The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-27
WILLFIGaf
WATER BOARD

"rhc fight is on," said Chairman James
Kane of the finance committee of CITY
Council last night. This remark was
made by Mr.. Kane after the session Of
Council during which, action was tnkcn
to hold up the Water Department in the
purchase of land from Thomas L. Wcldin
in Brandywine hundred for the building
of Il large reservoir. The following rcsr-
luton was adopted:
"Wnercns, 1t has come TO the know.
ledge of this Council that the Board
of Water Commissioners are negotiat NJ
for the purchase of a piece of land ad-
jaccnt to the city, therefore be it
''ltesolved, That the City Council in
regular meeting assembled appoint tn"
iiuaIre committee as committee for the
purpose of asccrtaining the legality Of
the transaction"
Mr.. Kane then moved, THAT the city
auditor be instructed to withhold his sig
, nature t" the checks passed at the meet
ing of the Board Of Water Commission
crs today for the purchase of the ground
until the report of the committee is r"-
ceived."
Have yon any cause for that" asked
Mr.. Stewart.
"Yes.' replied Mr.. Kane. "they have
been to the c.ty auditor and tried to get
the money secretly. They were rlrrr
this afternoon
The motion was passed without further
discussion.
Immediately after the adjournment Of
Council Mayor Fisher and City Solicitor
Reinhardt were called into n conference
with the members Of the finance COM
mittee. City Solicitor Reinhnr'lt did not
agree with Mr.. Kane that the Water
CommsSiont had attempted to get the
money secretly. The committee instruct
ed Clerk lIamnnn to issue a communica-
ton to City Auditor Bonghmnn author
ling him to withhold his signature t"
the checks. ihls was done. According
to Mr.. Monaghan no further action was
taken except reaching the conclusion to
meeting with City Solicitor Reinhar!t
next Monday night
The action instructing the city auditor
to withhold his signature will fail Of the
intended effect The act creating the
Water department transfers to that body
all power concerning the water supply of
III" city that was previously vested in
Council, and further that in the event of
tn" city auditor Withholding his signa-
ture to checks of the department tie
Board of Water commissioners can pass
them by unanimous vote and the city
auditor is then compelled to afiX his
signature though relieved of all lcSpon-
sihility by the action of the board
This action will be tanen by the Water
commissioners unless in the meantime
they are held up by a4-- injunction.
President Belts of the department ne
lrvrs that the court will not uphold such
an injunction, if it is filed inasmurh as
I'll" commissioners have done nothing H.
legal.
WHAT PRESIDENT BELTS SAYS.
When seen last night Immediately after
the session of Council President Belts
of the Board of Water Commissioners
said: Il believe Mr. Kan" will give us
all the trouble he can. Regarding the
mait"r of the city auditor withholding
his signature to cheeks the law specifies
that in that event he must return thc
checks to tn" department and state his
objections to signing them. Then at Il
subsequent meeting the board can pass
ih" checks by unanimous consent and
the law requires that the city auditor
sign them: but the action Of the board
relieves him of all responsibility.
Regarding tn" matter of Council filing
an Injunction to restrain the department
from making such expenditures as are
objected to Mr.. Belts said he did not
h"lieve the court would uphold such an
injunction. Il believe we have done a
wissthlIg," said Mr. Belts.
''iliS body is not for the purpose OF
raising taxes as Mr.. Kane seems to
think and as t" the matter of the sur
plus which must be turned over to Coun-
ell. it would he different thing If that
money was used for, paying off water
bonds and other bonds AS specified in
th" law, hut it is not: it is used for
general expenses.
"N"w as to the question or TRYING t.
have those checks signed secretly that is
not so. Mr.. Grohc and Mr.. Wrldin went
to Mr.. R"nghman this afternoon simply
because Mr.. Wrlln wanted the money.
Mr. Grohr went to show the authority
for tho expenditure of the money.
"lr Mr.. khnH does succeed in stopbnr
this purchase there is another point h.,
probably has forgotten to consider and
that is h" may make the city liable for
heavy damages.
wv" hav" done nothing illegal AMI
in fact had Mr. Rcinhardt's opinion that
W" had all right to make the purchase
before We ul nnvthinv"