Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-08
THE PHOENIX APPROPRIATION.
Decision of City Council to Grant an
Additional Sum OF $3.50.

The Increase Not Permanent; Applies Only
TO the Money Voted 1bursdny--Further
Action WIN Have to be Taken to Obtain
the Desired Amount Bsreafrsr
At the nesting Of Council Thursday
evening it was decided by vote OF Z
to to give the Phoenix Fire Go. its
increased appropriation authorized by
the Legislature al its luHt session. The
matter was not definitely settled for
the future, however. AZ the motion was
simply to pay $3.50 In addition to the
regular semi- annual appropriation, and
II thia money is paid further action
will he necessary before or at the time
the next semi.annual appropriations
are made to the several companies.
After the preliminary business OF
Council had been Disposed ut the fire
committee submitted a report, recon-
meuding that the aemi annual appro'
priations to ths seyeral FIRE companies
and the semi annual instruments of the
salnries of officers of the department be
paii, the amounts recommended 10 the
report being rs follows: Friendship,
Reliance, Delaware, rhnnix. Fame
nnh Liberty, 81, $50 each; Water Wiioi,
So, 600, and Washington and Weccacoe,
50. 500 each; Chief Engineer Sasss.
5000: First Assistant Joyce and Second
A Assistant Purcell, sl0n each.
Immediately after the report had
been read Chairman Cannon of the fire
committee made mntion to the effect
that tho appropriation of the Phoenix
Co. be increased $3.50, half of the an
nual increase authorized by the Legia-
lature. In support OF his motion be
called attention to the action of the
Legislature. Tho motion was seconded
by Mr.. Watson.
Mr.. Oberly said be did not want to
oppose granting an Increase, but was
not in favor of the members making
themselves individually liable for the
money, which he held, they would do If
the increase should be granted in the
manner which had bean proposed.
Mr.. Kane thought the motion was
out Of order.
Mr.. O'Neill favored the motion. He
said that while be had been opposed to
granting the increase when the request
WAS first made, considering il would
be q bad precedent, IL had been
authorized by the Inv makers OF the
State and he thought the money should
be appropriated. After tina bill had
been passed by the Legislature 1t came
to Council duly certified and was now
| law. The city solicitor hnd given his
opinion and on the strength of his da-
cision. action on the ordinance making
an extraordinary appropriation for fire
companies HAD been stopped for tine
time being. Mr.. O'Neill held, now
ever, that the ordinance, SO far as it
related to the Phoenix appropriation,
was still pending. He thought sumo
injustice had been done. He failed to
see where any restraint had been put
upon Council in the matter, and said
that with all Difference TO the city
solicitor he would only respect his
opinion go far as he thought it was
right, but in the Speakers opinion, 90
long as Council was not restrained by
the proper court, 1t was at liberty to
act. He thought the ordinance, which
had been temporarily laid aside, should
be taken up and referred to the proper
committee. He called attention to the
fact that the Phoenix 90. ia doing a
great deal of good, especially with its
ambulance servius, and mads motion
that the ordinance be taksn up and re-
ferred to tho proper committee.
Mr.. Henley thought the motion wal
out Of order.
MIR. Cannon held that there was nj
necessity .or making an extraordinar,
appropriation at this time. az the kr,
csmmittee had to ito credit S35. l05
and nothing need be done in Ehe direc
ton Of an extraordinary sppi opriatioI
for five months, just prior to tho item
when the next appropriations are made
Mr.. Leary thought Council woult
exceed it's authority by HuoEting Mr.
Oannon's motion. holding that al
special appropriations should be mad
by ordinance.
Mr.. Smith admitted that the com
pany had done great deal OF good
hut said according to the oath he ha,
taken as q member Of Council, b
, could DOT sec his way clear to vote TO
the additional appropriation at tn
present time. He claimed that il an
, person should mako demand upo
Council for that money each membe
would be individually liable for hi
share.
. Mr.. O'Neill insisted that the ord
" nance be referred to committee.
: Mr.. Robertson smoke in favor
: making the additional appropriation
and he made an argument to show tbs
o the fire companies wers not privaI
!, corporations in the meaning Of tt
q Conatitution. M h6E
i MIR. Smith said the city solicitc
. had decided that the fire uompani
10 were private corporations, land /
thought it would be a reflection on I'll
city's legal adviser to throw his opii
ion to the four winds. He favor,
r. holding the matter over for week,
the city solicitor had promised to lot
he further into the matter.
sH MIR. Leary moved the adoption of Il
J. report OF the committee in its origin
70 shape, without this additional appr
printion. He thought ths mott,
9, which as pending was out of orde
!. President Leitch decided that it vi
0, in order whereupon Mr. Leary NOV
that the motion to grant the addition
., appropriation be referred to the fl
4. and law committees. This motion W
lost by tic vote, as follows:
Ayss-Msssrs. Leary, Smith. Oberl
r. O'Neill, Kane aud Healey--6.
Nays-Messrs. Cannon, Zobley, WI
e. son, Robertson, Morris and Preside
re Leitch--6
Absant-Mr. Fisher. '@i
hs The motion to grant the addition
OF appropriation was carried by the
lie lowing vote:
Ayes-Messrs. o'NeiIl, Cannon. Il
p ley, Watson, Robertson, Norris a
,r- President Leitch-T.
n Nays-Mes srs. Leary. Smith, ober
Kane and Healey--5. IA
he President Leitch announced that
les motion had been adopted, and INN
ey diately Mr.. Kane said he desired
as change his vote, but he was too |,
and tho antinn WAS final an far