Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-12
CITY COUNCILS MEETING.


Councii-Gentlemen Your committee an
pointed for the purpose of preparing a re-
port upon the proceedings of the recent
convention of the League of American
municipalities, held in jamestown, N. Y,
during the week of August Goth, 1901, sub
thits the following:
Your committee attended the various ses-
sions of the convention and listened with
interest and much profit to the able papers
which were presented and We feel that the
lessons which we learned there will in the
future prove OF much benefit to our city.
We were particularly impressed with the
paper read by MIR. Edward Kibler of Ohio,
~ belnR an essay upon the charter of his
city. We saw from 1t that there were many
goud points which coulo be applied to our
city. We learned from his paper and from
the discussion that followed the reading of
u, taken part in by such men as Mayor
Samuel Jones of Toledo, Mayor Hayes of
baltimore, Mayor Harbeson of Hartford.
together with many more reT reseutHtive
and Leading citizens of the country, that
The only successful manner in which mu-
inequalities can be governed is by elm
mating party politics entirely from cleo
tons for city Offices. Mayor Ashley
OF New Haven. Conn, described the
operation of charter built upon those
broad, liberal, non partisan lines, his city
at present being under such charter, and
from his statements there seems to be no
roubt but that the non-p partisan charter Is
the best method of governing municipalities.
Mayor Samuel Jones OF Golden Rule''
fame. gave one of his characteristic ad-
dresses, IN which. he pictured, as the only
permanent American city one grounded
upon American principles; one In whish
politics cut no figure, and one, as he
GAINED, conducted without reference to
party. He, of course, is famous as free
thinker and man without a party and mis-
views are generally credited as being the
result of much thought and research, and he
always commands the attention of his audi.
ence. We learned, too, that our city stands
IN class almost by itself In regard to the
source OF its revenue, there being but few
cities In the country which receive nd
revenue other than from taxation upon real
estate. Almost every city represented at the
convention receives a considerable part of
Its revenue from taxation of franchises and
other corporate property granted by the
municipality to private corporations. We
learned by our trip that what Wilmington
needs most is new charter, one that will
place the government of this municipality as
close to the people as possible; charter
that Will be liberal In its rights to the citi-
zens and thoroughly non-partisan.
from the various reports and discussions
that were presented at the convention we
are strongly Of the opinion that while trip
such as this to the annual convention Of
the League OF American municipalities Is q
source of expense TO our city, yet the EXPERT
ence and knowledge which may be gained
BY coming in contact with various city
othcills and men of wide experience in
municipal affairs will be helpful in giving
10 wilmington better municipal govern
ment In the future.
The committee reports that the total ex.
penses OF the trip amounted to $3.50, lea
q balance in the hands of the COMMITTEES Of
STU, which amount has this day been turned
over to the city treasurer and placed to the
account OF incidentas and miscellaneous,
Thomas M. Monaghan,
James Kane.
David j. Reinhardt
Charles H. Blaine,
Committee.
The report was unanimously adopted
and filed.
The fire COMMITTEES reported upon the
result of the recent inspection and test
OF the Fire Department, which showed \
all of the companies to be in first. class
condition. The committee recon mended
that when company's engine IL being
repaired another be placed In service
at the expense of the company and
when horse is sick or disabled another
be procured to take its place. The
officers of the department and the com.
panies were granted their semi annual
allowances, as follows: Chief Welsh.
$500; Assistants Wiley and Pilfry, $3.50
each; Friendship. Reliance, Delaware,
Fame and Liberty companies, 81, $50
each Water Witch, 50. 600; Washington
and Weccacoe, 1880 each; Phoenix,
50, 250.
City Treasurer reported balance In
the First National Bank amounting to
S,S, 1854. ID. and S35, 750 in each of the
four depository banks a total of
1921, 264. -; also that his receipts
during the week were as follows: From
Tax Collector Sayers 81, l49. 10 ;Collector
Lewis 81, 238. 90; Chief Boughmsu OF
the City Engineering Department
Sl02.05, fees during August; Auditor
boughnian, $40, license money; Build
ing Inspector Cassidy, s398, fees during
August; Clerk of the Market O'Neili, |
s96. 30, collections for A ugust; Treasurer
Kent of the s. T.. @. A., S12. 80, receipts
FROM the sale and redemption of
animals; convention committee, 1910
unexpended balance from the James.
town trip; b. & D. railroad, s37. so.
three months rent of Shipley street |
wharf; Chief. OF Police Massey, S4a, 10. /
dog TAX during August; First National |
BANK. $50. ii. interest in August. The |
Board of Education was allowed jts |
monthly appropriation amounting to
S14, 244. "a.
The following reports for August
were received and filed:
John j. Ryan, inspector of oils
Number of gallons inspected, 90, 300,
Walter A. McEvilly, inspector of milk
Number of inspections, $50; quarts
inspected, 9,5l0; samples taken, AZ;
caution1ary notices, II; dairies in.
spected, IL.
Building Inspector John j. Cassidy
Number of permits, 20; value of I'M
proyemerts, 5000, 225.
Charles Cannon, superintendent of |
the ematory-Number of days, the
crematory was in service, 81; weight of
garbage destroyed, 2, 549, $40; coal used,
l55 tons.