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Show ALDERMAN P. MORAN Talks Entertainingly on Municipal Topics. j HE IS STILL LABOR'S CHAMPION. The Reasons He Asstisns For His Peculiar Filihupterin;; Tactics in the City Council Last Mght-IIe I a Hewer Slan From Top to Bottom, Rut Wants to Re Sure He Is Right Before Going Ahead. Alderman Patrick Moran was in a cheerful humor when a Times representative accosted him this afternoon and asked him what he meant by his filibustering parliamentary tactics in the city council last night. "I mean," he replied, "that I do not propose pro-pose to lose my individuality in that way. I propose that I shall be consulted in all matters that 1 am interested in aud that unless un-less I am shown some -consideration I will continue to fight in my own way." , - Will not your action in the, sidewalk scheme and concerning the sewers militate against the interests of labor, of which you are the acknowledged champion in the coun- - "Not at all," was the reply. "I knew exactly ex-actly what I was doing, and the interests of labor will never suffer from any act of mine. I opposed Wantland' s sidewalk scheme on First and Second South streets because it is not a matter of record that the property-owners who will be called upon to foot the bills want the improvements. I do not believe in compelling any one to lay sidewalks against their will or unless a majority of the people interested petition for it. In my opinion, it is simply a scheme to advance the sale of real estate." "How about the sewers?" was the next question. "I want It distinctly understood," said the fighting alderman, "that I am a sewer man from toe to crown. I want to see them constructed, con-structed, but at the same time I want to be sure that we are acting legally. The mayor vetoes the ordinances oi the ground that the supervision of the work should be vested in the board of public works instead of ; being placed under the control of the supervisor of sewers as the ordinances contemplated. The mayor is a lawyer and may be right. But I don't know that, and I want an opinion from a less disinterested lawyer. No verbal opinions opin-ions from the city attorney go with me; I want an opinion in writing so it will become s matter of record." , "What was your object in endeavoring to have the words 'the work be done by contract' con-tract' inserted in the ordinances?" "Oh," lauarhed Pat, "that was part of my play. I knew that such a proposition would not be entertained, but at the same time it is perfectly legitimate. The board of public works, as I understand, was created for the sole purpose of attending to contract work. If the sewers come under their jurisdiction why not be consistent and call for bids for their construction? Iam not in favor of it by any means, and that is another reason why I want other legal advice than that which has been received. For two years and a half the city council has ordered work done, and none can say that it has not been done to the satisfaction of all, and I can see no good reason why this new kink should now be sprung. The whole busi- ness will be fixed satisfactorily Friday night, and there will be no delay in pushing the needed improvements to a completion." "How about the needed waterinains?" was question number three. "They should be purchased at once. It ia folly to delay it longer. The water committee's commit-tee's answer to the mayor's 'roast' in my opinion conclusively shows that the blame for the delay is placed where it properly belongs. I have the opinion of just as good a lawyer as the mayor or City Attorney Hoge that the committee in calling for bids and then submitting them to the council wa3 a proper one. Believing that the committee has performed its work well, I am satisfied to allow the people to render a verdict as to who is to blame in tha matter." By this time the aldermen were perspiring at an alarming rate, but his smile was as 1'heery and his look as bonny as in anti-Jelection anti-Jelection days when he said, at parting: "I m as much the friend of labor as ever I was, and the next few days will prove it. You can also say for me that I believe the Barber Paving company has received its death blow in this paving contract business." |
