Daily Republican., 1878-12-13
CITY COUNCIL.

ChTH COUNCIL.
The Kimk I'm the Treasurer's One
-Cesassa1leastOn from Mr. Via
cent-The O0ce OF Treasurer
Accountant % be Abolished -Th
Lamps Of the Cisy-whe ahaI
Light Them s-An Animated DE-
bste-Orders Drawn.
1t being understood last evening tina
some action would bs taken by Nh
Vincent, City Treasurer, to endeavo
TO arrive at an ami,abls RELATIONSHIP
with City Council in regard to the po
sition Of accountant in his Office, a larg
attendance was present when Presi
dent Lichtenstsin called that body to
gether.
The committees we're called, but non,
reported any communications.
The City Treasurer reported bal
ance in the Union National Bank t.
the account of current expenses o.
90, 1855; he also reported having
paid out to the Water Commissioner
on Cool Spring Reservoir, since last re
port, S76.2s, had paid out in total,
sl42, ,S3S. .25.
The Street Commissioner reported 20
men, 4 single and double teams em.
ploysd in the Street Department for the
week ending Dec. 7th, with 9 payroll
Of $ls6. 80.
Chief Engineer McIntire, Of the Wa
ter Department, reported 80 men en-
ployed under him for the week ending
Dec. 10th, with payroll Of t247.96.
Mr.. John Guthrie, Chairman of the
Finance Committee, handed in the fol
lowing communication from City Trea-
surer Vincent
TO THE HONORABLE, rHK CITY COUNCIL OF
WILMINGTON
Respected Gentlemen II, on the 1lth
inst, received formal notice by two
gentlemen of the Finance Committee,
(Mr. Guthrie the chairman, and Mr..
Hart) that you had appointed Mr.. Cor.
helius Stinson accountant or clerk in
my Office. AS am held under $25, 900
security for the faithful performance of
my duty and as am responsible for the
action of the clerk, in my Office, as |
did not kno,o the gentleman (although
with great pain) feel constrained to
refuse him admittance to my Office, or
allow him to have anything to do with
my accounts. My reasons are as fol-
lows:
The Treasurer is BY law the appoin
ted receiver, and is the custodian of the
city's money. For this he gives secur-
lty. Every dollar received by the city
Is receipted for by him as money received
As Treasurer. And so his returns are
made to the Council. He is also the
custodian of the bonds, bosks CONTAIN
ing blank bonds and records Of his of.
ice. And again he is ordered to see
that the Council do not ouerdraW their
appropriations. II he allows them to do
This he is subject to the penalty of $500
n each case. and also the amount of
he sum ovsrdrawn. His duties are
prescribed by iaw and so are those of
he Council. The Council have no
'ower beyond what is given them by
heir charter--nsither has the Treas
lrsr. And again, the Council give no
rcurity and therefore pecuniarly are ir.
eponsibie. The Treasurer gives securi
y aud therefore is pecuniariy respon
bic.
Now these matters being as | have
tated, renders it imperative upon nae
0 have none around me except those
n whom ! have implicit confidence. 1t
, different with the other Offices of the
ity. Their assistants can In no way
nvOlve them. For instance as l have
aid above, the Treasurer is subject
apenalty of $500 every time he allows
ne council to overdraw their appropri-
tions-and 1t takes the constant watch
lg both Of himself and his assistant to
'ecent this. An unfaithful assistant
light ruin me. | do not allude to the ,
resent council alone, but to preced- ,,
lg counsels az well. All are in this
'spect alike. The first year was ,
resurer, | found sir appropriations at .
mpted to be overdrawn. The gentle :
en- assisting me at that time were not =,
ware, but found it out. Afterwards
became extremely watchful. Now -,
e business of my Office from the man !,
n of conducting it. has increased :
ore than threefold, since | first en-.
red it.
People are coming in every minute :
pom business requiring information on :
cry subject connected with the Office
I'd have to trust to my assistant to 4.
ok to the appropriation. An unfaith, r
assistant through neglect, ignor- =.
CO or fraud might thus involve me 9
penalty. Again have to send him y
the bank with money. Again |
We the custody of the bond books of
8 city. And one disposed to fraud
ght damage my reputation by forging y
d selling bonds, and 80 on. might >,
'ntion a list of perils to me from "
IS circumstance almost without num-
:. Now the present gentleman have a.
| confidence in, he knows my Office, ~ =,
the laws binding it from four years "
rice. And the complex but complete J.,
TEN of book keeping which adopted W W
ough the recommendation of coun- l.. l..
A stranger coming in is ignorant of IL n
II. ~
Igain | will say to your honorable
y that there is mass of business to tn
in the Treasurer's off, 9, ed
ich although nov intervoven with it W,
extremely convenient to all TO have
e there, still are no part Of his duty, ge
when would not undertake this
y or allow of its introduction In my Of
e, until promised an assistant, | wi
informed Gas was also the then Fl co,
ce Committee) that no one could is
70 in without my consent; and the pe,
lines of the first ordinance called for Co,
ds for the clerk to the City Treasu- no,