Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-15
CITY AUDITOR RESTRAINED.
Ordered by connciI NOT to Give Treasurer
Hamann Certain Moneys Except for De-
ponit TO the Credit of Council.

Hamann Certain Moneys Except for De-
pos,t TO the Credit of Council.
The fight between City Council and
the Directors of the Street and Sewer
Department over the possession of wharf
and street bed rents, pole taxes and
market fees has extended beyond City
Treasurer Hamanu' 8 office, City Auditor
Pyle having been ordered by Council
not to turn over to the treasurer such
of those moneys as come into his hands
unless the treasurer assures him that
the money is to be deposited to the
credit of the Mayor and Council, and
as Mr.. Pyle is an officer of Council,
being elected by that body, he feels it
his duty to comply with otders issued
by it. In the case of Treasurer Hamann
it is different. He is elected by the
people and feels that he is equally
responsible to each department.
As result of this order of Council,
Auditor Pyle has in his possession two
checks for wharf rent amounting to S96,
which he proposes to retain until the
treasurer assures him that the money
is to be deposited to Councils credit,
and as the treasurer cannot say wheu
he will be able to give decision in
the matter, the money may remain in
Mr.. Pyle's hands for an indefinite
period, and while it is there neither
Council nor the Street and Sewer De-
partment will get the benefit Of it.
Additions are liable to be made to the
auditors fund, at any time, and it is
| dithoult to predict what the result will
be. The auditor receives wharf and
street bed rents and pole taxes, as well
as the fees from the city engineer, a
portion Of which goes to the credit OF
Council and the remainder to the Street
aud Sewer Department. Up to the
present time there is no controversy
over this matter, Council claiming only
| that portion Of the engineers fees fol
building lines and other work back Of
the building line. 1t has been limited,
however, that Council would probably
take the same action with respect tc
these fees as with the others.
just what is going to be done about
the matter of collecting taxes on poles
is not known. FoI several days thu
Street and Sewer Department has hao
the supervisors making tour Of the
city assessing the poles, and as thest
men are in the pay of the department il
is evident the department expects tc
get the money. 1t is the duty OF tn,
city auditor, however, to collect thai
money, and if he pursues the couIse b,
is now following, the money, il col
lected, may be held by him for som,
time: most likely, until he is directed
either by City Council or by the court
if legal proceedings are resorted to
what fund he is to credit it to, and tn,
treasurer will deposit 1t where h
thinks it should go.
This. practically makes fund of cit.
money in the hands of the auditor, tiet
up indefinitely, as a result of the con
troversy between Council aud the de
rartment, and Saturday Treasure
Hamann opened fund I in his owl
name as trustee, depositing check TO
S24. 56, being the collections of Clerl
of the Market Connell for January
MIR. Hamann, in speaking about tn
matter, said he had not yet satisfiet
himself whether Council OF the Stree
and Sewer Department is entitled t
the money, hence his action in cpeninI
special account. He will depoSi
therein all moneys received from th
sources over which there is con
troversy until the matter is settled o
he feels justified in doing otherwise.
The present condition OF affair
practically shuts off, for the time being
the revenue from certain sources, an,
it was limited this morning that lega
measures were contemplated.