Evening journal., 1905-10-24
APPROVES
WATER PAY ROLL
City Auditor Says There Are
Other Ways Of Settling
the Contention
H0REMEN WILL NOW GET WAGES

The members OF the Water Depart
ment were to have held a meeting al
1.30 o'clock this Afternoon to consider
the holding up OF the weekly payroll
by tho refusal Of CITY Auditor Benia-
min L. Spence TO approve IT, Before
the session was called TO order, how
ever. the following letter was received
from Mr. Spence:
To the President and Board OF Water
Commissioners.
Gentlemen; There seems 10 be a great
difference Of opinion regarding the
fright OF the Water Department TO lay
the 43-inch main In connection with the
new water system. After consulting
a number OF business men and attor-
lneys and finding great difference OF
opinion among them and not wishing
10 keep the woriiug men out of their
lmoney any longer, and as there are
several other ways Of testing the legal
liiy Of the matter. ] hereby return the
payroll and check for the work APP
proved
Benjamin l.. Spence, city Auditor.
Following up his declaration made
sometime ago. that he would hold up
the bills OF the Water Commission in
connection with the laying Of the new
water mains from the Weldin farm TO
this city. II that department persisted
in doing the work with city labor.
lCity Auditor Benjamin J.. Spence yes
terday afternoon sent the following
communication to the board
Wilmington. Del. Oct. %. 1905.
TO the members of the Board of Water
Commissioners:
In my opinion the laying Of the f3.
inch main In connection with the new
water system. without first advertising
for bids for same is contrary to thl
intent OF section OF the acts relating
to the Water Department. 1 therefor'
decline 10 approve that portion Of tn
payroll OF the department for weel
ending October q. 1905.
Kindly separate same from the othe
payroll. so the balance may be ap
proved.
4 Yours respectfully.
j B. l.. Spence. city Auditor
LAID OFF FIFTY MEN.
The payroll which Mr.. Spence held "a
: amounted TO si5s5.9S and as resu
{ Of his action, the Water Departmer
= last evening LAID off fifty men, most {
g whom We're employed on the new mair
Only enough men win now be retaine
T. in the service OF the department 10 SUI
r ply the city with necessary drinkin
{ water Work on the pumping static
> and sedimentation basin. however WI
e. not be effected as the work Is bein
4 done by contract
Mayor Horace Wilson and Cit
Solicitor Sylvester ID. Townsend wer
present at the meeting. The board ask
: ed Mr.. Townsend's permission later 4
J the day TO employ special counsel {
test the legality OF Auditor Spence
+ action, but the City Solicitor refused
, give his assent and said he would tax
b the matter up at once.
. BENJAMIN f. Shaw. the Republica
member Of the Water Board, refused
! vote with Messrs. Fordand Lindsay
] pass the payroll over the City Aud
( tors head on the ground that in hi
e mind there was a question of law
e be decided first. The board then de
-, cided to discharge all employees no
s absolutely needed.
MEMS WAGES HELD UP
3 President Ford, in instructing Chic
= Engineer Leisen to discharge all me
e who could be spared. President For
e said the department would not be abb
= to draw on the check just passed an
e that it was unfair for the men to 3
- without their money after they worke
hard for II. 1--WE should dispense wit
+ their services until we can pay them
4 he said.
e Continued on Page Five.)