Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-25
DUVHHi Df3I' zhF'IIT II IuIV'
HfllItfrtlLOn ~ -

l
late session of tho Legislature. As no service
i was rendered by me commensurate with the
| said sum, cannot consent to accept the said
| draft or convert the same unless l do 30 with
| the full knowledge on the part of Council that
am TO receive for services only the sum of
| 300, and that the residue, being the sum Of
| 1915, is to be by me paid over to four other
gentlemen. who wore employed and rendered
efficient services, and who are honestly and
fairly entitled to their fees. II Council made
| the said appropriation with knowledge Of these
facts, and desire me to distribute the said fund
| among the parties entitled to the same, and will
so direct me- will see to it that the distribution
| is made. But in any other Wow OF the matter,
must return the said draftto Council.
Mr., Pickels then offered a resolution instruct
ing Mr.. Massey to retain &100 for his own per-
aonal services and distribute the remaining
S675 amongst those whom he entitled to 1t. .
Mr.. Finegan sent to the clerks desk the fol-
lowing presmble and resolution which were
read
WHEREAS, by resolution adoptod by the City
Council on April 18th. 1873, the sum Of seven
hundred and seventy-five dollars ($775 was
ordered TO be paid by the City Treasurer to Mr..
George v. Massey, of Dover. for services alleged
to have been rendered by him to the Mayor and
Council Of Wilmington in influencing. as lobby
ist, the action of the Legislature Of the State OF
Delaware in relation to certain matters pending
before that body, in which the said Mayor and
Council OF oflWilmington swereA Interested, or by
which the said corporation was affected;
AND WHEREAs, II is believed by many mem
bars Of this body aud Citizens OF Wilmington
that il was aud is unlawful TO contract to pay
money unto any one for such alleged SERVICES
all such contracts being unwarranted by the
Charter of the City aud contrary to the policy Of
the Laws Of this State, and OF the United States,
and therefore totally without warrant, Illegal
and void:
AND WHEREAS, This Council, by vote of Is
ayes to nayes, has ordered the said sum OF
Seven Hundred aud. Seventy alive Dollars to be
paid and the same has been paid to the said
George v. Massey out Of the City Treasury,
therefore Eka A-A A# e+ & AE
Resolued. That the City Solicitor be, and he is
hereby, requested to communicate his opinion,
in writing to this Council, whether the Afore-
said agreement and contract to pay the said or
any sum Of money to any person for the pur-
pose OF influencing Legislative action was Ru-
thorized by the City Charter, and Ii such con-
tract AZ could be sustained in the Conrts of Law
in this State and also, whether any member or
members OF this Council have the power to bind
the City in any such contract, with or without
the approval and consent Of this Council, first
duly had and obtained.
Mr. Finegan then proceeded to view at consid-
cradle length, what he considered the unlawful
act OF paying such an amount OF money without
having been authorized to do 80 by the City
Counoil
Mr. Pickels rose to point OF order, and said
that the remarks Of the gentleman from the
Third Ward were not german to the question,
which point the chair decided well taken.
Mr.. Finegan, proceeding, thought it was ger
man az George Y. Massey knew he had not
earned the money and refused to accept it. 1t
was a fraudulent proceeding, the money wasLp-
propriated for fraudulent purposes, and would
not stand the test OF law. He assured the mem
bers who voted for the appropriation that snit
would soon be entered for the recovery OF the
money, and he was sure they would have to pay
it out OF their own pockets. Mr.. +. would like
to know to whom this money was TO he paid, and
it was due to this Council and the taxpayers Of
this city IT, know where aud to whom this money
went He had been opposed to funding the city
floating debt, and he was supported in his views
by many Of the heaviest taxpayers of the city,
OF both political parties and he would like to
know who received this money and who in the
Legislature was influenced by it.
Mr.. Quinn thought that with all the profound
eloquence Of the gentlemAn of the Third Ward
others perhaps know as much as he did Al
though opposed TO the funding bill, he had to
confess that he was not ready to go very deep in
his pockets to pay of floating iebt. He WAS an
important actor upon the stage when that float
ing debt WAS created, and knew something about
It, He had voted In the fret place to pay MIR.
Massey for his services and he was not prepar-
cd, yet, to change bis vote
Mr.. Pickels thought this question had been
fully discussed at the last meeting of Council
The Resolution simply provides for the payment
OF the money He regretted the circnmstances
which compelled the employment OF counsel to
defeat the secret machinations of the Democrats.
His action was endorsed by large majority OF
the heaviest taxpayers of the city. and he was
| requested by many of the leading Democrats to
| operate against the passage OF certain bills con-
cocted by the Democrats in secret caueus, and
which they had not the manlness to bring open
/ " before Council. The gentleman from the 4th
| Ward (Mr. Hayea) wanted Water Commissioners
| Ap Jointed byA man living away down in the
wilds of Sussex, who had no sympathy for the
city Each Commissioner was to receive $500 a
/ year for expendiug the water appropriation,
| amounting in the aggregate to $1,000 or $6,O0O,
while the expenditure under discussion only in
i volved $775 for defeating thisswate Commits
soners bill and other nefarions actslwhich would
| take the Government OF the city out OF the
hands Of those chosen by the people themselves.
i Our opponents have endeavorod to accomplish
/ By low cunning and strategy that which they, for
i want OF votes or the confidence Of the people,
/ failed to do. Mr. P. referred to the government
i Of New York under B0Ps Tweed as n sample Of
/ the manner in which Commissioners govern
| cities.
Mr.. Hayes did not expect a rehssh Of this
stale subject, but thought the resolution OF Mr.
Finegan should pass. The whole case hinged
| on a legal point which could only be unraYelled
| by the City Solicitor. EW 10
He agreed that the Democrats had had eau
Gus, and the whole nine Of them had agreed up
| on the same course OF action, notwlthstAndlng
the denial OF some who were in that caucus.
| Mr. Hayes then reviewed the increase oil
the floating debt and charged the Republican
members with its increase. He was satisfied
the floating debt could have been paid without
funding, The case of previous City Auditor IN
retaining the city money until made to disgorge BY
the Democrats was alluded to and was glad the
gentleman from the Fifth Ward had alluded x
boss Tweed He thought we had not to go far to
and the Boss Tweed OF Wilmington.
The debate becoming personal, was induigeC
In freely by Messrs. Baker, Febiger and Plckels.
Mr. Febiger relating the fable Of the frog wht
burst with self importance, as applicable TO th'
| gentleman from the Fourth Ward
Mr.. Hayes, stated that he never read sucl
light and triflng stuff as Esop's Fables.
Several members questioned whether he rea'
| much of anything.
Mr. Maris calling Mr.. Baker to the chair, tool
| the door and defended the course of the com
mittee in employing counsel He gave the mem
bers OF the Legislature credit for being dlsposel
to do what was right for Wilmington until intel
fered with by the proceedings Of the secre
caucus Of the Democrats, He believed tn
course OF the committee In defeating seyeri
obnoxious bills and securing tie passage OF tn