Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-03-22
WRESTLING BILLS.
CITY COUNCIL UNoLovEs
AND HITS RIGHT AND LEFT.


| The City Council met last night with
blood In It's eye, every member being I'm
his seat. The Street and Sewer Commits
sion was the red flag that stirred up the
righteous Indignation OF the city fathers,
and II they had had the power there
would not have been vIstige of the
commission left by the time Council ad-
Journed. Mr. McMenamin, who, ever
since his election the last time to Council,
has been so remarkably tractable and
docile, was on the war-path last night,
and actually went go far as TO offer
resolution to abolish the Street and
sewer Commission, Notwithstanding the
Tact that IL requires two-third vote of
each house OF the Legislature to do that.
| There was no preliminary sklrmieh last
plight The battle commenced furiously
at the nrst and was kept up vigorously
to the end.
The frat bill called up was the resolu
ton laid over TO convey to the Street
and Sewer Department the balance
OF tho money In the treasury, some
600, 900 TO $40, 600, to be used in con-
strueting an intercepting sewer down the
south side of the Brandy sine from the
| interception Of RAtt,esnake Run sewer
to Poplar street.
Mr.. McKenney didn't understand the
resolution, and thought the Street and
Sewer Commission SHOULD show some
plan by which this money was to b. ex-
pended and how much was needed.
Mr.. Quinn said the act explained Itself.
1t was to construct q sewer, as 1t says,
aud Mr.. Carpenter had stated that the
estimated cost was SSl 200. The only
gu stoE was whether this money shall
hn AynahhRI fnr thi. md hot
Council will recommend the passage OF q
bill permitting 1t to tie used for that pur-
poe.
Mr.. McMenamin attacked the resoi u
| ton furi us'y. The surplus had been
collected ublaw iully from the tsxpaye ere,
aud itsshcuid be refunded to them III 8
year reducing the tax rate. He was
not in favor OF paying one dollar of 1t to
the Street and Sewer Commission. As
they went to the Legislature to get
organized let them 60 there for their
money.
The commi- sion had dece we'd the p O.
pie. Tney said 1t would not cost more
than Sos 900 to carry on that department
but they have been expending 5000,
aud now they want IL increased tl5, 900
more. The sswer. 1t Is sa d, will cost
| SSl ,O00, but 1t will be double that before
It is finished. The PEI pie want relief
from oppressive taxation. There is no
CITY IN the country taxed AS heavily as
| Wilmington. Let the streets bo referred
back TO the City Cou ell and to the pee
Pile, where they properly belong, aud
abolish these commissions.
Mr.. White moved to indefinitely post.
pone the resolution, and the r,solut on
was adopted by u rising vote of 10 o9.
Then another res luti II, similar to the
drst, instructing the City Solicitor to pre-
pare bill authorizing Council to appr0-
pirate t50.O .O0d for The intercepting sewer,
came up, when Mr.. Nc VI namln moved
It's indefinite posiponement, and In vigor-
Gus language denounced again the lavish
expenditures OF tho Sewer aud Street / O.
pariment. Lock at our Streets" said
he; they were never 10 worsc condl-
/ tion.o
Mr.. Baugh, said something about
toadying to the Street and Sewer Depart
ment, which Nr. Quinn took as personal
and defended himself from the charge oil
| toadyiDg. giving Mr.. BaIgh come We v
significant glances oil pair OF fiery eyes.
But, said he, the Street aud Sc wer Com
mission is here TO stay, tvs years longer
| anyhow. 1t was not the people that
| brought 1t about, but their reprtsen la
| lives. The city, however, should not
suffer on that account.
There are members of Council here
| 10 night who vent around with petl-
lions In favor OF commissivn aud 40.
nounced councllmen as set OF hood
lers.p
Mr.. Quinn then showed Row the Street
And Sewer Comm ssiun instead OF getting
| along on S65 900, which tuey proiessei to
be su tltfled with, last ear had altogether
| Sl06, COO aud now they want more. But
| be said, II we do not give them the Sl5,-
| Ou0 lncrease they will go to the leglsla-
| ture anu get twice that amount.
Mr.. kcMenamin said tht Commission
at iirst wauted only SG5,Uu0, thsn they
got SIS. 900, now they want Sl23,0O0, AID
] before Ave years II will be Sl40 Ut0. Let
| Council have nothing to do with 1t, but
throw 1t all on the Legislature and let 1t
| take the responsibility.
Mr.. johnson, In short, vigorous
| speech, oppo Ell The resol utiou. lie was
led to believe That lS5, 900 was all they
had TO spend, but he found that the COM
| mission mad over SlUO,00O The City
| Council never had that much fer streets.
lie was not satisfied TO give one dollar to
/ the commission.
MIR, Bower begged leave to differ from
those who 81 vigorously denounced the
Street and Sewer Depaf mont IL never
had u fair chance yet As soon as 1t was
organized Counc did all II could to place
distractions In it's way. 1t was entirely
too early In the day to oppose tho Com
/ mission. He had no great admiration
| ior the Street and Sewer Com mission,
but the actious of Council brought 1t
upon the city. He did not think this In
crease OF $4,000 would make so mnch
difference. lie was willing to entrust the
Commission with Slo0, 900 II 1t wanted it,
or as much as was needed to put the
streets In a proper condition, which they
eel tainly were not now. Even II q hall
million was needed TO make them what
they should be, 1t should bs given. lie
called attention to the rapid strides
western cities were making 10 city i'm
provements. Let us help the Commis-
sson along ipstcad oil throwing barrierN In
ito way.
MIR. Roberts made a ylSofous speech
against the demands of the Street and
sewer Commission. lie called attention
10 The cry oil "boodltis" raised against
the City Council and how the members
were accused OF cheating the people.
The comm lssloners, II was said, could
keep the streets 10 order for less money
Than Council could. He was asking
Council for SIS, 900. lie had made an
investigation and found that the commits
sion had TO Its credit in bank but d, An
while It would take more than $lO, OUO to
light the city. They had got all the
money they asked ior, let them live up to
it.
Mr.. Chambers called attention to the
fact that since the Street and sewer Com
Il Oh tsa ri ~ w a a N