Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-31
The League Of American Municipalities
viii Meet This Year In Grand
Rapids, Mich, During August.
BUT.HoW TO FOOT THE BILLS
IS THE PERPLEXING PROBLEM
The Old Secret Scheme Is no
Longer Feasible.
COMMITTEE ON CHARTER MAY ATTEND

The League OF American Municipali-
ties, in which the city Of Wilmington
holds membership, win hold its annual
convention at Grand Rapids, Mich,
from the 23d to tho 9th of August
and most of the members Of City
Council would like to attend. IL is
understood that some OF the more on
thusiastic are talking among them
selves with the hope of figuring out
some legal plan by which they can
make the trip at the expense Of the
city. AS yet, so far as is known, no
legal plan has been discovered, al
though hope has not been abandoned.
Most cities identified with the league
send delegation Of three, four or tive
people, SOME few more and some only
one, while some do not send any repre- 6
sentative at all when the distance l&
great and the expense heavy, but fuf
several years Wilmington has been
represented by nearly the entire mem
bership of City Council and some
other city officials, and the people have
been footing the bills. Prior to last
year very little information could be
obtained as to how the expenses wore
provided for, and nothing would prob
ably have been known Of the details last
a rumor leaked out that the money
came out of the city treasury, alter
which two or three members frankly
admitted that the check had nsen
ordered drawn in secret conclave, in
stead OF at regular meeting Of
Council, the only place where matters
of the kind may be legally TRANSACTED
Naturally, when this Information was
given to the public there were general
expressions OF displeasure and for o
time there was great deal OF talk on
the subieey among the people With
this unplsas2pJ msmcry most OF the
rnembsrs Of Ccudcil feel that Council
cannot put its hands into the treasury
and tale out the money necessary to-
pay the bills, unless there is some
legal authority for doing SO. The con-
sequence5 might be serious. Therefore,,
dilemma confronts the Councilmen,
for which there appears to be no inn
mediate solution.
Some of the more conservative mem
bers of Council are said to favor the
plan Of sending delegation of three or
four people to the convention, and OK
press the belief that their expenses
may be met in a regular and legal
manner, but, from what can be learned,
this modified plan does not meet with
the approval Of others, who do not like
the fdea Of being cut out Of what
promises to be very pleasant excur-
sion. How the matter will turn out
cannot be predicted.
There Is another phase of the matter
which is being discussed on the quiet
by people who believe they know
which way the wind is blowing, politi-
cally speaking. Councils new city
charter scheme is believed by some ia
be the opening wedge for the plans fof
the contemplated trip. Nov that o
committee Of seven has been appointed
on city charter, with authority to con-
slider what should be in that charter.
it is not unlikely that an effort mar
be made to send the entire COM
mittee to the convention, If no.
body else goes. This, it is argued,
will be good excuse for sending seves
people at least whether any more gef
an opportunity to go or not
The members of Council are saying
nothing on the subject; that is, thoy
are not talking for publication; conse
quently, it cannot be learned from them
Just what is in their minds, but Twill
be interesting to watch.their movements
relative to this matter during the next
few weeks. M