Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
ANOTHER DELAY.
Ghs Ordinance for the Suppression of Inn
morality Not Acted Upon by City Council

DOuy FRIDAY n1gnt upon tne propOSou
ordinance for the suppression OF i'm
moral exhibitions, but four members
of Council were absent and on that
account it was agreed to postpone,
action for one week. The report of
the law committee was dated Novem-
Der 18th, and was signed by Chairman
George O'Neill, James r. Oberly and
Henry w. Zebley 1t was not signed
by Dennis f. Leary and Henry r.
Smith. The report was as follows:
"Your committee on law, to whom was
referred the ordinance relating to the
regulation of performances in theatres
and places Of public amusemeuts in
the city Of Wilmington, do report that
they find nothing therein to conflict
with existing ordinances and laws Of
the city, and do report the same favor
able for passage by Council"
On motion OF Mr.. O'Neill, seconded
by Mr.. McNulty, the report was ac-
copied without q dissenting voice.
Later in its proper place in the order
Of business, Mr.. O'Neill called up the
proposed ordinance for its third read
ing. 1t had already passed the first
and second readings Mr. Smith, one
Of the members of the law committee
who did not sign the committees re-
port on the proposed ordinance, took
the floor and suggested. that it would
be better to postpone the matter until
ell the members were present. Three
or four were absent and be thought 1t
would be we'll for every member OF
Council to vote upon it. As an amend
ment TO Mr.. O'Neill's motion he
moved postponenent until the mem
bers were present. Mr.. Leary, the
other law committeeman, whose name
did not appear upon the report,
seconded Mr.. Smiths motion. The
members absent were John b. Meaney,
james B. Stevenson, James W. Robert
son and George M. Fisher.
Tn reply to Mr.. Smiths proposed
amendment to his motion to call up
the third reading, Mr. O'Neill said:
" Mr.. President, you are aware sir,
that this thing has been deferred a
long time. " He declared that it had
been deferred Cd account of absent
members. He supposed the president
had heard the law committee much
talked about as being tardy. Mr..
O'Neill declared that while he had no
particular interest in the matter him.
self, yet he would like something done
one way or another. There was no
member but that knew the contents Of
the ordinance, and, it was full time
Council took final action upon it.
Mr.. McNulty opposed the indefinite
nature of the postponement under Mr..
Smiths motion, but favored postpone
ment for one week SO that everybody
should have ample notice. He moved
postponement for one week. Mr..
Oberly seconded the motion. Mr.,
Smith accepted the amendment to bib
motion and the amended motion was
carried.
President Baylis announced that the
ordinance would come up next week
and suggested that the clerk notify
members. 1t was suggested, however,
that it would be noticed in the papers.
Mr.. McNulty presented proposed
ordinance to make an extraordinary
appropriation for the Board of Health.
The proposed ordinance appropriates a
blank amount, but it is proposed to
give the Board of Health tho 81, 100
necessary to pay III. A. Miller's bill
for work in the sanitary line Mt public
schools Nos. and a. The Board Of
Education having refused to pay, City
Council will furnish the Board of
Health with the means to nay. Tho
preamble of the proposed ordinance
recites that the annual appropriations
granted to the Board of Health for the
fiscal year of 1896 and 1897 have been
found insufficient to meet the current
expenses Of the board; that at the time
of making the general appropriation
ordinance for the present fiscal year this
extraordinary expenditure was not an
ticipated nor provided for.
The ordinance provides for the blank
appropriation and that the amount
shall be paid out OF the taxes, rents
and receipts of the present fiscal year,
if they shall be sufficient; and If not
the amount shall he provided for and
included in the appropriations made
and taxes levied for the ensuing year.
The proposed ordinance was read the
first time, passed the second reading
by title and was referred TO the
law committee for its consideration.
1t may be said at this point that
there is no disposition upon tho part
of Council to force the Board of Edu-
cation into a suit on account of the
Miller bill, which suit will probably
be brought by the Board of Health
after 1T receives the money; for the
Board of Health may pay Mr.. Miller's
bill and then sue the Board of Edu-
cation for the amount But it is in
evitable that there would be suit, if
not by the Board of Health, then BY
Mr.. Miller. The action of Council
will protect the tax payers from the
expenses Of SUIT which would be
brought by Mr.. Miller should Council
rafuse to act in the matter.
The finance committee reported
favorably on applications for overpaid
taxes as follows: Henry Hanuum,
SO. 16: Thomas McCorkle, SIS. 96; and
George Lodge, attorney for Ii. e.
Howard, So. SO. Orders were passed
for the respective amounts
The finance committee reported adj
versely upon the request Of the Equita-
BILE Guarantee and Trust Co., for the
return of s24. 70 paid as school tax on
the property No. 90i King street. The
company claimed that the property was
held in trust for the heirs of the late
Robert Graves, but investigation OF
the claim showed that the deed was
recorded in the registry bureau in the
name of "The Equitable Guarantee
and Trust Co." and not as trustees
for the heirs of Robert Graves, de-
ceased.'
The finance committee also re
ported adversely on the request of
Ohio Rowland, treasurer OF Rodney
Street Presbyterian Church, for tho
return OF $50. 05, paid as taxes on land
owned by the church. The committee
found by reference to section so, page
L. +knN