Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-06

City Council, at lt5 meetlng lnurbuhy
evening, was informed by the Board OF
Water Commissioners Of the turning of
$50, 700. IA, surplus from water rents,
into the city treasury. Chairman
Oberly OF the finance COMMITTEES gave
figures to show that the net surplus
was s63, S95 Ii. He explained that in
former years the water department had
paid the interest on the water bonds,
but that this year the department
stopped paying such interest May 2otn,
and aimee that time it had aggregated
Sc. 3C;i, which had been paid by Council.
The difference between the gross sur
plus and that amount WAS the net sur
plus received by Council.
Mr.. Oberly thought the water de-
partment bud done well and TINT Coun-
Gil ought to extend il vote of thanks.
He moved that vote of thanks be
extended for the amount received.
MIR. Leary announced that 1T had
never been very clear to him why the
department stopped paying the interest
Oh the water bonds. He asked City
Auditor Pyle to explain. Mr.. Pyle
explained that the departments
position 10 that it has paid in surpiusss
in the different years moro than the
original amount of the water bonds, and
that therefore il should not have TO pay
interest on them.
Speaking then as to the vote Of thanks
MIR. Laary held that it should not be
given to. men for doing their duty. The
surplus was not a donation, but was
due to the Mayor and Counuil.
Mr.. Oberly Withdrew his motion for
vote of thanks.
Mr., O'Neill cav no harm 10 extend
ing vote of thanks for promptness in
handing over the surplus.
No vote OF thanks was extended, but
acknowledgment of the receipt of the
surplus will be made.
Mayor McLear having approved the
health ordinance passed at the last
meeting, which classities membraneous
Group as contagious disease, President
Leitch declared il to be law.
The Phoenix Fire Co. sent a COM
munication to Council asking its en-
dorsement of a bill to be presented to
the Legislature to secure Legislation
allowing Council to appropriate 81, 900
annually to the company in place of tho
SIS, 800 now received. The company has
recently remodeied its building. has
added an extension truck and free
ambulance. 1t has four men on the
salary list and six horses in use, and
the present appropriation is held to DC
insufficient. On motion of Mr.. Cannon
the communication was referred to tht
fire and lew committees.
The garbage bills were ordered paid
Chairman O'Neil OF the law. com
niittee reported on the case of Stern, the
Japansse goods man, who had beel
arrested for auctioneering without {
fhaf No IN u m llaup
town at the time the charge wa
.ropped upon his payment of tn
License fee of 500. The report wa
accepted.
William j. Fisher, agent for Sara
Z. Davis, asked for the return of 81
from the sum paid as taxes for 1S9
With interest added on farm land a
Lancaster avenue and Union street.. II
stated that the taxes were offered i
time to secure rebate but the CO.
lector refused to accept ths money
alleging that the taxes for 1896 ha
not yet been paid. Mr.. Fisher declare
that receipts were in hand for thos
taxes and that the collector had faile
to make the entry. He asked, there
fore, that the SD extra required whe
the taxes were accepted be refunded
On motion of Mr.. Oherly the clail
was referred to the finance committel
The interest list for January, 81, 81
on certificate for S62, 000 was allowed
City Treasurer Curry reported II
balance in Union National Bank to I'll
account of current expenses TO be 1924
6S4.52; in each of the four depositoi
banks, Sl1, total, Sill, 54S. 5:
special fund for park purposes, for IL
purchase of PARK land, $2R, 093. 70. II
receipts were: From Tax Collect
Sayers, 81, 125; Tax Collector Mitchell
$1,000; City Auditor Pyle, 81
Diamond State Iron Co., Tor oil s45. Z
Water Commissioners, $50. 700. II.
The monthly payrolls were passed,
follows: Miscellaneous, all city officia
outside of Council and the pulice
partment, s3,074.7l; City Counc
s276. 26; and police, IS, 57f.S4.
Mr.. Cannon of the Second wa
desired to have the miscellaneous pa
roll read, which was done. He afte
wards explained his purpose in havi
this done, as hs desired to learn wht
the name appeared of the night firem
of the City Hall. 1t was neither
the police nor miscellaneous payro
When informed that the bill for FIJI
man James 0'Neill's wages of s3l,
for IS days, had been presented by
public buildings committee, Mr.. Ca
non declared that he did not thi
Council should pay men employed
the chief of polls. II Council pays
man Council should appoint him.
Chairman O'Neill of the pub
buildings committee explained that
agreement had been reached where
the Police Commission was to furni
the fuel 10 the amount of $500 a
Council was to pay an extra tiremi
whose appointment was left to
chief of police.
MIR. Cannon persisted in bis
lection to the manner in which |
committee had acted, declaring it
his opinion that no committee ha
right to make AZ Office, for all al
matters should 20 through Council.
To this Mr.. O'Neill said that tue
in question was temporary. Then \
Cannon declared that he did not th
night fireman was needed. 1t was
expense upon the taxpayers VIII
might be bRved.
Mr.. Smith held that the action
proper, and that what a commit
deems to BIZ necessary and economical
has power to do.
The discussion on the fireman maj
closed with Mr. Cannon etil express
the opinion that the bill should not
paid. The order had, however, alre
bean passed.
Judgment in q Repievin Suit.
In the replevin Huit Of Peter G. d.