Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-02
CITY COUNCIL.
Business Transacted at Thursdays Reg
uIar Session--The New Fire Company
Formally Recognized,

uIar session--The New Fire Company
Formally Recognized.
City Council met in weekly session on
Thursday zeyening.
The following bills, recommended by the
finance committee were allowed: T.. p.
Zelian Collins, SlSl .25; Thomas Pagan,
S49S.43; less 1925, an order in favor of
Tilghman Johnston, Esq, which order
also was allowed.
The law committee reported that the
ordinance increasing the fire department
Of this city contains nothing contrary to
the city charter. Accepted.
The law committee reported favorably
on a bill of Councilman Sharkey, for Sc,
for fare and services Of a trip to Baltimore
in the interest of the fire department, and
made a similar report on a bill of L. b.
Jervis, for Sl00S0, of which amount 500
is the price asked by Mr.. Jervis for work
on the police and fire-alarm systems and
SO cents is fol. supplies. President Farra
ruled that the bills not having been pre-
sented at a previous meeting adoption of
the reports would be illegal and motion
that the reports be adopted was defeated.
The city treasurer reported in bank to
the credit of current expenses balance OF
S75, S4S43, and to the credit of special de-
post balance of S12,S49,62. He also re-
ported the following receipts for the week:
From Mechanics Loan Association, Sl20,
interest of Turner fund; John j. Mealey
administrator, s110, horse and mule tax
for 1888, Sl6S, horse and mule tax for
1890 S100 city and school taxes for 1885,
and $3.50 city and school taxes for $780, T..
7. Moody, 500, city and school taxes for
1899; Tax Collector Mitchell, S400, city and
school taxes for 1880. Filed.
The city auditor reported that the ac-
counts of the city treasurer are correct.
Filed.
The miscellaneous and police pay-rolls,
respectively S1,922.17 and sS,3l3.35, were
passed.
On motion of Mr.. Cotton the ordinance
increasing the fire department of this city
was taken up for third reading, adopted
and referred to the mayor for his action
subsequently it was returned, bearing The
mayors Signature. when 1t was declared to
be an ordinance of the city.
An order for sS,395, for the redemption
of bonds due on March 1st, was drawn,
said amount to be changed to special de-
posit. Interest of sundry bondholders, due
next month and amounting to $40, 709.4 40,
was allowed
Mr.. McKenney presented legislative
act providing that any person who shall
erect telegraph, telephone or electric
light pole on any sidewalk or erect any
telegraph, telephone or electric light wires
above any sidewalk after blank date shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and pay fine
of not less than 800 or more than $500 and
that the Directors Of the Street and Sewer
Department shall summarily remove the
same, and that all such present poles and
wires which have not been removed
within 30 days after blank date shall be
summarily removed by said directors,
these provisions to not apply to wires or
poles used in any city department
or electric railway companies. Mr.. Cotton
moved that July 1st, 1896, be inserted iii
the blanks. Mr.. Sharkey amended by
making the date two years hence. Mr..
Cotton contended that two years would be
insufficient time. Calling Mr.. Vandegrift
to his chair President Farra descended to
the floor and supported Mr.. Colton's view
of the matter and declared that making
the time two years would cause the tele-
graph and electric light companies to send
lobbies to Dover and the act would be de
feated. Mr.. Sharkey insisted on his
amendment, urging in behalf thereof the
menace which the wires. are to iircmen.
MIR. Lawson favored six years. The
amendment was defeated and the original
motion adopted, after which the act was
referred to the law committee with in
strllctions to take it to Dover and urge its
passage.
Mr.. McVey moved that the Liberty Fire
Company be allowed an appropriation of
81, l3l 90. Mr.. Baugh stated that according
to his estimate the company was entitled
to only S7S9.12 and as an amendment
moved that the amount be charged to the
latter figure. He supported his amendment
by declaring that the company had not
been recognized as fire company previous
to the passage of the ordinance increasing
the fire department. Mr.. McVey asserted
that it had been recognized at previous
meeting by resolution. Mr.. Baugh contended
that the adoption of the ordinance was the
legal recognition and called upon the city
solicitor for his opinion, which coincided
with that of Mr.. Baugh, after which the
motion as amended was adopted.
Another legislative act offered by Mr..
McKenney provides that one-third of the
revenue received by the State from the
sale Of Intoxicating liquors shall be paid to
this city, said money to be applied strictly
tothe Directors Of the Street and Sewer De-
partment. The bill was referred to the law
committee with instructions to take it to
Dover and urge its passage.