Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-20

Clerk Messiok being out of the city,
Thursday evening, Auditor Newell acted
as clerk pro tenn at the regular meeting
Of City Council.
The committee on fire companies re-
ported fayorhbly on the petition Of the
Masonic Hall Company for fire alarm
box in trout Of the Masonic Temple.
THE CONTRACT ORDINANCE.
Mr.. Baugh moved that the report be
adopted and the committee authorized to
put in the box.
Mr.. Moore objected as the work will
cost over $50, and according to ordin-
anoe proposals must be asked for
Mr.. Quinn said the advertising was q
useless expense, as the boxes were fur
nished ut stipulated price by one oom-
pany. He thought the ordinance should
bs amended so as to exempt the purchase
of fire alarm boxes from the provisions.
The motion prevailed.
The city treasurer reported o balance
In bank Of $77, ,430.95, and receipts for
the week as follows Collector Moody,
$1, ,4O5; Collector Mealey, 1915.
A communication from the secretary OF
the o. U. A. NJ, inviting tho mayor and
Council to attend the Fourth of July
celebration at Union street park was read
and accepted.
MooNrELL's CITIZENSHIP.
A communication from the secretary of
the Board of Health was read, stating
that the Oouncil's resolution inquiring
into the eligibility of Hugh Mcdonnell,
executive officer, had been laid on the
| table.
Mr.. Roberts moved that IL be received
and fled. Lost.
Mr.. McMenamin moved that IL be re-
ferred to the law committee.
!. Mr. Dillin said the Board of Health
had not investigated the question at all
or given Council respectful reply.
Mr. Quinn said 1t had been charged
that Mcdonnell wss not a citizen Of the
city and Therefore not eligible to appoint
ment to the Office he holds. 1t would
have been only courteous in the Board
| OF Health to have investigated the ques-
| tion, and to allow such an appointment
to go unquestioned would be wrong
precedent. He did not believe in being
4 snubbed by the Board OF Health and
deemed the communication an insult TO
the City Oouncil
Mr.. Roberts held that the Board Of
Health should be the judge Of the qualif-
cations of its executive officers.
Mr.. Quinn insisted that the charter
provides tasst &c I,s2 ,s.2 htl.l shs!.l BE appointed
to an office under the city government
who Is not at the time of his appoint
inent citizen of the State and resident
Of the city. Council has to pay his
salary and has a right 10 inquire into his
eligibility.
The motion to refer the question 10 the
law committee prevailed. ....
ANOTHER VETO FROM THE MAYOR.
The following veto message from Mayor
Harrington was read.
Mayors OFFICE, June 18th, 1SS9-The
Council: return herewith ian ordinance
to provide for the appointment of police
/ matrJn," which has been submitted to me,
without my signature, for the following
l. While am in hearty sympathy with
the general object OF the ordinance and
think that the appointment OF police
matron would result In much good, yet
am constrained TO refuse to sign the ordi-
nance, because OF the attempted limitation
which Ia placed upon the mayor In the
manner OF selecting such matron should
the ordinance become q law.
The ordinance provides that "the mayor
shall and is hereby authorized to appoint
upon the recommendation OF the associated
committee OF the societies for the Preven-
tlon OF Cruelty to Children, the new Gem
tury Club, the W. o. 7. U. and the Asso-
ciated Charities a suitable woman to act as
police matron at the police station In the
city hall"
You will SEQ by the terms OF this pro-
vision that the appointment of police
matron under this ordinance is practically
made by these four societies to the ex-
clusion OF every other society of similar
character, and the chief executive OF this
city Is made the instrument through which
these societies announce their choice.
By the terms OF the city charter the mayor
is made the chief executive head of the
city, ana Is solely responsible for the char
acter OF this appointment.
This Ia an attempt to infringe upon the
authority OF the mayor, which, while IL
may be intended to operate for good, Is es-
sentially mischievous and will, II per-
mitted, serve as q precedent for no end OF
Legislative Interference with the appointing
power OF the city.
Again, there IS no reason why the four
societies named In the ordinance should be
selected over and above the many org1ni-
cations OF similar character in the city.
II these or any one of the four societies
are to be made coordinate branch Of the
city government, then each and every asso-
citation in the city Of a charitable character,
OF whatever sect, sex or color, has an equal
right TO be included.
The law governing the city does not con-
template any such state OF affairs. ltmakes
the executive solely responsible for ap-
pointments, and he ought not to be re-
sttieted or embarrassed rs he would be
should this ordinance be attempted to be
put In operation. In fact II Is my opinion,
with all Difference to your honorable
- 49, .H.I- NAk. IE1.a aaE
ts one that the Council has no rightto pass /;
aud that opinion think you will find to
be sustained by the law department OF this
city, and that II this ordinance shall be
passed containing such provision, that as
far as relates to that provision the ordi-
nance wonld be perfectly invalid.
| II is with sincere regret that feel COM
prlled to return the ordinance without my
approval, ns am thoroughly In sympathy
with the general object mined at; and had
the ordinance not contained the attempted
limitation upon the appointing power |
should have cheerfully signed 1t and would
have been guided In nmys selection Of police
matron by the Views Rhd opinions OF all
persons who with myself are interested in
the welfare of the unfortunate people who
may at any time Mood the care OF such an
official. AUSTIN HARRINGTON, Mayor.
DIG AT THE CITY soIoIroR.
On the question, ''ShRll the ordinance
pass, notwithstanding the objections of
the mayor" there was some discussion.
Mr. Chambers insisted that the city
solicitor had prepared the ordinance and
attsated its legality. he felt that il the
ordinance was now defeated it would not
be- resurrected, and said he would vote
for It over the mayors veto.
City Solicitor Turner said he had never
heard of the interpolation into the ordi-
nance of the CLAUSE requiring the mayor
to appoint upon the recommendation OF
the four societies mentioned, and had he
known il WIS there he would have disap.
proved OF the ordinance, which he did
not see when it was before the law com.