Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-11

Thursday. Many spectators, curious
to know who would be elected city
engineer, were present. Councilman
Griffin was the only absentee. Among
the Democratic members the curiosity
in regard to whom the Republicans
would nominate was as great as among
the visitors Outside the circle of Re-
publican councilmcn everybody was
surprised, in fact astounded, not by the
announcement of the Republican nomi-
nee, but by the election of two assistant
engineers. To the Democratic members
the suggestion OF the election of assist
ant engineers came with stunning force
Mr.. Murray protested and got laughed
at for protesting.
After the transaction of routine busi-
ness Council, on motion of Mr.. Cotton,
proceeded to elect a chief engineer of the
surveying department. Mr.. Cotton
nominated Harry Palmer and Mr.. Muir
ray nominated George II. Boughman,
the retiring chief. Messrs. Perkins and
Magee were appointed tellers. Mr..
Palmer was elected by party vote.
Mr.. Cotton next moved that Council
proceed to elect first assistant engineer
and Mr.. Magee seconded the motion.
Previous to offering the motion Mr.. Col
ton read section of the ordinance to
create the department of engineering
and surveying, as follows:
The Council shall, at the first stated
meeting in February, 1871, elect chief
engineer and surveyor for term of three
years at the same meeting shall
elect two or more assistants Zone Of whom
shall be a good draughtsman and one
capable of keeping accounts) for the term
of three years.
MR.. MURRAY's PROTEST.
Mr.. Murray declared the proposed
action to be illegal and said it is the
habit of the Board of Directors of the
Street and Sewer Department to appoint
the assistant engineers.
Mr.. Perkins contended Council had
the right to elect first assistant engi-
neer.
Mr.. McKelvey twitted Mr.. Murray on
his knowledge of law and asserted that
if what Mr.. Cotton had read was law IL
should be carried out. He had never
heard of the ordinance having been re-
pealed.
Mr. Murray got angry and informed
Mr.. McKelvey that the Board of Direc-
tors of the Street and Sewer Department
could abolish,a city ordinance by mere
resolution.
Mr.. McKelvey said Senator Gray and
E. G. Bradford are not of that opinion
and informed Mr.. Murray that he posi-
bly, might change his opinion.
The motion was adopted and for first
assistant engineer Mr.. Cotton nominated
Samuel Keemle, who received the Re-
publican vote. One of the Democratic
councilmen voted for Mr.. Murray and
when the complimentary (O vote was an
nounced the member from the Tenth
ward joined in the laugh.
For second assistant engineer Mr..
Cotton nominated Frank A. Price, who
was candidate for chief. Mr.. Price
received eight votes.
For clerk af the registry bureau Mr..
Cotton nominated Mahlon Belts and Mr..
White nominated Harry Schuler. Be-
fore the nominees were balloted for
Clerk Messick, at the request of Mr..
Murray, read section of the ordinance
for the appointment of clerk for the
registering of real estate within the city
in the department of engineering and
surveying, as follows:
That Immediately after the passage of
this ordinance there shall be appointed by
Council suitable person who shall be a
competent draughtsman, whose duties ii
shall be, under the direction of the chief
engineer and surveyor, to attend the regis
tration of real estate within this city and
shall perform draughting and such other
worl, as shall be required of him by the
chief engineer.
President Benson ruled that Mr..
Murray's point was well taken and sait.
Mr.. Belts would not be sworn in if he
were not competent.
Mr.. Cotton declared Mr.. Belts to be
eminently qualified for the position.
Mr.. Belts was elected by party vote.
Each officer-elect was elected for a term
of three years. Messrs. Magee and
Perkins served as tellers during all the
counts.
FINANCES OF THE CITY.
The city treasurer reported that
Council has in Union National Bank
$G3,22475 to the credit of current ex-
penses and $4,45462 to the credit of
special fund and in each of the four
depository banks $3,S50 to the credit of
current expenses. He also reported the
Mitchell, S160, city and school taxes
lpI lCuu, anu TuuOt tlbi AMI sCuOOl luAcS
for 1891; from Administrator Mealey,
1926, city and school taxes for 1890, and
$525, city and school taxes for 1891;
from Building Inspector Dillin, $84,
fees for January; from Clerk Hyland of
the municipal court, $424.70, collections
for January, and $50, December witness
fees unclaimed; City Engineer Bough-
man, $G3.50, fees for January
The city auditor certified to the cor
rectness of the accounts of the city
treasurer, the clerk of the municipal
court, the building inspector, the city
engineer and the secretary of the Board
of Directors OF the Street and Sewer
Department. Councils total in bank is
$S3,07937. The January fees of the
city engineer were $131.50, of which
$63.50 went to Councils fund and $6S
to the fund of the Board of Directors of
the Street and Sewer Department. Dur
ing January the board received ST.
1877 and expended $14,141.41. Its
balance in bank is as follows: To the
credit of current expenses, $50, ,400.94;
to the credit of paving and improving
streets, $16,9 ,926.70; total, $50, ,32764 The
appropriation for intercepting sewer is
exhausted.
Plumbing Inspector Kane reported fees
for January amounting to %5.
The clerk of the municipal court re-
norted that his collections were as fol-