The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-06
Affairs of the City.

y '''' ivy vi WI ~
its own troubles just at the prescn
time City Solicitor Reinlaidt |
. kept Oh, the move and is the busies
city Solicitor wilmington has ha
for years. CITY Council has kept hin
on he move asking for opinions
The iilSl matter upon which al
|opinlon was asked was as to wfcthe
the name of Frank A. McCIoskel
should b. continued upon the pay-roI
of the city as clerk Of the Depart
mCnt of Elections. When the city
and state election departments wer,
The same it was the custom for the
lefty to nay the clerk for one year,
and the county for the year following
t according to whether he served at a
icity or state election. Now the de.
apartments care separate and have
separate clerks, but the city depart
; 'nent wants to keep permanent
clerk. An opinion on this matter
will be given in few days.
Another question upon which an
opinion has been asked is whether
Il. r.. Cochran, Jr, or Philip Church
man shall be paid the salary Of NUM-
cipal judge during the time that the
later served, and whetherS S. Adams
Jr., or Harry ?. Joslyn shall be paid
the salary of clerk of the court. An
opinion on this question will also be
4given in a few days. 1t is likely, how
ever, that the Council will pay Adams
and Cochran no matter what the opin
ion may be.
Last night the third question was
referred to the solicitor. The five
county assessors sent in u bill of 5000
each for salaries. When the Adams
tax law was amended to give Will
mington a portion Of the amount
collected under it, the law governing
county assessors was amended so that
the city was to pay fourth Of the
salaries of these men. Since then
the Adams tax law has been declared
Unconstitutional, and the members
OF council desire to find ont whether
they are compelled to pay Il portion
of the salaries of the county assess0rs
when they do no work for the city of
Wilmington. 1t is admitted that
such a law is now unfair when the
city gets nothing from their work,
but there does not appear to be any
way to avoid the payment unless the
city solicitor should find one. Mr..
Reinhardt has not yet had time to in
quire into the subject. but wi do
SO at once. In the meantime the bills
for salaries will be held and no action
upon them taken.
The matter of the Law and Order
Society wanting half of the fines re-
ceived from the houses of ilI-fame is
another matter.
Then the City Solicitor has the
Welsbach Light Contract tolook after !
and he has no assistant. lie has two !!
assistants and the case is still in |
doubt. |
Last night he had along conference !
with the finance committee Of City ,
Council in reference to the matter.
lie told the members that he was
crowded with work and that he need
ed someone to assist him. He also
told the members of the committee
that, in his opinion, council had no
right to name an assistant city soici-
tor, and asked that the sub jec ct be
taken into the Superior Court at once
80 that a decision might be secured.
5. 5. Adams, Jr the assistant city
solicitor who was elected by council.
vas present at the conference, butdid
not appear inclined to rush the case
nto court. 1t is understood that
he wants City Council to hire counsel
o represent him. Council thinks
hat as he is man Interested he
IIould secure his own counsel, ard
o the matter stands. The solicitor
las two assistants, neither of whom
an aid him because of the dispute.
When Mr.. Reinhardt became city
olicitor he considered that he had
he right to name his assistant. and
e selected Philip l.. Garrett. Council
lalmed the right toeIcct. and named !
amuel S. Adams, Jr. Later it was
laimcd that, in the absence of cX-
ress authority given to anyone to
ppoint under the law. the governor
ad the right to act. He reappoint-
d Mr. Garrett. AS the matter now
lands Mr.. Rcinhardt cannot have
lr. Garrett to assist him in preparing
plnlons, because City Council would
OF take his word. Mr.. Rcinhardt
lnnot have the assistance of Mr.
dams, because he does not consider
nat he is the legal assistant. Thus
ic matter stands, and in thcmcan-
me work is piling upon the city
'licitor. and he is compelled to work
~ and night in order to keep up
ith the procession started by the
'rious city departments. A case was
arted in court, but nothing has ever =.
zen done with j., and there appears
be no indication of when it will be
lShed. In the meantime Citt tCo,m.
is not paying the salary Of either
sistant. The name Of ADAMS is up- g
the payroll, but President Blaine I
cineS to sign the check, and 50 Mr..
dams is not being paid. c
Caaes in City Court. 5
Before Judge Cochran in the !