Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-15
CITY COUNCIL.
Proceedings OF the session Held Thursday
Hss Itvnuinr

hour Thursday evening, but the only
business done was the fixing OF the fol-
lowing Tuesday night as the time for a
hearing in the Sayers-Lew contest.
The Sayers- Iiewis contest brought on
political fight, which might have been
expected. and the result was accom-
plised by party vote. The matter was
broHched by Mr.. Smith. who made a
motion that nnxt the Tuesday be set
apart as the time for the hearing, aud
that the clerk lie directed to advertise
the notice in two of tbe daily news
papers OF the city as required by law.
Mr.. Robertson objected. He said it
was rather u late date to fix time for
a henring, and sustained his contention
by reading from an act passed at Dover
April 9Th, 1893, entitled "An act in
relation 10 municipal elections to be
held iu the city of Wilmington. The
portion of section %, quoted by him,
and upon which he laid special stress,
reads AZ follows; ~ 4 Upon tho
filing of such petition and affidavit, the
Council shall appoint day not lesa
than 10 nor more than lG days from the
time of filing such petition and all
davit, Tor hPnring and determining tho
same, giving public notice thereof in
two newspapers published in the city
of Wilmington. # 4 Il +" lie held
that the matter of appointing time
for the hearing should have been at
tended to last Thursday night when the
notice was filed, and claimed that by
neglecting to do 80 at that time Mr..
Sayers bad forfeited hiH right to con
test. lie said that the Republican
members of Council wanted only jus
tire, as did also Mr.. Lewis, and won't
Oh to say that the mere matter of a man
not having his deed recorded did not
effect his eligibility to hold ofIins.
Mr.. Smith took exceptions TO MIR.
Robertson going into tho merits Of tho
case and asked President Leitch to call
the speaker TO order, which Mr.. Leitoh
did, requesting Mr.. Robertson to con
fine himself to the question before
Council. But Mr.. Robertson insisted
that his remnrks were germane to the
subject, saying that he would lead uD
to the question at issue. Again Mr..
Smith arose to q point of order and
remarked that there will he another
| time when he can let bimself loose. ~
| Then. in difference TO the wishes Of
| the president Mr.. Robertson offered
motion to refer the matter to the city
solicitor for bis opinion. President
iIDlbCu ~ nv 'hpaut hho
as an amendment, whereupon he re
Piled that no did not and claimed that
he had perfect right to offer such a
motion when another motion was pend
ing. President Leitch ruled otherwise,
| however, and Mr.. Robertson moved TO
lay Mr.. Smiths motion over for one
week, and in the meantime TO have the
matter referred TO the city solicitor for
his opinion.
President Leitch understood tho
| motion to be in tho nature OF an
amendment and asked Mr.. Smith if no
| wuulu accept the amendment. MT. Smith
replied that he would not, and the
amendment was voted on and lost by
a party vote, after which Mr.. Smiths
motion, fixing the time, was carried in
| the same manner.
| Mr.. Smith then moved that the clerk
be instructed TO issue subpCenaa for
witnesses for both parties to the con-
test The motion prevailed by party
vote.
A motion, made by Mr. Robertson, to
allow each side tho privilege of being
represented by counsel, was lost by a
marty vote.
With this matter disposed OF, Mr..
Smith moved that Council adjourn.
Mr.. Robertson raised the point the
| Council could not adjourn until the
committees had been elected, the law
requiring that the committees shall be
| named at the first stated meeting after
organization. Accordingly, the presi-
dent ruled the motion out of order,
wheroupon Mr.. Leary moved that re.
cess be taken until s O'Clock the fol.
| lowing evening.
MIR. Robertson objected, on the ground
that the motion TO adjourn which was
before the body. took precedence. Tho
| motion to adjourn was lost and Mr..
| IIeary's motion was carried, strict party
| lines being drawn in each case.
In anticipation of fight, Council
chamber was we'll filled whom tho timo
for opening the meeting arrived. Mayor
McIiear and City Auditor Pyle occupied
seats beside President Leitch and out
side the railing were noticed a numpor
OF city officials. and several ex-mpmbers
of Council, tho remainder of those
| present being mainly politicians.
The tirst matter taken up was the
reading OF n communication. which
| President Leitch had received from the
municipal Gonmis1iuuers. IL requested
payment uf the claims which hnu been
presented to the last Council, 81, 600 for
services and s374 for expenses. A item
tiun was called to the act Of Assembly
requiring Council TO pay the bill. On
motion of MIR. Smith, the communIca-
tion was accepted and filed.
On motion of Mr.. Leary, Council
accepted m invitation to attend the
ceremonies incident TO the housing of
the Water Witch Fire Co. g combina-
tion chemical engine and hose wagon
on tho night OF Wednesday, July 2lst.
The memhors are to meet at Council
chamber at 7. 40 O'clock, from which
place they will be driven in cabs TO the
tamu engine house, and afterward to
tho Water Witch houBo.
Friday nights adjourned Meeting Of
| City Council aVailed nothing The
session was held for tho purpose Of
electing committees but McHsrs. O'Neill
aud Leary declihed to vote for the eau
| Gus slate, nnu q deadlock was tho re-
suit. The Democratic members On
deavored 10 get together on tho COM
mittees FRIDAY afternoon Rnd uarly in
tho evening, but Mr.. Leary wantai the
chairmanHhip uf the finance committee,
which had been allotted to Mr.. Oberly,
and MIR. q Neill wanted the Law com.
mittee chairmanship, for which Mr..
Leary had been selected, and as u
majority Of tho Democrats were not in.
clinBd to break the slate all efforts tv
hnyo it elected wore fruitless. Twenty
ono ballots we're taken on one commit
toe, bnt without suGcess.
! Immediately after Council had boon
callel to order Mr.. Smith moved that
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