Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-08-31

Mr.. BAugh said that some TWO or
three mouths ago Council! empowered
the Law Committee to employ counsel
TO I've an opinion on the legality sf the
act creating the Water Commission.
and nothing hal been heard Of it since,
except o verbal report that certain
gentlemen had been engaged. He said
that he would like to have the clerk
read the original resolution, which after
some time spent in searching for 1t was
found and read. When the clerk con-
cluded, Mr.. Baugh said he did not
think the phraseology of the resolution
was exactly the same as the one offered,
still he would let that pass.
The Law Committee no doubt have
employed counsel, but they have not
done what they were employed to do,
and the reason IL, because neither Of
tuese gentlemen will stake their pro-
frssional reputation to give an opinion
to suit the majority of Council.
He had no donbl but theSe gentlemen
we're advising the majority of the COM
,nittee in regard to what course to pur.
sac, and he had also heard that they
were engaged to defend Council, should
the matter come before the Court, but
he contended that was not what they
were employed for, and he would like
to have their opinion according to the
resolution.
Mr.. Pickels asked If there was any
thing before Council, aud the President
said Mr. Baugh hiul the floor to ask
for information. But what Is his
object What is the gentleman after?'
said Mr.. Pickels.
Mr.. Baugh said he thought the gen
tleman fully understood the matter, and
moved that the Law Committee be in
structed to report at the next meeting
of fCouncil the opinion of the two gen.
tlemen who are engaged as counsel.
Mr.. Pickles Immediately moved that
the motion be laid on the table, and
Mr.. Blake called for the ayes and nays.
Mr.. Farrell then rose and said that
he was sorry the gentleman had offered
the motion to lay Mr.. Baugh's motion
on the table, an it showed that the ma
jority in Council did not want this mat
ter investigated.
At this point the President said that
he must declare the gentleman out OF
order, az the motion was not debatable
Mr.. Farrell undertook tn continue,
when the President said 81 must in
sist:: on the member taking his seat. !"
The calling Of the roll was then pro-
ceeded with, and when Mr.. Farrell's
name was called he rose and said that
he would like to explain his vote.
He said that he, the same as Mr..
Baugh, wanted some light on this mat
ter, and accused the Republicans with
being afraid to have it invesfigated.-
Mr.. Pickels obj ected to Mr.. Farrell dis
cussing the question, and the President
decided that he must conf ne his re-
marks to explaining his vote. He then
voted no, and took his seat.
Mr.. Taylor said that he would like to
explain his vote, and if he understood
this resolution it instructed the Law
Committee to employ counsel to give an
opinion on the matter at issue between
Council and the Water Commission.
Mr.. Pickels raised the point of order
that the gentleman was debating the
question, when Mr.. Taylor turned to.
ward him and accused him of being
afraid to have tho matter discussed and
said that he had shown 1t by Offering a
motion cutting of debate.
Mr.. pickels denied this, and said the
whole thing was dodge Of tn. Demo
cratic side of the house, to which Mr..
Taylor replied that if the gentleman
was not afraid to have the matter dis
cussed let him withdraw his motion to
lay it On the table. The motion was
carried by 10 ayes to s nays. A short
discussion then ensussd between Mr..
Ba,igh and Mr.. Smith, chairman Of the
Law Committee, that was also partici-
pated In by Messrs Pickles and Farrell,
during which motion to adjourn was
made and carried.
During the evening orders were
drawn w follows: p. W. Price, $25 !;
=. j. Ford, $l94.4l Martin Keogh,
Sl53 Al, $5O.17; interest on bonds,
$4,5l2; principal Of bonds, 81, 500; r.,
W. Il b. Il. r. Company, $j92.53.