Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-07
CITY COUNCILS SESSION.
Anti Combination Fire Companies Present
Bill and Petition.

Anti Combination Fire Companies Present
Bill and Petition. ..
At Thursday nights meeting of Council
William F. Kurtz, representing the anti
combination fire companies of the. city,
presented for the consideration bill to be
sent to the General Assembly entitled:
can act in relation to the election. OF
chief engineer and two assistants for the
Fire Department of the city of Whining
tom" The bill was accompanied BY a petit
tion, which Chairman Muusley of the fire
committee had read. II contained the fol
lowing: "Our aim and intention by this
measure is to eradicate from the politics
of the Fire Department that vicious and
unjust factionalism which now deprives four
outNof nine companies of said department
from having any voice in the selection OF
the chief engineer and his assistants. and
which prevents said large minority from
having such influence in the conduct of the
Departments affairs to which 1t is justly
entited.'' II is further set forth that 'the
Friendship, Phoenix, Washington, Weccacoe
and Liberty companies during the past ten
yenrs have been bound by compact which
absolutely ignores al the rights OF the
minority companies in such election and
which is in violation of and subversiye of
all the principles of government Of which
we are cognizant in this land OF popular
government The petition vas signed by
committees of the Reliance. Delaware,
Water Witch, and Fame fire companies. :.
The act provides THAT on the second
Tuesday IN the month of May, in the year
nineteen hundred and two, there shall be
elected chief engineer for the Fire Depart
ment of the City Of Wilmington from the
| fire company in the said city which may be
known as No. 1, who shall hold office for
| the term of two years thereafter, or until
his successor is duly chosen and qualified /;
biennially thereafter the said chief engineer
| shall be elected from the fire company next
| in numerical order to the one then having
said officer, so that the Office OF chief en-
| gineer shall be assigned in turn to each OF
| the fire companies of the city of Whining
| ton az now constituted, or as they may here
| after be constituted; that as often as said
chief engineer shall be elected from the fire
cotflpany standing last in numerical order
/ the choice shall return to the fire company
| No. /, and so on in rotation" The pro-
visions for the election OF the assistants are
similar to those for the election of the chief.
| On motion OF Mr.. Healey ths petition and
| bill were referred to the FIRE committee.
| fAppropriate resolutions on the death OF
Mrs. Annie e. Pierson, wife of Councilman
Pierson, drafted by a committee con- listing
of Messrs. Smith, Oberly, Cannon, Mona
/ CHAN and Johnston and President Alexan-
der, were adopted by rising vote.
/ Mr.. Monaghan presented resolution
\ calling attention to the tact that the Street
| and Sewer Department will make appiica-
i ton to the Court of General Sessions, at the
| February term, for the appointment of q
| commission to yacate the bed OF Eleventh
| street where il crosss the tracks of the Balti'
more & Philadelphia Railroad Co.; that in
the opinion of Council II is unwise, unjust
and detrimental to the property owners in
that vicinity to have said street bed vacated
also the following:
ssResolyed. That the Council do hereby
call upon the Street and Sewer Department
not to take its contemplated action, and moi
to vacate the said street at the aforesaid
point, and hereby give them notice that We,
the Council, will not pay any damages that
may be assessed because OF injury sustained
by the yacating of said street at the plact
aforesaid; and, be 1t further
"Resolved, That copy of the above reso
buttons be sent to each of the judges con
stituting the February court of General SEES
sions OF the Peace and Jail Delivery"
The resolution was adopted. 1t wal
fathered by President Alexander at the in
stance of the property owners in question
Mr., Monaghan submitted an act providing
for the appointment of gas inspector fol
the city of Wilmington by City Council Al
its last stated meeting III May, and every
two years thereafter. The bill further pro
vides that no person shall be appointed wht
has not BEEN a resident of the city for a
least one year before the time of his ap
poiptment, and who shall have not had a
least five years practical experience as
journeyman gas filter; that the annua
salary shall be 81, 600; the appointee shal
give bond in the sum OF 81 600; that tn
mayor and Council OF Wilmington shal
prescribe the duties of the inspector. Tn
act was referred to the law committee.