The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-03
MAYOR FISHER
COM MENDED.
Board Of Trade Endorse
His Action.

1
Fisher declining to sign the contract
for lighting the city and the question
has arose if it is really necessary for
him to sign it.
1t is claimed that under tile opin-
ions of prominent attorneys, the
street and sewer department stands
in the place of county council in per.
forming certain duties. 1t is under
this provision of the law that the di-
rectors pas, resolutions which in ef-
feet are practically ordinances so far
as they relate to the governments of
the streets
None of the resolutions passed by
the department, SO far as 10 known,
have ever been submitted to the may.
or for his approval, and may therefore
be invalid and of no effect. On the
other hand, 1t is held that if the
street and sewer department takes
the place Of council and the mayor
has a veto power over its acts then
the department must have another
power of council, namely, then to pass
an act over the veto of the mayor by
Il two third vote. This being the case
the street and sewer department can
pass the contracts over the head of
the mayor by a vote of two ofits three
members. 1t will be some time before
the question is satisfactorily settled.
AT its meeting last night the Board
Of Trade endorsed the stand taken by
him. A. S. Reed asked II it would
be policy to discuss the matter
President Lawton suggested that it
was Il subject for the committee of
fifty.
o. G. Purdy thought the mayor did
right in refusing to sign the contracts
but he was not sure that it was alnat-
ter for the Board of Trade to consid-
er, though he offered no objection.
Mr.. Reed said that he thought six
year, was long enough for the light
contracts to run and that the people
of the city were back OF the mayor
Mr.. Pickles moved that the board
endorse the action of the mayor in
declining to approve II light contract
for a longer period than six yeaiS. Mr..
Pickles added that there was no doubt
that the contracts would not he bind
ing without the signature of the ma
yor.
When he was member of the Wa
ter commission HE question arose a,
to the powers of the Street aud Sewer
Department. and it was necessary to
get an opinion from AN attorney. Il.
&. Bradford. WhO is now United
States Judge, was the attorney en-
ployed, and he said that the Street
and Sewer department merely took
place of the Council in the pcrfor-
nance Of certain duties. ANA had no
more power than the Council. 1t is
well known that Council cannot make
a binding contract without it being
approved by the mayor.
Mr.. purdy asked il it was custom.
AIRY for the mayor to sign all city con-
tracts, and Mr.. Reed. who has done |
considerable work fer the city. and |
Mr.. Carpenter, who has been a men,
ber of the Street and Sewer depart
mcnt. replied that contracts for any |
work were signed by the |
mayor.
Frank Woolley thought the Board !
of Trade should express its approval
or disapproval of the acts of city Off
cialS. and thought if such action was
taken oftener more would be heard of
the Board Of Trade and its meetings,
would be better attended
The question was then put to a
vote and the action Of Mayor Fisher
was endorsed.
Secretary Taylor will TO day. send a
letter to the mayor informing him of
The action of the board. The mayor
received letters from numerous citi-
zens yesterday 1t was stated, express
ing approval Of his action in holding
up the light contract nr in refusing to
attach his signature.
Go to Millcr's No. l stall in tho Seconl |