Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-08
MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
The Proceedings of the Session
Held Last Night Week.
FAREWELL TO RETIRING MEMBERS
Expression of Thanks for Cour.
tesieS Received.
Mayor JeferIs and President Bayiis Pre-
ssnted With silver Loving Cups, Tokens
From thb Counoiinen- Adj tournament Fol-
lowed bJ Treat Provided by the Former.


lowed bS Treat Provided by the Former.
Tho City Council of lS95.6-7 retired
last week with commendable grace,
such as ID seldom the case with politi-
cal bodies. Every momber had kind
word for every other member and also
the othe, officers Of the city, regardless
of party atfiliatiop. In addition to the
adoption OF eulogistic resolutions, ex-
pressing the best OF friendship, Mayor
Jefferis and President Baylis each re.
caived a handsome present from the
members us tokens of the esteem in
which the recipients are held. The
mayor also showed his kindly feeling
for the members by treating them TO
ice cream, cake and lemonade.
After the business before Council had
been disposed of Mr.. Robertson offered
resolution thanking President Baylis
for the courteous and impartial manner
In whi0n be had preaided In moving
the adoption OF the resolution Mr.
Robertson paid glowing tribute to the
president, on behalf OF the Republican
members especially.
Mr.. McNulty heartily favored the 1880
luton and spoke of the pleasant rela-
tions among the members generally.
He would like 10 have seen the resulu-
tion extend TO all tho city officers. lie
made special mention of Clerk Norris
| son and the city tax collectors.
Mr.. Smith spoke of tho good fellow
ship existing among the members OF
Council and regretted the retirement
OF the president. and said he wished TO
extend his best wishes to all the mem
bers who would not return.
Mr.. Stats made similar remarks and
wished to include Bailitf Ryan and tine
representatives Of the press.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted by rising vote.
President Baylis Expressed his graft
| fication over tho acknowledgment oI
80 much good feeling and said that be
was pleased to know that the retiring
Council had been commercially econ
omical.
Mr.. Meauy offered a resolution thank
ing Clerk MORRISON and Baiiff Ryan
for their efficiency and kindly bearing.
! He made eulogistic remarks and on his
motion the resolution WAS unanimously
| adopted.
On tehalf of all the members OF
Council, Mr.. McNulty, 10 neat speech,
presented Mayor Jefieris with hand
some silver luving cup appropriately in
scribed. The mayor accepted the gilt
and in doing so made brief address,
in which be comnlimented Council Oh
its efficiency and the gentlrmsnly bear.
4 ing OF the members
President Baylis was also presented
with similar cup, and be, too,
| M lal Ii - h,
gift.
The cups bad been procured by q
committee consisting of Councilman
Smith and Obsrly and Clerk MORRISON,
and were evidences of their excellonI
taste.
The principal feature OF the husin
session was the killing OF the ordinanc,
making an extraordinary appropriation
nf 50, 374.32 to compensate the munici
pal commissioners and pay the expenseI
incurred in preparing draft of new
charter for Wilmington. Tho ordi
nance, which had been reported with
out recommendation by TIM law com
mittee, was callad up for third readinG
by Mr.. McNulty, and after it had beer
read Mr.. McNulty advocated it's pas
sage. He said there was money enough
to pay the bill, and as it was obliga
tory on Council to pay it, paymen
should be maho without delay. |
would have TO lie paid either by thi
Council or the next one. He also COZ
tended that the commissioners hat
lnhnred industrinusly' in preparing tn
report and that there were other jus
claims which should be met H.
thought some good had resulted from
the reading of the draft, as it had hat
a beneficial effect on the recent issu
of bonds, and he believed that none
enough had been saved in the sale O
those bonds to remunerate the commits
sioners.
Mr.. ONeill also contendud that th
ordinance should he passed without de
lay, as the General Assembly, tn
supreme body Of the State. had mad
it mandatory on Council TO pay tn
bill. He believed that the State shoult
have paid the bill, but il had bee
forced on Council and there was n
way to escape.
Mr.. Leary spoke against the ordi
nance. as did also Mr.. Staats, who sal
be did not consider that the commits
sioners had earned cent. He he'll
that no reason had been set forth wh
the ordinance should be pasaei. /
made no difference to him what th
Legislature had done; the Legislator
could not compel him TO vote agains
his conscience. The bill might he rol
lected through the courts, but not b
his vote.
Mr.. McNulty thought it would b
, nonsense to refuse to pay the bill, as
the ordinance should not be passed th
Council could be compelled by tn
courts TO pay not only the bill itse
but also the court costs.
Messrs. Smith and Meaney though
it would be easier on tho taxpayers I
pass the ordinance, although they hi
not favor the payment OF such arg
8 bill.
, Mr.. Leary made a motion to lay th
(. ordinance on the table, but the motto
! was not seconded. Tho vote resulte
aH follows
q President Baylis and Messrl
O'Eeill. Oheriy, Smith, Meaney an
McNulty-.6.
Nnys--Messrs. Lsary, Zebley, Fish,
] Watson, Robertson and Staats--6
. Absent-Mr. Stevenson.
j A communication was received fro
Auctioueer W. A. Hukill. asking thi
he bs refunded $50. which he ha
paid as license under the old law, viii
the other auctioneers had paid notl
: ing. He also asked that interest be il
0 cluded.
y Mr. O'Neill moved that the requel
: be granted, except as far as intsre
was concerned, he believing that
would not mo right to pay back IL
! amount of the interest. The motto
= was seconded by Mr.. Zebley and pr
/, vailed unanimously.
= A communication from the Weccact