Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-10
The Proceedings of the Meet
ing Thursday Night.
THE ASSISTANT ENGINEERS PAY
Their Names Put on the Mis-
CelIaneous Payroll.
Postponement of the Adoption of the
Ordinance for Borrowing 100000 for
the City's Streets - Mr.. McKelvey's
Scheme for Bettering the Finances Of
Council.

City Council had busy and interest
ing session Thursday. In the absences
of President Benson, who is in the party
accompanying the steamship Maine to
New York, Mr.. Perkins presided.
The finance and law committees re-
ported that the ordinance authorizing
the borrowing of 100000 for paving
and improving the city's streets and
avenues contains nothing contrary to
the city charter.
The city treasurer reported that Coun-
Gil has $53, ,255.S2 in Union National
Bank to the credit of current expenses,
$3.50 in each of the four depository
banks to the same credit and $4, ,454.62
in Union National Bank tp the credit of
special fund. He also reported the fol-
lowing receipts: From the clerk of the
municipal court, $556.05, February's
fines, fees and costs and .ianuary's un-
claimed witness fees; from Collector
Mitchell, 1915, city and school taxes for
1890 and 1891 from Administrator
Mealey, $500, like taxes for the same
years; from Union National Bank,
S80.59, interest on deposits; from the
city auditor, $3.50, auctioneer's license;
from the chief of the city engineering
and surveying department, $685., fees
for February.
The clerk of the municipal court sub
mitted the following report for last
month"; Fines, $378; fees, 1894. 10; costs,
$10S.95. He also reported that Janu-
ary's unclaimed witness fees amounted
to So.
The city auditor reported that the
accounts of the city treasurer, the clerb
Of the municipal court, the chief of the
city engineering and surveying depart
ment and the secretary of the Board of
Directors of the Street and Sewer De-
partment are correct. Councils total
amount in bank, he said, is $73, ,110.44-
The fees Of the chief of the city engi-
neering and surveying department, he
reported, were deposited with the city
treasurer as follows $7S.S5, to the
credit of the city; $12, to the credit of
the Board of Directors of the Street and
Sewer Department. He quoted as fol-
lows from the February report Of the
secretary of the Board of Directors of
the Street and Sewer Department.:
Receipts, $2,103.27; expenditures, $12,.
943.65; to the credit of current expenses,
$23 3,552.45; to the credit of paving and
improving streets and avenues, $15,-
934.S1; total, $50, ,4S7.26. The auditor
reported that the $3.50 received for auc-.
tioneer's license was from William A.
Hukill.
The coal oil inspector reported that
he inspected 10000 gallons Of oil last
month.
PAY FOR ASSISTANT ENGINEERS.
Mr.. Cotton moved that the miscel-
laneous payroll for February, amount
ing to NJ, ,069.4s, be passed.
Mr.. Murray asked that the payroll be
read and when his request had been
complied with he said he saw thereon
the names of Samuel Keemle and
Francis A.. Price, respectively first and
assistant engineers of the city engineer
ing and surveying department. He
said he would like to know by what
authority their names had beeh put on
the payroll and declared that provision
had not been made in the general ap-
preparation for such officials. He
moved that the two names be stricken
from the payroll and Mr. Griffin
seconded the motion.
The acting president said heldid not
know whether he could entertain the
motion.
Messrs. Magee and McKelvey asked
that the motion be stated, and when this
had been done Mr.. Magee said the mo-
ton ought to be entertained out OF cour-
tesy. Mr.. Magee offered as an amend
ment that the two names be kept off
until the opinion of the city solicitor
could be obtained, and Mr.. Murray ac-
cepted the amendment. Mr.. Maeee said
it locked to him like the men oo,ild get
their money, but he thought the i.,.sm-
bers of Council, to protect them,,i, III II.
should have the opinion of the 'r~ ...,,.i ~
licitor. He did not want to kee. p.1i-
men from their salaries if they we. ise,e snn :,
titled to them. Ja.i
The men, Mr.. Murray, asserted ~ ~, ,le
positions which are new to this Coy; ., vi. y,
No provision had been made for -. - y, y,
officers for five years. He was nc. ds a. ~
pared to pay to these men 81 800 o, eai ~, ~ !.
taxpayers money when there is no, H. H.
for them to do. - ~
- NJ. L. .,,;r w AZ lei ynas .nis sCentr,
mise made by former Council .. 9uiu
S sne ao1,u no.,,,,as. ~ T,',.e;i III hoJ Ter IL
newei DePal @ l.iuent. Sounoi iau tied.
the city solicitor and Council will
to pay them. cod
vote on the amendment. w it i:
Mr.. Magee insisted that the opihase
of the city solicitor be gotten in
matter. 1t would take very little rims
and would would relieve Council of mucfwhe
sponsibility.
Mr.. Murray admitted that the
solicitors opinion on the election of. a.
men had been obtained but his 70 u
Murray's) point, he stated, was tina
provision had been made for them.
The amendment was defeated b1ns
party vote of to A. Mr.. McVay, i h,
President Benson, was absent and ~
Pagan, who had just entered, was lOrt
cnsed from voting. Next the pay-rt
without alteration, was passed by
party vote of to s.. O
The police payroll for last mon.
amounting to $4,165.96, was passu
without opposition. yG
The monthly payroll of the preside
and members of Council, amounting
$235.76, was also passed, but not un
itbad been read at Mr.. Muiray's requernu.
1t was itemized as follows Preside H..
Benson, $2S; Mr.. Cotton, $24.17; Nv
Perkins, $22.09; Messrs. Dannenber :
Kirby, McKelvey, McVay, Mage
Ratlrdge and White, $50 each; M
Fagan, $l3; Mr.. Murray, $3.50; NM
Griffin a. n