Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-17
a,
BILL WAS RENDERED
BY CITY SOLICITOR
How One Commission Was Allowed Com.
penSatiOl for Thirteen.
OPINION OF THEJUDGE WASASKED
Commissioner Lawton Would
Not Accept Check.
THE LAW PROVIDES PAY OF IS PER DAY

For serving on ID commissions Of con-
domination, Alfred Gawthrop, q. w.
Pussy, George s. Capelle, Andrew L.
Johnson and William Lawton, have
been allowed $40 each by the Street and
Sewer Department, in accordance with
a bill of expenses submitted by City
Solicitor David j. ReInhardt. The size
OF the allowance has been the oause of
public comment, the question involved
being whether, under Che law, the com
missioners are entitled to be paid So
for each commission.
Additional interest is given the sub
iect from the fact OF the prominence of
the commissioners, one of whom, Mr..
Gawthrop, is president of the Citizens
Reform Association, and another, Mr..
Lawton, is president of the Board OF
Trade. Mr. Pusey liz a member of the
Pusey y Jones Go. /; Mr.. Capelle is
president Of the National Bank OF Will
mington and Brandywine, and Mr..
johnson is plasterer. They were APP
pointed by Judge William O. Spruance
and condemned the following streets /:
Twenty fourth from Market to Pine j;
Twenty third from Market to Church !;
Pine street from Twenty fourth to Van
dever avenue, and Jesaup street from
Twenty to Twenty fifth, all of
which are in the northeastern part of
town; and Fifth street from du Pont to
Union; Third sti eet from Searles to
Lincoln; Third street from Lincoln to
Union du Pont street from Front to
Third; Clayton street from Front to
Fifth; Scott street from Front to
Seventh Second street from Searles to
Lincoln; Clayton street from Front to
Banning, and Rodney street from Front
TO Banning, which are in the south
western section.
When the story came out that each
comm issioner was to receive 500, it was
wondered how the result was arrived at
According to the city charter in the
section concerning condemnation COM
missioners, it is provided that there
shall be allowed to the commissioners
for their services SO per day.
| William Lawton, one of the commits
sioners took the view that the ray
should BIZ at the rate of So per day,
without regard to the number of com
missions, ana on the basis of two days
work, he returned his check to the
city treasurer with the statement that
the city owed him only S. 1t is be-
iieyed that al the other commissioners
received and have SO far kept their
| checks, calling for $50 each.
Mr.. Capelle, when asked about the
matter said ''These commissions
| were all separate and there we're 10 OF
| them. We went over tho ground and
| / think were two or three days at it. |
| did not know whether we we're to be
paid for all or for each one separately.
| but | suppose that strict construction
| 81 he, 1n hot oh 4
be made for each commission. / pre-
sumed that the city solicitor looked al
the law. We did not send in any bill
The city treasurer was to determine
| what we were to receive.
"When | got my check | told the
city treasurer | did not know whether
the commissioners we're entitled to pay
| for one of for 10 commissions, but
whatever was right. stood ready to do,
and so believe did the other COM
missioners. I"
City Solicitor David j. Reinhardt,
in discussing tina subject, said: 'There
were IL commissions issued, and had
the Judge appointed different men in
every oase, the fee would have been
$50, Just as it is. l asked him about
| the matter of compensation and he said
that each commission muet be kept
separate and distinct Thereupon !
sent in the hill, and it was not sent by
the commissioners. They spent several
days in visiting the streets and in
hearings''
j. Newlin Gawt hrop, who was at one
time a Street and Sewer Director, re.
called Saturday that when he was 10 the
department, one set OF commissioners
served on more than one commission,
and wanted to be paid for each, but
the department decided that they should
be allowed only on the basis OF 80 day.