Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-05

Seventeen city officials represented
Wilmington at the convention of the
League of American Municipalities,
which was held at jamestown, N. ",
last week, and the expense of the trip,
it now develops, was borne by the city,
and will oe about $780, All the bills
rave not been settled. but $500 is the
estimate of President OF Council
Charles II. Blaine and Councilman
Thomas M. Monaghan.
MesHrs. Blaine and Monaghan we're
seen in regard to the matter by re-
porter Of The Gazette. They said
that it is the custom all over the coun-
try for cities represented at these an
nual conventions to pay the expenses
of their delegations. Inquiry was made
by them concerning the appropriations
of some of the cities, and they learned
that Hartford, Conn.,, which Is about
the same size as Wilmington, appro-
priated $1,000 for its six representa-
rives, and New Briton, Conn, smaller
city, which had two representatives
there, appropriated $780,
just before leaving for the trip a
conference of the me nbers of Council
who intended to go was held in the
Office OF Mayor Fisher, at the City Hall,
and it was decided to pay the cost OF
the transportation Of the party and the
hotel bills, and, in order to meet those
expenses, check for 81, 200 was drawn
In favor of Clerk Of Council William
l.. Hamann. who had been selected as
treasurer Of the party. The check was
signed by President Blaine, Clerk
Hamann, City Treasurer Seth II.
Feaster and City Auditor John Bough-
man, and the cash was obtained from
the First National Bank, where the
city's active account Is kept. The check
was charged against the appropriation
for incidental and miscellaneous ex.
penses. The money was entrusted to
Mr.. Hamann, who looked after the
settlement Of bills as they came due.
The balance was brought back and will
be deposited to the credit of the city as
Houn as all bills are settled.
The party was away 10 days, in ad-
dition to the transportation, bills were
incurred at the Sherman House in
jamestown and the Genessee Hotel,
at Buffalo, where they stopped
At Thursdays meeting of Council
President Blaine announced that at the
nesting next Thursday night the com.
mittee appointed to attend all Of the
sessions Of the convention would be pre-
pared With a complete statement. This
statement MIR. Blaine said Friday
morning, twill include not only re-
port of the information obtained, but
will give an itemized account OF the
expenses We mapped out this plan
before We started and shall not deyiate
from the COURSE. "
The Wilmington party comprised
President Blaine, Councilmen Willis,
Monaghan. Kane, Simmons, Norris,
Mousley. McCatferty, Smith and Zeb-
ley, Clerk Hamsnn, Bniliff McNabb,
City Solicitor Reinhardt, City Auditor
Boughman,t Assessors Sayers and Mo-
Call and Ia Collector Lewis. Coun-
cilmen Cannon, Stewart and Postles
did not go. The delegation appointed
President Blaine, Councilman Mon
Afghan and Solicitor Reinhardt COM
mittee to attend the sessions OF ths
convention, but it is claimed that
nearly all of the others also attended
the meetings. Solicitor Reinhardt is
pleparirg o summary of the events
which were OF special interest at the
convention.
Heretofore 1t was alleged upon each
occasion that the members OF the dele
CATION paid their own expenses, although
this allegation was always doubted.
This time. however, the belief that the
city footed the bill was more persistent
than ever, and it resulted in the above
exposure of the scheme.