Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-07


traitor Mealey, 800, city and school taxes
for 1891, and $500, like taxes for 1880.
The city auditor certified TO the correct
ness of the accounts of the city treasurer
and submitted the following report re-
specting the accounts of Collector Mitchell
for 1890:
To city assessment, s1s,142 9i0 at ST.. .s1s ,4294O
To school assessment ilS,lt79s9, at
Five per cent added ali collection on
and after September Ist, iS9O...... 1,563a1
$255,tG4.6 .65
BY collections in July. 1890. 5000 OOl.36
BY r bate in July, lSJ0. ,0,g93,7S
by collections in August, lS90........ 2,S3I.37
BY collections from eptember, 1890,
to June Both, 1889, inclusYe........ 2l69S.75
Error list allowed.......... I,i3O,39
S155,664.65
The report of the late chief engineer of
the fire department, the principal features
of which have been published, was re-
ceiyed and filed and 800 copies We're
ordered printed.
The finance committee and the sinking
fund commissioners reported that $50, 600
worth of city bonds had been sold to the
Security Trust and Safe Deposit Company
at par.
10 the law committee was referred a
ing that the city cement or plaster the
exposed end Of the wall of his building at
Nandever avenue and Hutton street. so ts
to make IL presentable aud dry.
A communication from John Wall
smith, calling attention TO a frame stable
erected on the east side of Orange street
between Seventh and Eighth without per-
init, was referred to the building in
spector.
The Board of Education was allowed
its June appropriation, amounting to
80, l23l2.
A communication from the Board of
Health, asking for the appointment of
two additional executive officers for July,
August and September and requesting
that appropriation be made for their pay,
was referred to the law and finance com
mittees.
Mr.. Cotton presented the following:
WHEREAS, This Council has noted that the
honorable Board OF Police Commissioners has
persisted in its purpose 10 increase the force
by the addition OF i2 pOlicemp II; therefore be Ii
Rssolped, hat this Council d sires to express
ita disapproval OF so large an increase at this
time as uncalled for, unnecessary and eX-
travagant, pRrticul trly In view of the signal
system, two patrol wagons and their equip.
Inents, Eorse and buggy for chief, &c, so re.
Gently provided. In view OF increasing tax
rate, rendered necessary by the thorough and
systematic improvement OF streets and sewers
tlb Ftuuftu revenues REASON ABSORPTION
by commissions and the burden already placed
upon the taxpayers of this city, this Council
as representatives direct from the people
would respectfully protest against such in
crease of the number of patrolmen for the
coming fiscal year.
Messrs. Ross and Ratledge said the city
needs more officers but the number just
appointed is too large. They did not think
the Board of Police Commissioners, had
gone about the matter in the right way.
Mr. Ratledge, to illustrate the need oi
more policemen, mentioned the fact of d
sergeant looking an hour and half for O
patrolman. The sergeant, he said, had Il
wait until the patrolman returned from
his beat.
Mr.. Magee did not think the city needs
more officers, Three years ago, he stated
when there was talk of putting in police
booths, it was said that with the booths
| the city could dispense with the service:
of one half Of the police force Since
| then % policemen have been added to the
force. 1t is time, he added to let the
| commissioners know that Council is hand
| ling the finances of the city. Make thi
| commissioners come down to Council, he
\ exclaimed, instead of making Council thu
| servant of the commissions.
Mr.. Murray referred to the increased tax
| rate and said the commissions ought Il
be more lenient with the people. II,
| hoped action on the resolution would bt
deferred a week. He has 4 great deal o.
| confidence, in the city solicitor he re
| marked, but he would like to have Other
counsel consulted in regard to the powe
| of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Mr. Cotton thought Mr.. Murray's sug
gestiun was excellent and asked that tina
matter and the resolution be acted oil
separately. He stated that good lawyer
had told him that they doubted the righ
Of the Board of Police Commissioners I,
exceed authority heretofore exercised.
Mr.. Perkins favored the resolution be
cause no appropriation has been made TO
additional policemen.
Mr.. Cotton said he had learned from tn
newspapers that the acting chief of polio
was asked at meeting of the Board o
Police Commissioners whether he coul
use II additional men, not whether h
needed them. The question with Council
he declared. is do we need them, not ca
we use them.
MIR. Magee said he and his colleague
were not sent to Council to sit rs orni
ments Tue Board of Police Commi.
sioners can appoint but Council ca
refuse to pay. At the next session of til
Legislature he asserted, will be foun
people besides certain interested one
asking for enactnents.
Mir. Ratledgc criticised Mr.. Magee
! / DUslllOn Oll Tue AiutoLlbl- / uG lltlllUt
from the Fourth ward, he stated, hl
previously said that Council is obliged t
pay all bills contracted by the Board c
Police Commissioners.
II may not be exactly right, Mr. Mage
replied, but we can refuse to pay bills col
tracted by the Board of Police Commi!
sioners' If we refuse, he asked, what ca
the board do about il? Look out fC
another ovcrdratt he advised. Continuing
he said we can fight the commissions u
we please; we can make it very warm fC
them; the Lord only knows where the
, will get to if they keep up the gait the
, are going now.
! Mr. McKelYey said he would not obje,
, if the extra policeman could be paid ul
2 of the police appropriation. He did II
want the expenses of the Board Of Polit
Commissioners to encroach on the 9th,
, appropriations.
: The resolution was unanimousl
: adopted.
! Mr.. Ratledgc called up for third rea
: ing the ordinance amending the ordinan
= providing for a building Inspector al
+, prescribing his duties.
/, TO section |, specifying that the buildir
, inspector be paid S25 per month add
d, tional for horse and equipments NJ
, Murray offered an amendment, that Il
Y words '.horse and equipments be stricke
out and the word bicycle be inserted
I lieu thereof. Mr.. White seconded IL
1 motion.
+ MIR. Magee moved that section l
I tabled. The motion was defeated by
9 party vote.
4 Next MIR. Murray's amendment was CO
t sdered. He explained that he offered
because bicycle would give the buildil
e inspector more time. IL would be mo
convenient and it would be cheaper i
j the city. Twenty-Five cents per mon
= would keep bicycle. whereas it won
9 cost S25 per month for the keep of hors
With a bicycle the building inspect
i would have a better chance to inspe