Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-17
Consideration OF Amendatory
Ordinance Postponed.
HEAVIER FINE MAY Be IMPOSED
Council Appropriates l,4oo
to Board of Health.


TO kHH6 Lu6 pldce CI ING pFOpOB6u Orul-
nance "to regulate theatrical exhibit
tions and public entertainments did
not receivs Its third reading at last
third reading was, instead, postponed
at the meeting of spirit more favor
sbls to the proposed ordinance which
had been defeated at the previous
meeting by vote Of 7 to 6. Council
man Oberly, who is member OF the
/ law committee and who voted for the
proposed ordinance, indicated that he
would offer an amendment to the
amandRtory ordinance. Before the
latter reaches it's final passage, there
fore, it may cover the ground which the
former proposed but rejected ordinance
was designed TO cover.
At the meeting Thursday the law
committee reported favorably on the
amendRtozy ordinance to section 3, of
page 38l, Introduced by Mr.. McNulty.
It had found nothing therein to con-
Hict with existing ordinances. All five
members OF the law committee signed
the report. namely, Messrs. O'Neill,
Oberly. Zehley, Leary and Smith.
Only the first three had signed the
previous proposed measure.
In due time Mr.. McNulty called for
the third reading Of the ordinance.
When this had been done the next
question was as to its final passage.
At about this point Mr.. Meaney Sc
cured the floor ON q question of privilege.
He said that he had been approached by
one or two citizens In regard to the
ordinance, or the amendment rather,
and he would ask the gentleman who
proposed the the amendment that 1t be
laid over one week.
To this request, Mr.. McNulty replied
that 80 far as he was personally con-
cerned be was in no hurry, but the
other had been hanging so long that
newspapers and people wanted Council
to get rid of it. lie suggested that
Council dispose of the amendment
Mr.. Stats moved that further con-
sideration be postponed for one week,
and Mr.. Meaney seconded the motion.
Councilman Smith next took the
floor. - think this matter has been
before Council about long enough, !"
said Mr. Smith. He thought the
quicker 1t was disposed Of the better
II twas postponed nobody would know
why 1t was delayed. and tomorrow
morning and evening II would be read
in the papers that 1t had been post
poned one week. Mr.. Smith also
thought the people had had ample time
to come before Council. He did not see
why. it could not be passed and let the
officials get to work.
Mr.. Oberly announced that be had
intended to make an amendment, 80
that the fine should read IS to $50,
instead of so cents to $40. 1t was sug-
Pested to make the fine up to 300,
which Mr.. Oberly said would be still
better; whereupon Mr.. McNulty ex-
claimed: "It wouldn't be bad idea to
put in guillotinep'
Mr.. Meaney expressed himself as in
favor Of the ordinance. Council was
not hasty before and weeks delay
would net hurt. Delay of one week
would give gentlemen privilege to come
and give their views in the matter and
Councilman could vote conscienti ously.
Mr.. Leary, although ready to vote
agreed to postponement.
Mr.. Fisher thought the weeks delay
would improve the amendment. He
asserted that 1t was hardly worth
voting for now.
Mr.. Robertson made the point that
the Councilmen were there to represen
the people and it was their duty to
give the people what they want.
@T. Clultu replieu W Mr, fSODert6OD
and said that he was perfectly satisfied
but not to a few. ''we don't wani
any class legislation" be exclaimed.
"Let US have legislation for all and
not for the few. II this is going to be
debatable ordinance let us invite the
public generally. -
City Council adopted the motion tc
postpone further consideration for one
week.
cREMAToRY BREAKDOWN.
A smile came upon the faces Of
Councilman when Mr.. Oberly the
genial chairman of the crematory com.
mittee announced that there had beer
a general breakdown at the crematory,
1t il nothing unusual for something tc
be awry out there, This time thu
engine which drives the blower fan /,
broken down. Mr.. Oberly moved thai
the committee be empowered either Il
have the present engine repaired or t.
buy new one ae soon as possible. M r.
O'Neill thought the present engine wal
too small and favored the purchase of {
new engine, to be manufactured in thil
city.
Mr.. Watson, member of the crema
tory committee said that a new shat
was needed anyhow. The casing on th,
machinery has been broken. To him
the engine, when it was running, nevel
sounded right.
The crematory committee was giver
power to act.
AUcTIoNEER MATTER AGAIN.
Mr.. 0'Neill sent to the desk two
communications from William A.
Hukill, one addressed to President
Baylis and the other to the law com
mittee. In each letter Mr.. Hukill re-
ferred to his having paid to the cit,
auditor in February last $3.50 for
license to sell goods at auction. But al
he was the only man who had done Sc
and az other men were in the business
he did not think 1t fair. He though,
others should either pay up, or stor
selling, or that he should receive hii
money back.
According to Mr.. O'Neill, City
Solicitor Harmsn awaits Judge Balls
opinion on the question OF the constitu
tionality of the auctioneer ordinance.
A test case was made on the origina
ordinance, but there has been nc
decision. Meanwhile Mr.. Hukill il
the only one.wh has paid the former
fee Of $50. Since he paid the none,
Council has amended the ordinance anC
reduced the fee.
The communications were referred
to the law and finance committees.
THE BLACKSMITH SHOP PROPERTY.