Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-03-14
ras oiriznss, AssooIArIos mr. -,

| - N.S"hinehur hS ahu Extension
OF official a'eynss.
Oounci's adjourned session, Tuesday,
night, was lively and interesting, tho
main topics being the municipal biIls
Prepared by the Citizens Association and
presented for Couucil's consideration.
Mono OF the members of the association
were present at the meeting. Preaiden.
Fsrra presided.
Ihe school boards appropriation for
March, S7,9i8 67, was drawn, and than
letter was read from State Senator DON.
eaoe, stating that the bill authorizing tina
city TO sell the lot ct Ninth and dupont
streets had passed the Senate.
THE FIGHT OPENS.
The city bills presented by the Cltizsns,
association were next brought up. They
were prepared by Messrs. Bradford &
Ysacsgrlft. Tho first, respecting fnturs
oity elections, and the pay and member
ship OF City oouucil, the provisions Of
which were as follows.
To reduce the membership OF Council
from two to one Ia each ward; TO reduce
tne length OF the mayors term from three
70 Two yeats; to extend the term of the
present mayor until July, 1892, to extend
the terms OF the present members Of Conn.
gu until June. 1890, ut which tine Ia mern.
nsrs OF Council, the president OF thu same.
the city solicitor, two collectors and two
assessors are to ba elected. l. provides
that the city solicitorshall hold IN CO Tor NO
years aud that he must be an at ocney and
counsellor at the superior court aud must
| nave practieed i've years previous to his
election. No councilman ia to reueive
mors than $40 month for his services, hut
this shnli not epDly 10 the extra salary OF
the president OF City Oouneil or to thu extra
allowance OF the chalrmen Of the finance or
public building committees.
MIR Quinn thought the bill was yery
elaborate measure and tended TO take
away from the people OF the city powers
guaranteed them by the constitution. He
thought II WAS an insult to the members
and an insult 20 their constituents 10 offer
suoh bill to ths Council. II looked "a
though those behind IL wanted TO use
Council az a cat's.paw to pull their chest
nuts out of the Gre.
Mt. MeGonisal said he thought the
people OF Wilmington had been the
victim OF much disjointed legislation.
The incentive OF the Law prepared by the
Citizens' Association aeemed to be a
desire to bolster up tho costly election
law by curtailing the number Of elections,
He looked upon the law as an attempt 10
curtail the powers OF Council and the
prerogatives of the people, and he was op-
posed to II.
Mr.. Roberts thought there would be
no real economy 10 the measure. As to
a reduction of Councils membership, IL
men could spend aa much money and do
a. much mischief as rs men, and pos
sib'y more. He really thought the
hackers of the bill had hard cheek to
come here and ask Council to endorse
Huoh measure.
MIR. Chambers said the most injurious
festure Of the bill was that II made no
provisions for any members of Council
holding over. This would incur the
risk OF having an entirely new and inex-
perienced Council to take charge Of the
city's sffaira after the next election.
Mr.. Quinn moved to refer the bill to
the legislative committee. Mr.. Hawkins
said he thought the bill was the most
ridiculous measure he ever heard Of, aud
moved that II be "lAid under the table I"
This motion WIS adopted by vote Of Is
toe, the nays being Meesrs. Bower, Cham
befs, Ooley, MoUall, Roberts end P.esi.
dent Earra. Some OF the latter voted
nay because they wished to have the bill
referred and properly considered.
CHARGED wrrH ExrRavAoANon.
The Street and Sewer Departments
bin came next. II strikes out $S5, 900.
the amount allowed by their original
chartsr-Rnd provides that next years
appropriation shall bs S12s. TIA 80. This
is an increase OF $50 600, in addition to
the per cent annual increase allowed by
the law at present. II also struck out
the provision requiring the annual state
meut TO be published In two daily papers,
and requires the statement to be printed
in pamphlet form.
Mr.. Quinn jumped on this bill with
both feet. The receipts OF the Street and
Sewer Department, he said, for the past
two years have amounted to $98, 900 per
wear. To-day the department Ia bank.
rupt. II has not S3 900 on hand to-day,
and osnnot pay for the gas and lights.
Now the members come whining here and
asking for more money. What have they
done with the money! Paving whole lots
In the Eleventh ward and improving
property Ia the Vicinity OF their resi-.
dences. In the city proper the streets
are as bad as ever. True, they have paved
Market atrest from Front to Fourth, but
how was Il done2 It will have to be done
over In about three years. They would
like to form little oligarohy and enrich
| their own pockets at the expense OF the
people. Why, on Oak street q whole
square---
az rise to o point of order" said Mr..
Bower, "the question Is to refer the bill
\ IN the nommiftAe -
The chair decided the point we'll taken
and that discussion on the merits of the
measure was not in order under the mo.
tion TO refer.
Then Mr.. Mckinney moved to lay the
bill on the table, and the motion pre-
vailed by IA ayes TO nays, che nays
being Messrs. bower, Chambers, Ooley,
| Davis, Roberts, Shea and President Farra.
TEE ELECTION BILL REFEHRED.
A long bill amending the charter of the
Department of Elections, closed the
batch Of measures presented by the Citi-
| zens' Association, through their counsel,
Messrs. Bradford Il vandegrift. The
main object OF this bill was 20 conform
the present charter to the proposed sys-
TEN of biennial instead OF annual cleo
tions, and TO the proposition to dispense
with this years eleotion. Ii also ex-
tended the terms of the commissioners
OF election. as follows: Andrew q.
Wilson to 1895, Alexander J. Hart to
1898, and George s. Capelle to 1891. In
years when there are no elections thsy
are to draw no salaries, and they are also
authorized to divide the election officers
of each district as nearly equally 40 pos.
hibls bet geen the two political parties.
This bill, on Mr.. Quinn's motion, was
referred to the legislative committee.
WHAT COUNCIL WANTS,
Mr.. Quinn offered the following reso-