Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-31
INoREAsING TINE SALARIES.
Vote Passed by City Council for Add
tIonal Denartmentnl SaIarieA.

Vote Passed by city Councti Tor Audl-
tionai Departmental Salaries.
City Councils session Thursday night was
very interesting. Lengthy and animated
discussions were held over the question
of increasing the salaries of the OIL
cials of the Engineering and Surveying
Department and ON the appropriation OF
Si50.OO0 for the improvement of the public
parks.
The law committee reported that it had
found nothing in the ordinance calling for
tue increase of the compensation of GER
tain officers in the Engineering and Sur
yeying Department contrary to the city
charter.
Mr.. Ratledge asked for the third reading
of this amendment to the ordinance. Then
the argument began. Mr.. Donahoe asked
when the increase of the salaries
would go into effect He was in
formed that the increase would be
made when the new officers are installed
in February. Mr.. Donahoe argued
that the present officers were appointed
two years ago and that therefore their
terms would not expire until July. MIR.
Stats informed him. however, that on
page 32l of city ordinances, he would find
there clause which said distinctly that
they were elected for a term of three
years, and also that the present officers
were elected three years ago. Mr.. Donahoo
then said that he was surprised that any
member of Council would vote for an in
crease of the salary of any official in the
face of the present condition of the cty's
finances. He said he is in favor of increas.
ing the force of men, but he could not at
this time favor any increase in compensa-
ton.
Mr.. Smith also took part in the dis
cussion. He said, II am not generally in
Favor of increasing salaries. or spending
money unnecessarily, but | believe that
the engineers in our surveying depart
ment are the poorest paid officers in the
city of Wilmington for the amount OF
workthey give us. | am in favor of allow
ing them this little increase because |
think they are worth every cent of it.
Mr.. Tyre said: "Mr. President, one rea-
son why am in favor of this increase is
because the disparity in the salaries is too
great. The duties of the several engineers
are almost the same, and | think they
should be paid salary more commensur-
ate with those duties"
Mr.. Meaney then took the floor. He
said: "Mr. President, | have never been
opposed to increasing any man salary.
believe that every man should be given q
fair compensation, but | cannot say now
that am in favor Of increasing the salaries
of these officers. The city's finances are IN
too poor shape to warrant such an i'm
crease"
Finally the vote on the enactment was
taken. All the Republicans and Mr..
Smith voted in the affirmative.
Mr. Smith presented a communication
from Superintendent Brooks OF the Mary
land division. p, w. a. B. railroad relative
to the placing of gates at the foot of Madi-
son street. Mr., Brooks letter contained "a
request for more information on the sub
ject. On motion of Mr.. Smith, the clerk
NF NAttRN ct fnI En-.
Brooks all the necessary information.
An order for the amount of interest on
loans, Nos. y and IS was passed. The
city treasurer reported the balance in
Union Bank, $50, i09.46. From Eugene NJ.
Savers. $50 were received and from
Edmund Mitchell, 5000. The city auditor
reported that Collector Mitchell's accounts
for 1892 had been examined and found
| correct.
Mr.. Dannenberg then sent to the desk a
copy of supplement to the law authoriz-
| ing Council to borrow money for improve
ments of the parks. The supplement said
provided that Council be empowered to
borrow in aggregate Sl50,0O0 for the said
| improvements" No signatures were at
tached to the supplement, and MIR. o'Neill
arose and questioned whether Council had
| the right to consider it unless signed by at
least two-thirds of the members of the
| Park Commission.
| President Perkins said that the point
was we'll taken, and the motion to approve
the document WIS ruled out of order.
Mr.. Dannenberg endeavored to make an
explanation of the supplement, and for
/ what purpose it had been submitted to
Council, but Mr.. % Neill interrupted him,
saying that no doubt he knew ali about il
as he is n member of the Park Commits
sion. Mr.. O'Neill said that as such was
the case, he did not think Mr.. Dannen-
bergs argument would be in good taste.
MIR. Tyre made an attempt to explain to
Mr.. O'Neill the object of the presentation
of the supplement to Council He sug-
gested that II number of the reports of tile
chief engineer Of the parks be distributed
among the members so that thew could
know what is going to be done with the
money.
City Solicitor Elliott was called upon to
explain the matter. His explanation,
however, did not seem to satisfy Mr.
O'Neill. The latter said he is not in favor
of such vast expenditure of money al
this time, and he did not think 1t good
policy to saddle the city with any further
debt while the present depressed condition
of affairs exists.
After short debate between Messrs
McNulty, Wainwright and Rutledge, Mr.
Donahoe sent to the desk the following
resolution:
WHEREAS, The different departments OF IN,
city government will be asking for needle,
legislation at The present session of the Leg /;
lature; therefore, be IL
RstOLUtd, That all measures submitted tn ths
law committee OF Council for enactment, ahal
frat be submitted to Council Tor approval.
On motion, Council adjourned at
o'clock.