Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-30
AUCTIONS and AUCTIONEERS
Ordinance Regulating Them to
be Investigated.
A LIVELY SESSION OF COUNCIL
Knotty Question Referred to a
Committee.


There was lively discussion at the
meeting of City Council Thursday night
over a motion made by Mr.. Fisher, the
member from the Sixth ward, provid-
ing for an examination and investiga-
tion of the ordinance regulating auc.
tions and auctioueers, for the purpose
OF ascertaining it's provisions and gem
eral meaning.
In paving the way to the motion Mr..
Fisher said he had been informed that
man had come into the city recently
with a stock of goods purporting to lie
Worlds Fair goods; that be had cold
them in regular way until two or
three weeks ago, when the goods we're
put up at auction. Mr.. Fisher had
understood that the auction sales were
conducted for about week before
license was taken out. Then, he had
been informed, the Dealers attention
had been called to the ordinance aud
license was taken out. He thought a
fine should have been imposed for not
complying with the ordinances sooner.
lie had under stood that the fine for not
complying was 500 and could not OK.
plain why the fine had not been i'm
posed upon the dealer to whom be re-
ferred. He thought it was unjust to
other merchants who were here IL
months in the year 10 have concern
come along and after brief sojourn
ssl the goods at auction. lie thought
the matter should be- looked into and
made motion that ii he referred tn
the law committee for investigation.
Mr.. beary said If thu case was just
as Mr.. Fisher had stated 1t he would
agree to have an Investigation, but hs
hol hnap inf bod
been issued TO Stern g. Co., TO whom
he supposed Mr.. Fisher referred, and
had understood that the matter had
been considered by the Municipal
Court and had been settled before
Judge Ball.
Mr.. Fisher said he was not aware
that there bad been settlement in the
Municipal Court and had not heard
| that the matter had been brought be-
| fore that tribunal at all. He had under
stoud that someone had waited upon
the dealer and informed him that il
would be necessary to.take out license
to auction oil tho goods.
Mr.. O'Neill thought it would be
proper for the law committee to make
an investigation and lind out whether
or not anything had bsen done in the
City Court and report back to Council.
Mr.. Smith thought such o matter
should be looked after by the city
solicitor. If there had been settle
ment, be held, it must havo been made
by either the city solicitor or his assist
ant, and hp thought the responsibility
should lie with them. He deemed it
the duty of the city solicitor to prose-
cute il the law had been violated.
Mr.. Robertson thought that il would
hardly ho proper to refer the matter 10
the city solicitor. He expressed the
opinion that it was the duty of the
Police Department TO bring violators Of
the law before the court, and the duty
of the city solicitor begins after the
cases are in court.
Mr.. Smith could not see where it WIS
the duty of the Police Department to
enter a mans store and see if he hal a
license, especially in the case of an
auctioneer. The city auditor had done
his part by collecting the license fee.
Mr.. Fishers motion to refor tine mat
tor to the law committee, with instruc-
tions to make an investigation and re-
port back to Council, prevailed, there
not being a dissenting vote.
Chairman O'Neill OF the law COM
mittee reported that the committee had
. | hWbDu-
ing the ordinance concerning the health
OF the city 80 as TO include mem
braneous Group 10 the list OF contagious
diseases, aud, on motion OF Mr. O'Neill,
the amendatory ordinance was passed.
and referred tc the mayor for his APP
proval.
On motion of Chairman Kane of the
police committee, an order for $3.50 was
drawn in favor of the Board Of Police
Commissioners, on account of the con-
tingent fund.
A communication was received from
Brigadier- General Hart inviting the
members to visit and inspect the
armary from to IL o'clock next Thurs
day evening. On motion of Mr..
O'Neill, the communication was re-
ceived ard filed.
City Treasurer Curry's report showed
the following: Balance to the credit of
current expenses, 500, SOB. So, of which
So, G39 So is in the Union National
Bank and S1l, ZIG in each of the four
depository banks; balance to the credit
of the fund for the purchase OF park
land. 1923, 093. 10 received from Tax Re.
ceiver Sayers, si25, taxes for 1897
from Receiver Mitchell, 1000, taxes
for 1897. Chairman IIealey of the
crematory committee reported that
s45. 76 had been received from the sale
of oil, which had heen at the crematory,
and City Auditor Pyle announced that
r.