FULTON, Mayor to Governor Pattison, September 4, 1884

Mr. Fulton to Governor Pattison.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of date August 29, 1884, as also communication from the Department of State, at Washington, D. C. In reply to same I would respectfully rehearse the proceedings had in this department to which said communications refer.

Some time in April last the commissioner of highways of the city of Pittsburgh issued an order to this department to give notice to all persons to remove any and all swinging signs and street obstructions. In pursuance of said order all persons were so notified; among others was Mr. Schamberg, who had an elbow sign extending from his premises. To this order Mr. Schamberg took exceptions, and until a decision was rendered by the courts of our county relating to such obstructions the said sign projected from his premises. Some days afterwards it came to the knowledge of the chief of police that Mr. Schamberg and his employés had threatened to evade the law in some way. Soon after this came to the chief’s ears the flag was placed in front of Schamberg’s premises and projected across the sidewalk. Chief Braun then (thinking that was the manner in which they intended to evade the law, and not knowing that it was placed there in commemoration of any particular day) ordered the flag to be taken down, which order was disregarded. Suit was then entered by the chief of police against Mr. Schamberg for violation of ordinances of the city of Pittsburgh.

Two days thereafter, Col. William A. Stone, United States district attorney, who acted as counsel for Mr. Schamberg, informed Chief Braun of the reason for the display of the flag, which was in honor of the birthday of the Austrian Emperor. This was the first intimation Chief Braun had that the flag was placed there for any ceremonial purpose, whereupon he immediately ordered a discontinuance of the suit entered, which was done. No hearing was ever had in the case and no fine nor costs imposed; hence no injury was done Mr. Schamberg individually, nor was there any insult officially expressed, implied, or intended. The flag remained untouched until Mr. Schamberg himself removed it.

Respectfully, yours,