Evening journal., 1889-03-13
PREsUMlAG CITIZENS.
City Council Will Not Endorse
Their Bills.
MR.. QUINN IN FIGHTING TRIM.

The Bills Prepared by the Citizens Com
mittee Laid on the Table by the Coun-
oil, Who is Jealous of Its Already
Limited Powers.
City Council met in special session last
evening to pass upon the acts of Legisla
ture prepared BY the Citizens Commit.
tee; either to endorse or refuse to en-
dorse them.
The report Of the city treasurer which
was was not received last week, was re-
ceived, being the same as the auditor
report Of last week Receipts were re-
ported from f. p. Moody of 81, 1875;
Martin ] Mealey of $775.
The monthly appropriation for the
Board of Education OF $7,9l66I was
made
A communication was received from
Senator John p Donahoe, stating that
the bill providing for the sale OF the
square between Clayton and Dupont,
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets had
passed the Senate
These matters finished up the routine
business and then the members put on
their dignity and armed themselves for
the fray, prepared to mp the blooming
presumption Of the self constituted Citi-
zens' Committee in the bud.
A communication was read from Brad
ford & Vandegrift stating that certain
bills, which they submitted, had been
drawn up under the instructions Of
committee composed Of certain citizens,
the heads of the city departments and
president Of City Council.
The first bill was an act amending the
city charter 1t was read by the clerk
@In brief it provides for biennial city
election instead Of an annual election as
at present 1t extends the term Of the
president and members of the present
Council to 1890, at which time an election
shall be held. The membership Of Coun-
Gil Is reduced TO thirteen; one member
from each ward, and the president The
new Council is to be elected in 1890 for a
term Of two years, and elections shall
thereafter be held biennially. The term
of the present mayor is extended one
year, to 1892. AT the regular election in
that year a mayor is elected for a term Of
two years. The Office of the city solicitor
who is now appointed by the governor, is
made elective. The first election for
this officer shall occur in 1890 for a
term of two years. The term Of the
present city assessors is extended TO 1890
and the term Of these officers is made
of the new bill cuts the membership Of
Council down to twelve. extending the
term of the present members to 1890
when the twelve shall be elected. In
1890 the city solicitor and assessors
shall be elected. all for a term Of two
years. A new mayor shall be elected in
1892 Mayor Harrington remaining In
Office until that time. The annual city
election is done away with, being re
placed by an election every two years, at
which all the city officers shall be elected
The bill also provides that the compen
sation Of members Of Council shall not
be more than $50 month, this provision,
however, not affecting the extra compen.
sation Of the president Of City Council
or the chairman Of the Finance and Pub
lie Building Committees Neither does
II interfere with the compensation re
ceived by the president of Council or the
chairman Of the Finance Committee, as
members Of the Board Of Assessment,
Revision and Appeal
After the reading Of the bill a motion
was made by Mr.. Quinn that IL be re-
ferred to the Legislative Committee
Then he arose and said the bill was the
production Of three or four wise heads
1t abrocated the powers Of the City Coun-
Gil and was only for the advancement Of
few persons. He condemned the bill on
general grounds. It took from the
people of Wilmington the rights granted
them under the state constitution, and
reflected on the honesty Of the Council
and the men Of the city.
Mr. McGonigle said IL was an encroach-
ment on the powers Of the Council, and
not the first Of such encroachments.
Mr.. Roberts admitted that the Citizens
Committee had gone TO considerable
trouble to prepare the bill, but he did
not see any use in reducing the member
ship Of Council. II would not economize,
because twelve men were more dangerous
when they wanted to be than twenty
five. Such bill should originate in
Council Those who brought it to
Council had hard cheek Twelve
men in Council, one from each ward,
wou' not be a fair representation. One
would represent 500 people, another
1000
Mr. Chambers wanted the bill sent 10
the Legislative Committee before il was
discussed. He was opposed to it. how
ever. 10 did not provide for any holding
over councilmen, and each member of a
new Council would be a new member
without any experience
Mr.. Hawkins remarked 1T is the most
ridiculous thing ever brought into
Council / won't vote for It, and move
to amend the motion to refer IL to the
Legislative Committee by laying il
under the table :"
yea and nay vote was called for.
Before voting Mr. Chambers explained
his vote by saying that although he
thought Council was capable of taking
care Of all legislation that concerned it,
it would be courteous and right to refer
the bill to the Legislative Committee
The motion TO lay on the table was car
ried by the following vote
Aye-Ayars, Beale, Davis, Dillon. For
rest, Hawkins, McGonigle. McKenny,
McMenamin, Quinn, Ryan, SaWdoD,
Sharkey, Shea, White; 10.
No-Bowers Chambers, Coley, Roberts,
Mccall, President Farra: 6.
The next bill read was one raising the
appropriations Of the street and sewer
department for the fiscal year 1889 90
$4,000 The appropriation for the pres
sent year, which Is closing, was $50. $50
That for lee9-90, by the present law
would be five per cent
Of the amount of the previous years
appropriation additional amounting to
$95. .7l2 90. The future annual appro.
priation for the department are FIVE per
cent. additional to the previous years
appropriation. The ratio, as will be
seen, is steadily increasing The new
bill provides for an appropriation OF
@l23. 1880 for next year, an increase Of
$50, 600.