Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22
THE KEY WAS FOUND.
And the Bid Box win be Used by
City Council.

The Exposure OF the Atair in EVERY
Evening" Followed by Good Resuits--
Regular Meeting of City Council, Last
Thursday Night.
The exposure of City Councils illegal
manner of receiving bids, published by
EVERY EVENING week ago, had a
good effect. Council was Inundated by
the publicity given to its misdolngs Ind
Immediately became repentant 1t hastily
sought locksmiti and without expert
enclng a particle of trouble obtained o
key to replace the one alleged to have
been lost nearly year ago, the replac-
ing of which, it had been limited, would
be almost an impossbiity. The bid box
in the Council chamber is again in con-
dtlon to be used and now Council has
no pretext for violating the law.
Chiefly rountine business engaged the
attention of the city fathers last Thurs
day evening.
Figuratively speaking Mr.. Dannen-
berg slapped Mr.. Ratledge. The latter
was not present when the spanking was
given, otherwise Mr.. RRtledge no doubt
would have replied. Mr.. Dannenberg
spoke of his absence from the preced-
ing meeting and stated that he was alb
sent because he was out Of town. Be-
fore leaving the city, he said, he had
asked Mr., Ratledge to have the bids for
supplying the garbage crcmatory with
oil opened and the contract awarded
but instead of complying with his re-
quest Mr.. Ratledge had had the bids re-
terred to the committee on garbage
crematory with power TO act. The
committee had not taken any action and
in consequence the crematory had run
out of oil. The supply was exhausted
Thursday and as result operations al
the crematory will have to be suspended
for day.
Interest due sundry bondholders,
amounting to SCOOP, was ordered paid
as was also sinking fund loan, amount
ing to $4,000, payable to Mrs. Eliza
beth McComb. The payment of many
bills was also ordered.
The city treasurer reported SOL ,624. 04
in Union National Bank to the credit OF
the city's current expenses and 81, $40. 4G
in each of the four depository banks to
| the same credit, making total deposit
of S61, 021.SS. He also reported the fol.
lowing receipts: From Collector Sayers
| 5000, city and school taxes for 1893, and
| $500, similar taxes for 1899; from Col
lector Mitchell, $500, like taxes for 1893
The city auditor certified to the cor
rectness of the accounts of the city
treasurer.
The finance committee reported that
the examination of the cash books If
| the Board of Directors of the Street
and Sewer Department and Mayor
Shortlidge had been completed. II
praised the work of the city auditor and
recommended that the vault in the
office of the city treasurer be enlarged
so that archives in the office of the
auditor can be removed thereto.
| Mr.. Stats said the committee or
public buildings had contemplated hav
ing the vault enlarged, but had moi
done anything in that respect because
of the depleted condition Of the com
mittee's appropriation.
The city treasurer was directed Il
transfer So, 349.46 from each of the fou
depository banks to Union Nationa
Bank.
Mr., Dannenberg introduced an ordi
nance entitled an ordinance max
ing an extraordinary appropriation
ton for interest and salaries. Tn
preamble states that the appropriation
for salaries needs replenishing becaus
of the acquisition of the garbage crema
tory and the increased number of EN-
ployes in the city surveying and engi
noering department. 1t says, most likel,
in an attempt to let Council down easy
that the men whose salaries have to b
provided for were hired subsequent Il
the making of estimates of appropria
tons, thereby intimating that the putin
of these men on the pay-rolls was no
expected when the estimates were made
Increasing the number Of employees il
the surveying and engineering depart
ment may not have been expected Blu
how about the men at the crematory
Council appropriated money for the pun
chase of the crematory and why did it nc
provide for the salaries of the men 10 b
! employed therc2 1t might as wei
admit that it was negectful, or say tina
it thought men would not be neede
there. The preamble, probably inten
tionally, does not say why more none
has to be raised for interest. The ordi
nance appropriates $1,000 for interes
and $3.50 for salaries, Part Of til
money thus appropriated is to come GU
of the taxes, rents and receipts of thi
fiscal year and the balance is to com
out of the taxes of the next fiscal veal
The ordinance was given the usual read
ings and referred to the finance and LAY
committees.
The resignation of Harry Palmer a
chief engineer of the city surveying an
engineering department was presente
and accepted. Mr.. Palmer resigned o
account of poor health.