Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-06-02
ANOTHER DEADLOCK.
Council Holds Up Primary
Election Officers Money.
ROBERTSON THE 0BJE0TOR

MARY ELECTION BILLS AT LAST
NIGHTS COUNCIL MEETING MIR.
ROBERTSON uNTERPOsBs AN OBJ
JECTIoN-PARTY LINES AGAIN
DRAWN
The deadlock in city Council is again
on. this time over the payment Of the
bills Of the Democratlc primary election
Officers by City Council as provided for
by law.
AT last nights meeting OF Council, af-
ter motion 10 adjourn had been made
burt not voted upon. Mr.. Leqry Of the
Third ward, presented a bin to that body
from Patrick Neary as chairman Of the
Democratic County Committee, for the
payment Of the expenses incurred in
holding the Democratic city primaries on
May 10 last The hill called for a total of
Ssl763, Of which 22i was for salaries of
officers. $5l for the rental Of seventeen
polling places. and 1853 for stationery.
Attached to the bill was the list Of the
primary election officers.
MIR. ROBERTSON OBJECTS.
After the bin had been read and a mo-
tion made to dispense with the reading
Of the attached names, Mr.. Leary moved
that Council draw an order for the
amount named, payable to the proper
parties. as authorized 10 do by law.
Mr.. Robertson was on his feet at once
and objected to the payment Of the Dill
stating that I'm his opinion st ought to 30
before the Department or Elections for
their approval or ait least be referred to
the Election Committee Of Council before
that body lacted upon 1t.
Mr. Leary replied that II was new
matter before Council, hut that the hw
was plain on the subject. The Depart
ment of Elections had nothing to DO with
the matter, and It was Councils duty to
act
He then read from Section 35 Of the
Laws Of Delaware, which provides that
in cases where primaries are held for
general elections Hhe Levy Court Of each
county shall pay the costs Of the same
and when primaries for city elections are
held the Mayor and Council Of said city
shall bear all expenses.
Although Mr.. Robertson was law
maker. he seemed to be surprised at this
citation OF law, AVID was somewhat en-
barrassed at the situation, but still held
that the matter should be referred to the
Election Department for their approval
I'm order that Council should know That
they we're paying the right parties.
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT
Mr.. smith said the Department of Elee-
tions had nothing to do with the bill, nor
did they want anything to do with IT,
The primary election oHlcers were select
ed by the committees of the respective
parties. who notified the department that
they wanted such men as officers and the
department commissioned them. IL had
no power to say who should act, as it was
entirely a party anair. These men had
worked for their money and ought not uo
be kept out OF 1t for two or three weeks
Councilman Kane, Of the Fourth ward
also spoke strongly in favor of allowing
| the bill ait once. as there could be no
question as to the law requiring Council
TO pay 1t. 'sThese men," added Mr.. Kane
ought to have their money now.
Mr.. Robertson still insisted that the bill
shrould be acted upon by the Election
Committee before It was paid, in the
| same manner as all other bills were act
ed upon that came before Council anc
that st should have the endorsement Of
the committee upon it. This was a now
matter, and Council should he sure theA
we're right before any action was taken
In an matters where there was any douo
the city solicitors opinion should be OBJ
tanned and he thought 1t wise to refer th'
present question to him.
NO USE TO RETER.
Mr.. Leary stated that he had given ln'
matter considerable thought and he ha'
no doubt Of Councils power TO act a
once. Several days ago he had spoken u
a member of the Department OF Elecuon'
regarding the endorsement Of the Dill
and was Informed by him that the Doar'
had nothing to do with 1t. 1t was oil NJ
use to refer IL to the Election Committee
as they could learn nothing more thAl
was already known, and would only os
lay the matter =.
amend the original motion oy Ieiei W -'''
the bill to the Committee on ble0''O''-
Mr.. Kane called for an aye and nay w
and the motion was lost on tle' IN
original motion then came up ana N.
F,sber called for the ayes and nays ans
this motion was also lost on lle W
President Leitch voting with ehe o'"e
five Republicans against 1t.
A FOOLISH PROCEDURE
The bin now comes under une s,'-.., me-
lof unfinished business, ana as u $50,
leitch of late has not CALLED lOr uI
{ 6niahed business, nor is he AKely ~ y
under the existing circumstances, Jun
mTesbisn arises, how are the eIecolo
lofficers to get the money to which ulle
are Justly entitled by law. lhey ma
! lmandamus the city and could proDaDi
= rel III i'm time, but this would 'pe
Iong procedure. In view OF une rae
lthaf the bills for the primaries OF Dou
lthe Regular and Union Republicans ar
q VET, to come up before Council Tor con
! sfderation the action OF the Repubh
cams lis considered in the light OF
E foolish procedure. Should the Demo
= Gratis see fit to take the same stan
, their Republican brethren have takel
Z Republican primary election oiflcer
3 would also be kept out of the m,ne
they are entitled to. and Mr.. Robarl
u sons move would act as boomeran
TO his party.
It is Thought that had THE three biz