The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-27

'oi tue -!iy, III tle cases TO conn
the railway companies and gas cor
panles to pay tax upon their properl
inc same AZ real estate, 1t is rumore
will receive fifty per cent OF Il
amount collected b. him. which ma
reach $40, 900 as hts fee.
Chair man James Kane Of the fnanC
committee denies that Mr.. Harma
is to receive so per cent of the su.
collected, but admitted that the fl
nance committee had an agreemen
with the Attorney. whereby he wa
10 receive Il percentage. What pc
cent Mr.. llarman was to receive h.
refused to state. lie also SAID tina
in case the money was not collected
the lawyer was to receive nothing TO-
his services.
| Thomas Monaghan. another mem
Der OF the finance committee says be
Knew nothing Of the matter, except
that he understood that an agreement
was made between Mr. Hartman and
the previous finance committee.
That agreement had never been
brought before the presen, committee
and he knew nothing Of its pgoy-
Sions.
The money collected is paid to Mr..
HaIman, and 1t is supposed that
Council viii know this evening what
percentage is to he paid the LAWYER
Yesterday afternoon he was paid
$4,000 by the Wilmington City Rail.
way Company for back taxes and the
Peoples Railway Company is to pay
an additional amount to-day. The
money Of the Wilmington City Rail,
way Company was paid to Mr. Ilar-
man bv the attorney OF the company
IN accordance with the agreement
recently entered into between the
counsel engaged In the case.
Democratic members Of Councj,
held another conference las. evening
On the question o. whether the case
10 prcveht the Water Commission ,
purchasing land for reservoir pur.
poses should be appealed.
The conference reached no dec sion
and before 1t was completed Thomas !
NJ. Monaghan, one Of the members.
vent home and 1t was understood |
that the conference reached no con.
and that the subject will lie
taken up again this evening. /. is
likely there will be a warm debate
ever the matter and whether Council
takes action this evening or not the
chances are tia, the appeal will never
be pushed
sumo Two years ago the City Coun.
Gil discussed the question Of makng
The railroad. street railways, lc.c.
phone, telegraph, electric light and
gas companies bear their just burden
If taxation.
This action was taken at the IN.
stance OF Thomas S. Lewis aud En-
gene f. Sayels who were confident
hat the above corporations could be
made to pay taxes on their road beds.
"ires and pipes. respectively. and
he matter was referred by Council
o the then City Solicitor An ad-
'crse opinion being received from The
hen CITY Solicitor the question was !,
unlimited to me for an opinion on
ZACH Of the above subjects. gave
II opinion favorlng the taxing the 9
operations. l then, by appoint. !
hent, met the Finance Committee Of c
,ouncll, consisting Of James Kane,
lichael +. Cannon and the present
layor George NJ. Fisher. T
We discussed the matter fully and I
hen and there decided upon what u
lould be my fee. ! submitted two {
ropoSltlons, each one Itypcwrltten.
he first proposition was to allow me
certain sum 10 each case. even If |
'st it, and a certain sum in each
,sc II won, though less than one
aft the amount involved. The sec l.
ia proposition was to allow me
othng at al! If lost the cases. or
elected nothing and one half Of !,
hat collected, II | won. This u
roposItion was accepted by the N
unanimously. Mayor g
lsher insisted on the proposition &c
lat was accepted, on the ground u
lat If lost, 1t would cost the City al
thing whatever, and If won, the II
ty would get revenue 1t never got d
forc, and the corporations would
ally be paying me for my services:
then, before | would act in the =.
after, insisted that the then City al
'llcitor, II. {. Conrad, Esq. be y
own the contract and have him ap- d
owe it. Chairman of the Finance ~
James Kane took the !"
ntract to the then City Solicitor, W
d he approved Of 1t. Tax Collector az