The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-02
THE CHECK
; is PASSED.

, Ine wafer COulul'ooiul' aV'US ihSSU
Ing Yesterday afternoon passed the
check for $4,000 on account OF the
IWeldlh farm purchased recently.
city Council was opposed to the ex.
pendlture Of the money by the Water
Commission and the auditor accord
ingly was asked and did hold up his
signature. The Finance Committee
of City Council met City Solicitor
Relnhardt yes terday and he took the
matter under advsement. At the
meeting of the Water Commission
yesterday afternoon after the trans.
action Of routine business a commun-
ication from City Auditor Boughman
on the Weldin check was read by
John 5. Grohe, secretary of the board
The communication was as follows:
Herewith you will find check No.
93l0, dated September 20, 1901, in
part payment for certain land In
Brandywine hundred, and signed by
the president Of your board.
Among the reasons for my not sign
ing the same when presented on
Thursday last are these:
First, Inasmuch as section of the
act creating the Board of Water
Commissioners states that all titles to
land shall be vested in the Mayor
and Council of Wilmington, ! natur.
ally concluded that the mayor should
be a party to the agreement.
Second, AS it has in all previous
cases been the custom, when you de-
sired to make payment on account
of any contract or purchase to have a
bill presented for audit in the usual
way before checks are drawn. see
no reason why an exception should
have been made in the case now un-
der consideration.
Since then the Council has also re-
quested me by resolution to with.
hold my signature.
Also, the city olicitorstatcd to me
this morning that he was not ready
with his opinion in the matter, and
had notified you as to that fact.
l therefore respectfully return the
check without my signature pending
the proper adjustment of the matter.
Very respectfully yours,
John Boughman,
City Auditor.
When the communication had been
read Or. Pyle asked II the board had
anv communication from the city So
licitor in reference to the matter.
lie said that on the minutes of the
board was an opinion from Mr. Rein.
hardt in which he stated that the
water Commission lad a right to
purchase the land for reservoir pur.
poses.
President Belts announced that
no change in opinion had been re-
Ceivcd, but it was brought out that
Mr.. Relnhardt had told Chief Engi-
neer Bond that he would commune
cate with the board.
Dr. Pyle remarked that the solicit
tor knew when the board met, and If
he desired to change his opinion he
should have communicated with the
department.
Mr.. Jones said that he was ready
to act on the matter and to pass the
check over the head of the city audi
tor.
MIR. Belts suggested that it might
be well to wait a week to ascertain
II the solicitor did intend to Give
an opinion, but DR.. Pyle remarked:
"rhis baby act don't scare me. -
"Nor me- added Mr.. Jones.
Mr.. Belts said he thought the
board was acting within its rights,
and he was willing TO act with the
others. DR.. Pyle said he would sub
NIT to Mr.. Belts judgment in the
matter but Mr.. Belts said that he
had no desire to delay the subject.
The commission has one opinion from
the city solicitor and 1t has no official
knowledge of him changing his
opinion.
Dr. Pyle moved hat ii was the
unanimous decision Of the Board Of
Water Commissioners that they over.
rule the objections Of the city audi
tor in refusing to countersign check
No. 1910, In favor Of Thomas 4.
Weldln, for $4,000 in part ray.
ment Of land purchased from him
and the motion was carried unani-
mously.
nu.r the law the commission will
now notify the auditor Of the action
Of the hoard and he will be furnished
with copy OF tho resolution and also
shown the minutes Of the meeting
at which the action was ia ken.