Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-14
WILL NOT KsEp HIs sHARE.

chief SviggeIt says He VIII surren-
der Iiis Swa=-October Payroll of
Members-R Regular Meeting of City
Council ThursdaY Night
The police committee, at Thursday
nights meeting OF City Council, presented
its report on Chief OF Police Swiggett's
feed bill for September, recommending
that only one-half Of the bill be allowed.
The report was signed By Messrs. Saw
don, Bsugh, White and Shea
Mr.. Mccall, the Republican member
Of the committee, presented the following
minority report, aud moved Its adoption
as substitute for the majority report:
Gentlemen; Il becomes my duty as
member Of the police committee OF Council,
to whom was referred the charges pre-
ierred against W. Y. Swiggett, chief Of
police, to submit q minority report rs fol-
lows, TO wit: From the evidence produced
before your committee OF Investigation Of
said charges, 7 am fully convinced that
while the said William Y. Swlggett did
wrong In taking and keeping acy sum or
sums OF money for food furnished for
prisoners, am fully convinced that be did
So ignorantly, as he believed with the city
solicitor, and citizens generally. he was
allowed Is cents for each meal furnished.
But as It appears there is no such ordinance
10 existence at this time, the same having
been repealed BY the city charter passed in
1853. | would, therefore, recommend that
the said william Y. Swlggett be exoneratsd
for his past actions, and that hereafter the
meals be furnished by contract, 10 the
lowest bidder, and would recommend
that an ofd!nancs be prepared by the city
solicitor for that purpose.
GEORGE McCAL.
Mr.. Cotton read the following state
ment from Chief Swiggett;
| Major swiggett has beaa advised by
counsel consalied By him mot the mayor
that he Is no; under any legal liability TO
! sls city, SDtwinattSat,nS this sdyies the
! chief pnrposes 70 pay into the city treas-
{ ury all moneys received by him from Nj.
/ Pyle, for the reason thatif he lad understood
i the law he would not have received any
i thing, and now that hs knows the law he
4 intend- to put himself In the position he
/ wonld have occupied II he had known il
| IN The beginning. He would have paid this
! money to-day, but, as Mr.. Pyle claims from
/ him the Is ceuts per meal until the contract
( is changed, he waits to see VIVA, action
/ Council takes on the bills for september
ant October 20 ascertain what Is tue ekact
I sum TO be paid.
/ ir. Lawson asked, inasmuch rs be
( was the iRs,igstofoi the charges against
/ Chief Swi2gett that he be excused from
4 voting on either report.
4 Nj. Chambers said he was hardly in
4 favor Of either report, as he believed
Council had no right to GU down the
4 last bill rendered by tine chief He was
opposed, however, 10 boarding prisoners
on Clayton house fare at Is cents meal.
Eour-tfths of them are buns and tramps,
and bread and water is good enough 70,
them. But the meals, thus far, had been
contracted for at l5 cents meal, and he
believed Council should pay the bills
contracted at this rate.
Mr.. Mccall defended the purity OF
Chief Swiggett's intentions, and said
their was no doubt the chief believed he
was acting within the law.
Mr.. Cotton said Chief Sviggett was
extremely anxious to pay into tie city
treasury the money he had rsceived on
account o. the feed bills, and he there
fore moved that the whole subject be re-
ferred to special committee, to await
Chief SwiRgett's action thereon.
Mr. Johnson thought that week.
postponemen; might put different phast
on affairs but was opposed to taking thu
matter out Of the hands OF the polict
committee, This, he thought, woult
look like rejection on that committee
MIR. hckenney's only objection wa
that the police committee reported onll
on the September bill. He was OF tn
opinion that the committee should q
back to July 1888, when Chief swigget
first began to feed prisoners.
Ir. Gotten said he had no desife to re
feet on the police committee, and, there
fore modified his motion 80 as to rete
the whole matter, including Chief Sgig
gett's statement, to tine police committee
with instructions TO act on thess matters
/ and also on the October feed bill.
, On the question OF excuslng Mr.. Law
son from voting, Mr.. johnson objected
Hs said that Mr. Lawson had brough
/, the charges against Chic; Sgi2gett i
good faith, no doubt, hut now, he added
: "let him toe the mark" Mr.. Lawson wa
> not excused.
; The motion to renommit to the polio
I, committee was adopted by vote of 2
ayes 70 4 nays, the negatives bein
Messrs. Dillin, Sawdon, Shea aud White
The city treasurer reported a balanC
/ in bank OF Sl45, 007 50, and the followin
!. receipts for the week Collector Meale,
i $3.50 Collector Moody, $3.50; Chief {
: Police Swigqett S2i; Plumbing Inspe
q tor Kane, $50; Municipal Court Cler
q Hyland SGs5.I Chief Engineer Bougl
r mau, SlJJ 10.
. The Council payroll for 0ctobe
!. amounting to S39i76, was allowed,
G follows
q parriar CnnnoitFsa