Evening journal., 1904-04-06
COUNCIL PASSES
SALARY ORDINANCE
President Reynolds Broke
the Tie by Voting for the
Measure
BUILDING ORDINANCE DEFEATED
speelal e the Evening journal.

Special to the Evening Journal.
New Castle. April 6.-There was a
full attendance Of city Council last
night and several citizens were also
present when President Reynolds open
ed the meeting.
The session opened with reports from
the street and the pump committees.
City Solicitor Cooper made a report
concerning the proposed sewer to be
put in by John Ries from his new
building at Third and Delaware streets
TO connect with the Jail sewer at Sec
ond and Delaware. He read an agree
ment which it was proposed that coun-
ell enter into with Mr.. Ries by which
the latter was to lay the sewer at his
own expense and the city take the
sewer and reimburse him with interest,
.deducting, however, that portion of the
cost which represented the amount Of
the work done in front OF Mr.. Ries'
property.
The city's assumption of the sewer
would depend, however, on whether or
not the State Legislature would pass "A
special act legalizing the transfer. Mr..
Ries agreed TO assume this risk. Mr..
Jemison thought the sewer would be a
burden to the city if It was allowed to
remain on the property of Mr.. Ries FOR
"a long term of years. It was further
proposed to allow property owners
along the line to tap It, paying Mr.. Ries
$50 long a~ he remains the owner and
the amount thus received by Mr.. Ries
10 be deducted from the amount to be
paid him when the sewer Is turned over
TO the city.
Mr.. Jemison suggested that an OPEN
ing be placed in the sewer at Second
and Delaware streets to carry off the
surface water.
The cost Of the sewer was estimated
at 800 feet at 80 cents per foot or S240.
The ordinance as presented did not
meet with the approval Of Council. so
Solicitor Cooper suggested that the pro-
posed changes be put in writing for
guidance in drawing up a new ordi-
nance.
on motion of Mr.. Duffy the matter
was laid over until next meeting.
Mr.. Cooper suggested that the mat
ter be disposed of before a new Coun-
ell was elected.
Wransle Over Telephone Poles.
A. H. Mahaffy, district manager of
the Delaware and Atlantic Telegraph
and Telephone Company was present
and asked to be permitted TO make some
changes in the poles on various streets
Linemen had planted new poles and
changed the location of the line with
out consulting Council, and they had
been stopped by Mr.. Gallagher. Mr.
Mahaffy did not know Of this, but
wanted it understood that the company
does not mean to violate any city or
dinance. The company proposes 10
shorten the line at Second and Har-
mony streets to avoid danger. They
also want 10 plant poles on the north
side of Delaware street and move two
poles from the north to the south side
of Harmony street. Mr.. Mahaffy
showed blue print Of the proposed
changes and suggested that the COM
panys right of way man confer with
Council and agree on these changes.
Mr.. Gallagher insisted that the COM
pany plant straight poles as crooked
ones were unsightly.
Mr.. Smith moved that the privilege
be granted the company to erect ad-
.ditional poles and that they alsoremove
all except those necessary on Harmony
street
It was decided that the chairman of
the street committee go over the ground
and see to the location of the poles.
Salary Ordinance Passed.
President Reynolds cast a questioning
glance around at the other members OF
Council as though to read their minds
concerning the next question. All pres
ent seemed to realize that the contest
over the salary ordinance was about
to be decided. but how? This feeling
of interest spread to the little crowd of
spectators gathered about the room and
perfect silence followed Mr.. Reynolds
Introduction of the subject for several
seconds. He then instructed clerk OF
Council to read the ordinance for the
third and last time. 1t called for the
salaries of various city officers TO be
increased to the following figures:
Mayor, 5000; treasurer, $100; asses
sor, 500; clerk of Council 500, each
per annum; police, s55 per month and
ind their uniforms, TO take effect July
1st.
Mr.. Smith moved at once that the
ordinance become a law and be placed
on the ordinance book.
Mr.. Jemison then arose and said:
Il have no personal feeling against
anyone who is effected by this ordi-
nance. oppose the ordinance be-
cause conditions do not warrant a
change at this time. The city is in
debt, and we should straighten up old
accounts before increasing other expen-
ses. The city is now undergoing a
great depression in business. The sal
aries during times OF prosperity were
the same as at present. It is not in
order to add an extra burden OF ex-
pense at that time"
Mr.. Duffy voiced the same opinion
and said he could add nothing to Mr..
Jemison's argument.