A bedroom suite of furniture once used by President Abraham Lincoln when he visited Pittsburgh caused a heated debate at a County Council meeting yesterday when members sparred over who should own the historical artifacts.

County Councilman Matt Drozd, R-Ross, objected to a bill sponsored by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, transferring ownership of the bedroom furniture from Soldiers & Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial to the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.

"I feel that this is taking gifts away from the people of Allegheny County," Mr. Drozd said, noting the historical artifacts were donated to the county and ought to remain in Allegheny County's ownership.

But Allegheny County Manager Jim Flynn told council that the county needed to transfer ownership of the artifacts to the history center because "they have a better display and the center can only invest more money into exhibits which it owns."

Councilman Michael Finnerty advised his colleagues to vote against Mr. Drozd's objections, noting that the county, Soldiers & Sailors, and the history center all had an agreement regarding the artifacts.

Council approved the ordinance 9-4 with Mr. Drozd, Susan Caldwell, Vince Gastgeb and Jan Rea voting "no."

The furniture came from a room at the Monongahela House where President Lincoln slept on Feb. 14, 1861, on a stopover during his trip to Washington for his inauguration. The former hotel was torn down in 1935.