The daily gazette., 1879-01-31
CITY COUNCIL.


|. ces Mtroduced-Fourteen Thousand
Dollars a Mystery.
City Council met last evening in regtl-
! lar session, President Lichtenstein in the
chair. The session was one of impor-
| tance TO the taxpayers, as the special
Committee on Legislation reported q
number of amendments to the present
charter of the city, which the General
| Assembly will be asked TO pass.
The Street Committee made favora.
BILE report on the petition of Bauduy Sim
mons, asking that the grade on Fourth
| stree, between West and Washington
be so changed as to allow the wa or to
pass Off before freezing, the property.
holders agreeing 10 pay for the work,
when done. Estimated cost, $500. The
report was concurred in.
The same Committee, on the commti.
nication of j. I. Head, President oil
the Christiana River improvement Com
pany, asking Council to grade Tenth,
Eleventh, Pine and Spruce streets, known
as the quarry land) according to contract,
made favorable report. Estimated cost,
ST 900.
The report Of the Committee called
forth pointed debate, Mr.. McGllnchy
saying that IL was all foolishness for the
committee to make a favorable report
with an estimated cost of $1,000, when
it would take at least $4,000.
Mr.. Norton was of the same opinion,
but according to contract the city was
bound to do the work.
Mr.. Townsend, chairman of the COM
mittee, stated tha' the estimated cost was
furnished by the Chief Engineer of the
Survey Department, and the City Soil
citor had rendered a decision in the mat
ter, which was read, stating that the
work according to contract haa to be
done.
Mr.. McGlinchey stated that the matter
properly belonged to the Opening Street
Committee, as there were streets to grade.
He therefore moved that the matter be
referred to the opening street commit
tee.
Mr.. Norton said he was in favor of
handing the work over to the committee,
of which Mr.. McGlinchey, was chair
mn.
Mr.. McGlncbey, moved that the
further consideration of the matter be
postponed until the first stated meeting
in April.
Mr.. Guthrie, said that it appeared to
him that il was only trifiing with the
matter; it Is one of the bad bargains
made by previous Councils, and the
present one would have to fulfill it. II
the work was not done before March,
there would be a lawsuit over the mat
tel.
Mr.. McGlinchey, then withdrew his
motion to postpone, and on motion the
matter was referred to the Opening
Streets Committee.
The Water Committee made an un-
favorable report, on the petition of
Robert Randle, which was adopted, ask
| ing to be relieved from the payment of
water tax for 1879, on account of the
water not being used.
The special committee on legislation,
reported number of new bills, and also
variour amendments to the present char
ter.
The first was bill to amend chapter
| 73, Revised Statutes, in regard to City
Council opening or widening any street
is to be opened, or grade changed, the
matter has to be submitted to town
meeting. The bill as amended asks that
| the power be vested in the City Council.
The report was concurred in.
The second bill, was an amendment
to section As, chapter 73, Revised Statutes
by adding: "The City Treasurer shall
perform such other duties not described
in the charter, as the City Council may
from time to time direct by ordinance. /,
The bill also makes it a penalty for the
Treasurer to refuse to perform such
duties. The bill was adopted.
The third was new bill which pro-
vides for the assessment ofSl on each horse
mule, or ass, owned in the city of Wilm-
ington.
The second section of the bill provides
for the mode of assessing and collecting
the taxes.
Mr.. Hart said he objected to the bill,
he thought it was no, fair to tax every
owner of horse in his city. He thought
they were taxed enough already.
Mr.. Norton, said that he favored the
bill owned one horse and was perfectly
willing to pay 81 tax. Every horse
should be taxed as it is just such cattle
that wear out the streets, which cost so
much to repair. The bill was concured
in.
The next bill was one exempting all
the city bonds from taxation, all that
are now issued and all to be issued. The
bill was adopted.
| Mr.. Paynter said he was member OF
the Committee, and they did not draw
the bill up, it,was asked for by number
of coal dealers themselves.
Mr.. Norton said that if the gentleman
from the Fourth Ward would inform
him, who the dealers were he would be
better satisfied. 1t is well known fact
that two or three dealers in tins city have
a monopoly of the coal trade, and this
bill may be drawn for their benefit in
order to crush out the smaller dealers.
The next was a pill entitled "An act
to regulate the weight of anthracite coal
delivered by retail coal dealers in the
| city of Wilmington" The bill provided
| for an Inspector of coal, who should in
spect and regulate all scales of coal
dealers once every month; that 224C
pounds should be a legal ton; describes
various offences aud provides the penal
ties.
| Mr.. Norton said that there was SC
much in the bill that he could remember
it all, but he thought there was so many
rascally coal dealers in,this city that a'spe
cial acl had to be passed on their account.
The act would interfere with a mans
business, and Council had no right to dc