Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-03
err oousoIL.

mAktnE Ench Wuttuor WhO 0b@
strmcts the ssreets Irresponsible for
SHis own distractions.
BY the absence of Mr.. Mccall City
Council lacked one of having full at
tendance thursday night. 8. N. Smeltz
was bailif pro tenn.
Tho finance committee submitted the
following report,
VIZ MIyGTox, Dac. 27th, 1sss.--To ne
President and Members of C0upda-GHN-
xLEMES: TIE finance committee would re-
specially submit the following statement
concerning the city debt Having met In
conference with the commissioners Of the
sinking fund and the city solicitor for the
purpose OF ascertaining the conditions
made for the payment Of the city loans that
are fast maturing, being also aware that an
effort will be made at the coming session OF
the Legislature to increase OUT funded debt
for the purpose OF sewering and other Inn
provements, your committee concluded to
place before Council and the public In
general a detailed statement OF our clty's
finances:
In the year 1855 the general assembly
passed what ts known az the Sinking Fund
SGT. The same has been amended ut various
kmes. In the year 1887 q general act was
passed requiring all bonds OF the city
Issued hereafter for any or all purposes
tpuyubut vi WuiGu Is uOl ptutIWtSo bpcCtlO~
ally provided for,) shall be made payable
according to the conditions Of the Sinking
Fund act.
Council In making the appropriations for
the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889, rro-
vided $4,000 for the payment Of loans Nos.
10. IL, "a and 10, coming due April list,
1889, and fixed the tax rate accordingly, be.
lisving then that this WIS the proper
method to liqutdate the debt After con-
sultipg with the commissioners OF the sink
ing fund and the city solicitor. he Informed
as that his Interpretation OF the said Sink
ing Fund act was that Council has no aui
thority to redeem any OF the original city
loans (exeeps those specifically provided
for) as they mature, but shall furnish TO
the commissioners OF the sinking fund an
nial appropriations In sums equal to the
smcupts as provided by the act for that
purpose. II Council should pay any OF the
said original loans at their maturity tt
would interrupt the working OF the scheme
end demorallze the financial department of
our city government that had been 80 salts
iactoriifS managed by the late Joshua T.
Heald, Chairman OF the sinking fund COM
missionsrs. No further legislation is re-
auired for the redemption Of the present
city debt.
Your committee tinds that the city will
have q surplus OF &72,000 10 bank to its
credit at the end Of the present flsoal year.
This insures to the taxpayers OF next year a
reduction In the tax rate. While the com.
mittee will use the utmost economy In
handling the public's money, they believe
In pursuing conservative course, and a
tax rate should be established that can be
maintained hereafter. fiuctuatinR tax
rate Of 20 or 80 cents on 300 Of assessment
every two or three years is Injurious, and
prevents manufacturing establishments a.
well as private residences being built which
otherwise would locate here. To insure
future development confidence must be
established In the ability and honesty OF
those having charge OF the publlo's affairs
Following you will find detailed stata-
ment of the city'5 entire debt and the man
ner In which IL is paid through the sinking
fund scheme; also copy of the act.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM n. QUINN,
SAMUEL CHAMBERS,
JAMES F. MoGoEIaAL,
Finance Committee.
Following the report the committee
quoted the sinking fund act, with de.
tailed exhibit OF semi. annual payments to
the sinking fund loans redeemabie, aud
the general scheme paying the city debt,
The report was adopted and 1t was
ordered that 1000 copied Of the preamble
and the law be printed for the informa-
tiop nj oitizens
The law committee reported fagorahlS
on tho proposed ordinance dividing thi
c.ty .--- -. ..ss4As 1istiiSsb. The 70
port was adopted.
City Treasurer Griffith reported q bal
Ence Of $40. 213.64 in bank, Sl69. 7e6. 81
10 the credit Of current expenses ant
$427 Oh to the credit OF the park fund.
These collections were reported: Tai
Collector Moody, $845; Tax Collector
Mealey, $3.50.
The miscellaneous and police pay-rolls
respectively $1,69S.S3 aud $2,931. 68
were passed.
A petition signed by James Mitchell
William G.. Pierce, L. T. Grub, j. u
Winslow, j. II. D. Seeds, W. q. Foulk
George 8. Mckee, Philemms Chandler
John B. johnson, Patrick Fahey, Newton
Fl. Cloud, Nicholas A. Grubb. Ii.
ChriHty, William K. Beatty. O. e.. JET
ferris, O. /. Swayne, P. F. Martin, William
O. Tindall and Hubert Cassidy, aske,
that the ordinsrae governing the plaoin
of red lights on distractions in atreets b
amended SO that each contractor or sut
contractor who occupies the streets ahaI
have 20 secure permit for his ow
obstruction and be amenable for sal
obstruction. II was referred TO the Ia,
committee, with instructions to prepsr
an ordinance conforming Herewith.
To the same committee was referred
communication from l.. O. Yandegriti
Eeq.. agreeing TO compromise the case 4
Foster vs.. the city by Council pay
ing costs and drawing a check TO
800 to the order of Mr.. Yandesritt. Il
explained thhs he is willing to accept thu
amount in full settlement, owing i
Fosters needy condition. Foster, b
added, has claimed much larger amour
in the superior court, but because o
Fosters solicitation and impecuniosity b
advised such settlement.
City Auditor Newell was allowed $3g
to pay insurance on public buildings.
The vaccine physicians submitted thei
annual reports, 40 follows:
DR.. Hughes, North. west district
Primary vaccinations, 1885, revaccins
tons, 1872; primary vaccinations success
full, l72; primary vaccinations unsaccess
full, s.; revaccinations successful, 1876
presentations un8uooessful, liz; tota
vaccinations, 412.
DR.. Fshay, Southwest district Veccin
Ations, GOO; primary vaccinations, 200
reyacoinationB, 400; whites vaccinateG
$50; blacks vacpinated, $50; adults vac
mated, l19.
DR.. Miller, Northeast district yaoeiu
atoms, 925; primary vaccinations. 400
secondary vaccinations, 525 ievaccini
tons, los; whites fascinated, 725; BLACK
vsocinated, 200
DR.. Hertel, Southeast distriet--P rimar
vaccinations, Ala presentations, 81
total vaccinations 446
L. I. Grubb was alio we'd $5. So for wot
done at police station.
The CITY treasurer reported that /
April and October next there will be du
from the Board of Water COMMISSIONS,
intareRt nm lnnn M 90 n,nn.nnAi.a. 4