question was entirely new and that
it had no precedent. ,He believed that
the matter should be investigated by
legal proceedings.
After some further discussion the re
/ports were referred to the Solicitor, with
Instructiens to commence legal proceed
ings.
The Chair, read a communication rela
tive to tne removal of bodies from Kerr's
and the catholic Cemetery, on the-line
of Locust street. The Commissioners
appointed for the purpose ask for $7,000,
which amount will be necessary to com
plete the work. Referred to Finance
Committee, with power to act.
Mr. Phillips called up the proposed
act to create a Paid Fire Department.
presenMd at the-r . , preceeding meeting of
Council. whiclerme published in full.
i
Mr. ZWainright moved to amend the
seventeenth section by striking out the
mediate" and insert 'the"lst
day of J nusrf:lB7o." Adopted.
Mr. `I mitred to amend the
eighth-a ction, by adding the following:
Provid d, That no taxes shall be lev
ied upon such portions of the rural dis
tricts, as are at present inaccessible to
water. The want of water making a lire
department of no use to such district.
Mr. Rafferty moved to lay the amend-,
ment on`
the table. The motion pre-'
veiled.
Mr. Hartman moved to postpone the
matter until next meeting.
Mr. Kirk moved to amend, by postpon
ing to be taken up at a special, meeting
on Monday.
The yeas and nays were called and re
sulted as follows:
Yects.—Metists.VAhli Coffin, Gallaher,
Hartman, Kane: Kirk, Morrow, Mur
doch, McClelland, McMahon, Rees,
Rush. Schmidt, Wainright, Z. Watson
and Zern-16.
Nay& —Messrs. Armstrong, Brown,
Burgwin, Craig. Edwards, Gross, Hall
man, Holmes, Herron Jones, Kehew,
Laufman, Litton, Lloyd, Marshall, Mur
ray, McEwen, Phillips, Quinn, Rafferty.
Scully, Shipton, Torrens, Wainright, S,
J., Wilson, Whit e and McAuley-27.
$2,865 00
3,515 00-;
So the motion to postpone was lost.
Mr. Kehew moved to reconsider the
action of Council in amending the sev
enteenth section. The motion was lost.
Mr. Coffin moved to amend, so as to
require the submission of the mutter to
a vote of the peopiebefore it should go
into operation.
Mr. Littell moved to lay the amend
mbnt on the table. The motion pre
vailed. • .
Mr. Hartman moved as an amendment
to the eighth section to strike out that
portion relative to the taxation of insur
ance companies. f
The amendment was lost by a decided
vote.
Mr. - 11nrgwin moved to strike out that
portion of the section relative to life in-
Burance companies. Lwt.
Mr. Gallaher moved as an amendment
to the eighth section that bankers and
brokers be taxed. - The motion was lost.
Mr. Kirk moved to amend the same
section so as to require the Board of Es
timate provided for in the act to report
to Councils who shall cause the' tax to be
levied. The amendment was adopted.
Mr. Hartman moved to amend section
fpurth, which provides that the Fire De
.partment shall have the exclusive right
to extinguish fires, to insert the words
"except indivdual efforts and apparatus',
for extinguish i ng fires." Lost.
Mr. Burgwir9moved to amend section
thirteen by inserting after the words
"Fire Department' of the City of Pitts.
burgh," the words "and belonging to the
city." The amendment passed.
Mr. Hartman moved to amend the '
twelfth section , by providing that all fines
and penalties collected shall go into the
city treasury for the use of the Fire De
partment. 'The amendment was lost. •
Mr. Armstrong moved to amend the
second section by striking out the word
nappoint" and inserting "elect." No so
tion.
Mr. Phillips moved that the bill be ap
proved and forwarded to Harrisburg.
Mr. Brown called the previous ques
. tion.
.The question, shall the main question
be put, was decided in the affirmative.
The yeas and says were on the
main question with the following result:
Yeas—Messrs. Brown, Craig, Edwards,
Gross, Hallman, Holmes" Herron Ko
hew, Laufman, Littell, Mar shall;
Morrow, AfcEwen, Shipton, Torrens,
Wilson White, McAuley-49.
Nays--Ahl, Armstrong, Benjamin,
Coffin, Gallaher, Hartman, - Kane,
Kirk,
Murray.,
v. Murdoch ,. McClelland, McMa
hon, Phillips Quinn, Rafferty, Rees,
Rhatil'SettliY.Sehmidt, Watson, Wain
wright, Z., Wainwright, 5..1., Zern-23:
The motion was lost.
, A Council adjourned.
Common Connell came to order at two
o'elook,Prealdent Tomlinson in the chair.
The following members were. presen
• Messrs. Albeitz, Batchelor, Barton,
Barr, Black, Berger, Bell, Boggs. Booth.
Bulger, Carrot, Caskiy, Case, Chlslett,
Dein, Daub, Dunseath, Fleming, Gerner,
011denfenney, House, Houston, Hutch
inson, Jahn, Kremer, Lanalutn, Lock
hart, Meanor,'MoOre, Moorhead, Morgan,
MoAon, MoCartby, McGlarren, McOand
lcMaster's, McCleine, „McKelvey,
Nixon.i Palmer, Pearson, Penney, Potts,
Reed, Rebman, Rosewell. Rook, Selferth,
Sims, Scott. Verner. Vetter, Vick;
Waughter, Welddn, Welsh, Welsenber
ger, Wilson, Ardary and President Tom
ninon., •
PETITIONS, COMEIINIOATIONS, &O.
Mr. Weldon preeented a petition from
property >holders on Webster avenue
asking the widening of said avenue be.
•
Common Council.
■
Mil
tweet' Grant street and Seventh avenn,
Referred to the Committee on Streets.
Also, petition from J. S. Shaffer, ask
ing for a re-adjustment of the assessment
on his property for grading and paving. ,
Dinwiddie street. Referred to Street
Committee.
Also, petition from Messrs. Mackin 1.:
McKay, asking for balance due them for
grading and paving Bedford• street. Re
ferred to Finance Finance Committee.
Also, from Mr. Barras Lowrie resident
on Dinwiddie street, asking for remun
eration for damages done his property
and dwelling, by the grading of said
street. Referred to Committee on Fi-;
•
nanCe.
Also, petition for the erection of a gas
lamp at the corner of Washington street
and Webster avenue. Referred to Com
mittee on Gas Lighting.
Mr.lieliman presented a communica
tion from the members of the Vigil
ant Fire Company protesting against
the appropriation of their propertY,
without compensation, as contempla- -
ted in the proposed act establish
ing a paid Fire Department. The
communications received and filed.
Mr. Case offered'a resolution instruct
ing the meat inspector to establish an of
fice at the Board of Health rooms, estab
lish certain hours of busineas, keep a
record of his operations, and-.report the
same monthly to Councils.
Read three times and passed.
Also, a communication from W. B.
Neeper, Secretary of the Pittsburgh Fire
men's Association, containing a resolu
tion recommending the establishment of
a paid fire department. -
Received and filed.
Mr. Dain, asking that measures be
taken to discontinue the obatraction of
certain street crossings in the Ninth ward,
by the Allegheny Valley Railroad Com
pany
pi shifting their trains. Referred
to Committee on Railroads.
Also, a petition from Mr Moorhead, for
the opening of Rose street. ' •
Also, an ordinance relative to the same.
Referred to Committee on Streets,
Mr. McCandless, a resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Markets to con
sider and report the feasibility of con-
Structing a market house on Centre
avenue, between Miller and Roberts
streets. Referred to Committee on Mar
kets.
Mr. McKelvey, petition from Thomas
Stevens asking. for exoneration from
business tax. Referred to Committee on
Finance. with power to act.
Mr. Welsh, a petition from Patrick
Conner asking permission to erect an
iron-clad building. Referred to Com
mittee on Wooden Buildings.
Also, a resolution instructing the Com
mittee on Gas to have erected a gas lamp
at the corner of Twenty-sixth street and
Spring alley. Referred to Committee on
Gas Lighting.,
- Mr. Berger, petition from Wm. Ham
ilton dr, Co. asking for privilege to erect
an iron clad building on the bank of. the
Allegheny river. Referred to Committee
on Wooden Buildings
Mr. Weisanberger, petition from True
tees of St. Francis lospital asking for
exoneration from taxation. Referred to
Committee on Finance ,with power to act.
Mr. Scott, petition for the pavinof
g
Fortieth street. Referred to Committee
on Streets.
Also, petition , and . remonstrance
'against grading and paving 'of Jones
alley. Similarly referred.
Mr. Pearson, petition for 'opening of
Main street, Seventeenth ward. Referred , -
to Committee on Streets.
Mr. Gerner. petition for sewer on St.
Patrick's alley. Referred to Road Com
mittee.. k"
Mr. Albeitz, petition for gas lamp on
Butler street, Seventeenth ward, near
the forks of the road. Reiferred to Com
mittee on Gas Lighting.
Mr. Barr, petition for sewer on Butler
and Wainwright streets, Seventeenth
ward. Referred to Committee on
Streets.
Mr. Morton, petition for the opening
Of Liberty avenue. Referred to Road
Committee.
Mr. Morgan presented the following
amendment to Rule 30: "And all no
tices of special meeting shall state for
what purpose said meeting is-called, and
the Clerk shall note the same upon the
minutes." Read three times and passed.
In S. C. laid on the table.
Mr. McCarthy offered a resolution in
structing the Ordinance Committee to
prepare an ordinance empowering 'the
Mayor to fine perpons arrested. in disor
derly houses. Adopted.
Mr. Morgan, a resolution instructing
the Committee on City Property to: pro
ceed with the erection of a station house
at East Liberty street, Lawerenceville,
Twentieth ward. Read three times and
passed. In S. C. laid on the table.
• CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS.
Mr. Rosewell presented the report of
the Committee on Claims and Accounts,
relative to the bill of John Boyd, recom
mending the payment of the bill.
After considerable discussion, Mr. Mo-
Candleas offered a resolution referring
the Matter to the City Solicitor for his
opinion.( - • . •
Xr. Weldon moved to amend by re
ferring to the Finance Committee in eori
junctict; with the City Solicitor, with
power to act. Carried.
REPORT OP COMMITTEE ON STREETS.
Mr. Weldon, from the Comniittee on
Streets, presented the repori of the Com
mittee, embracing the following ordinan-
CeS:
One for the construction of a board V
walk on Boundary street.
• One for the construction of a board ";..
walk on Pearl and Cedar streets.
One for the grading, paving and curb
ing of Webster street from Roberts to F,
Kirkpatrick street.
One for numbering houses oil Butler
street.
One for changing the grade of Cliff L
'street.
In the matter of the petition of the Fed- 1,,
oral street and Pleasant Valley Passenger
Railway Company, asking the privilege r
of laying their tracks on various streets,
action'as held over for the present. The
same action was taken in regard to the .
Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Spring Gar- 1 #
deftPopenger Railway. -
The Wprt was received.
The ordinances - relative to_Webster
and Cliff streets, were read and laid over
tinder the rides.- The others were read 1 ;
three times and passed.
Mr. Weldon presented the report of
.the viewers on the Miltenberger street P.
sewer, showing the damages of the same I
to be PAM .Also, the report ,of viewers
on Davidson atreel. Toe reports, were
accepted.
Mil Weld= presented a resolution in i k
shunting the . City Engineer to examine
into thethe condition of the Try street sewer, r
and repair the same under the direction E i
of the Street Committee. Read three r•
times and passed.
Mr. MoCleane called np the ordinince
laid over at last meeting, in relation to
the appointment of Road Commissioners
After a lengthy disenssioh the action of
Select Council Adopting
.the ordinanee
was non-concurred in, audit was referred
back to the Road Committee with in
structions to report andinance provid- „
or
ing for the election of three Road Com^ ft
missioners in the manner now :provided l„
for the election of other city officers. A .
Mr. Batchelor offered, 'an ordinanee
b.
°hanging the place of holding the eleb
tion in the Twentieth ward. Read three r
times and passed.
Also, a communication from R. O. t
Gray, relative to the charging of wharf-
• ,
.
M