Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-11-29
CITY COUNCIL.
A AMEATED DISCUSSION BETWEEN
AESsRS. MURRAY AHD BLAKE
LAST EVENING.

LAST EVENING.
An adjourned meeting of City Coun
oil waslheld last evening, with President
Conrad In the chair. The roll was call
cd aud the minutes partly read, when
on motion Of Mr. Baugh, the further
reading was dispensed with, and the
standing committees called.
The Committee on Finance, to VIII ON
was referred the petition OF John
Chandler, complaining that the assess
ment on his property at Delaware
avenue and Van Bureu street WAS too
high, reported that the time during
which change could have been made
had expired. The mmittee also 70.
ported on the communication from the
Harbor Commissioners, stating that
their expenses were S2,G50, which wAs
referred to the committee some time
ago, and Mr.. Mention stated that or.
ders had been drawn. for the amount.
The Lamp Comm it'ee rt poT ted in favor
of granting the petition OF Evans C.
Davis, for lamp at Thirteenth and
ClayInopt streets, and on the petition OF
ID. Chandler, for a lamp ON Tenth
street between Madison and MonfOe
s.rests.
The Police Committee, to whom was
referred the bill OF George Kirkman for
$l8, for damage TO his carriage, report.
ed adversely on granting II.
The City Treasurer reported a balance
of $63, ,024 "a in the Union National
Bank TO the credit of the city, and that
during the week he had received the
following amounts Tax Receiver
Moody, &240 Tax Receiver Kane, $500.
The Street Com IN issioner reported
that he had 45 men and IL teams em
ployed, with a payroll amounting to
S255 81.
O. W. Horn petitiontd for lamp on
Walnut street between Front and Sec
oDd streets, and the petition was refer.
red 10 the Lamp Committee.
Two tax receipts, belonging to John
X. Hudson, for lakes which he had
paid for this year on the same property
were presented by Mr.. Baynard, with
the request that the amount overpaid
be refunded, and the matter was re-.
ferred to the Finance COMMITTEES.
The petition Off II. Forrest, for a
lamp at Clay mont and Lodge streets,
was referred to the Lamp Com mmittee.
A communication " as received from
Henry G. West, calling attention to the
fact that although Council had ordered,
some time ago, that Sycamore street
should be graded, curbed and paved,
nothing had as yet been done, and that
the street was now In such bad ccpdi
tion that his tenants had moved out,
houses idle and Improbable. He urg-
ed that the matter be attended to at
once, aud without futher delay. The
communication was referred to the
Sire and Opening Streets Committt es.
Jacob Sinex was granted permis ission
to set curb on his own properly, on
Chandler street west of Mary land
aven ue, the work 10 be done under the
supervision of the Street Commis-
Sioner.
A Communication was received from
the Board Ct Health, enclosing report
of San itary Committee on ponds and
stagnant water, which was referred to
the Street Committee.
On motion of MIR. Newell the Open
ing Streets Committee was authorized
TO advertise for proposals for grading
Fourth street, between DUPONT and
Scott streets, and DUPONT street, be-
tween Tenth and Eleventh streets.
Mr.. Murray rose to question Of privi-
lege and said that he had been great.
ly misrepresented at the last meeting OF
Council by certain member, who ac-
cused him Of acting improperly at a
meeting Of the Street Committee on the
previous evening. He said that as
member of the committee, he had at
tended the meeting and upon look ing
over the pay roll found Al men employ
ed, at over $500 for the preceding
week, and he as ked the charm an If he
could have the privilege OF appointing
one man in the department, when the
chairman told him that no more men
we're needed.
He said that this caused him to be.
come some VI hat excited, but he denied
striking the desk with his fist. He
was also charged with opposing the
bills Of q certain contractor, but he
wished 1t understood that he had not
the slightest thing against him. but
only opposed what he thought wrong,
and detrimental to the interest Of the
citizens He.had come to Council with
the Intention of doing his duty, and he
proposed TO do 1t. He WAS also accu-
sed of doing wrong when he had con-
tract for grading, some fifteen years
ago, but he wanted it understood thst
his work had always given satisfs ction
and he had never asked for money
until the work WAS done, and approved
by the proper officers.
When Mr.. Murray took bis seat, Mr..
Blake, who had moved over aud taken
q seat alon Rside of him, rose and said
he would like him TO explain who he
had reference to iu his roIsarks, and
Mr. Murray promptly gave him 10 un-
derstand that he meant Lin, when Mr.
Blake became sOmew hat excited, and
said he was prepared to back up all
that he had said conct rninR him, and
give him All tho satisfaction he ewanted,
either In the chamber or anywher
else that might suit him.
Mr.. Blake said he did not wish TO
prolsng the discussion, but he did
strike the desk with his DIST, and refuse
TO sign the pay roll of ,eStreet Depart
ment, because he could not run 1t TO
suit himself. He had run the western
part OF the city. and totally ignored
the chairman, until he, the speaker,
had complained about 1t, and called at
tentiou TO the fact that no had too much
power.
"Oh no, l never done that" inter.
rupted Mr.. Murray, when Mr.. Blake
said: +" Mr.. Chairman,.I have the floor,
and do not intend TO be interrupted
by him have sat and listened to him
and did not say q word until after he
was done, and now I want him to keep
quiet, and If he don't I'll make him.
He then continued his remarks, and
proceeded to charge Mr.. Murray with
usurpipg power, and making fuss
when he could not have his own way.
" He al ways WAS sore head; he is q
sore head now, and always will be
sore head, exclaimed Mr.. Blake. as he
proceeded with his arraiRnment Of MIR.
Murray 81 know he took dirt belong
ing TO the city to fill up streets he had
contracted to grade," he continued,