Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-09

Cfv Council at its meeting last even
me bv a vote Of seven to six. Mr.. postles
voting in the affirmative with the Repub-
Ecans. decided to instruct City Treasurer
blaine TO comply with the laws and ordi-
nsnces governing his duties and his clerk
Joseph +. Postles, TO comply with the
Instructions of the treasurer.
The committee appointed by Council
to investigate the condition of the books
IN the treasurers office. comprising
Nessrs Lynch McMullen Taylor and
White. submitted two reports. Messrs
lynch and McMullen. the Democratic
members signing one. and Messrs. Taylor
and White, the Republican members
signing the other. The one submitted
by Messrs. Lynch and McMullen was
adopted, by the vote given above. It
was as follows:
Wilmington, Del, February 7th. 1906.
10 the President and Members Of Citv
Council.
Gentlemen committee ap-
pointed by the Council TO investigate the
condition of the Office OF the CITY trea-
mrer. would respectfully report having
held a meeting IN the Office of the city
treasurer on Saturday evening. February
3d. We examined the books in said
Office and we find same in a very unsatis-
factory condition; some of the books
having no entries since July LIST. other
books have many erasures and alterations
and we would inform your honorable
body that the clerk has not kept the books
in the manner in which he should have
kept them.
W. rratr1A a1ad frf1rr., r~rsr. L D.
body that the clerk has not kept the cash
books (which he should not be required
10 keep as neatly and accurately as they
should be- but we feel that from examina-
tions Of the conditions of the other books.
had he received more instructions and
some assistance from his superior. he
would have done the work, and we cannot
conscientiously submit a report to your
honorable body without drawing to your
attention the laws and ordinances which
very plainly prescribe and set forth the
duties Of the city treasurer relative TO the
office and to the keeping Of the cash book
From page 295, Section Six, we would
quote the following:
1t shall be the duty Of the city trea-
surer TO keep a cash book in which he
shall enter his cash receipts and disburse-
ments and balance the same daily at the
close of his business hours. detailing how
said balance is made up.
This the city treasurer has not done
delegating the responsibility Of such work
TO the clerk.
in view Of the conditions existing in the
onice OF the city treasurer and also of the
laws and ordinances governing the said
ONCE, We would respectfully recommend
that the city treasurer be Instructed by
the Council to comply with the laws and
ordinances which require him to perform
certain duties and to see that the books
ere kept accurately and in a businesslike
manner and that the clerk be instructed
that he will be expected to perform his
duties also, and that he must comply with
The Instructions Of the city treasurer.
Respectfully yours,
Daniel W. Lynch,
Richard G. McMullen.
Committee appointed to investigate the
City Treasurer's Office.
The report submitted by Messrs. Taylor
and White which was rejected, by the
vote given above, was as follows:
Wilmington, Del, February sth, 1906.
lhe Mayor and City Council, Whining
ton, Del.
conference.-the undersigned. mem
oers OF your committee appointed TO ex-
anime the books in the city treasurer 5
once, would report having examined
same and find that the charges OF the
mayor and city treasurer are fully sus-
.elned. There is hardly a page in any
o' tne cash books that is not marred with
scratched amounts and alterations. In
soaltlon, the few pages that were exam
lneu as to correctness show numerous
mistakes. As to the incompetency Of
ule treasurer's clerk there can be no ques-
5on, as he admitted to the committee
.na' he was not able to straighten out the
sloounts and bring them up to date. He
nso stated that until taking the position
ue mad no experience at bookkeeping or
gencal work. It is our decided opinion
slAl tnere will be no material improve-
uent IN the condition of these books until
sehange Is made in the clerk and a com
ZEN oookkeeper secured in his place,
eAon change we would heartily recon-
"euo' William P. White,
William G. Taylor,
Committee.
Before either Of the above reports was
slnmitted the following letter was received
nom City Treasurer Blaine, which was
o1a, after which il was received and
ordered filed:
p Wilmington, Del, February sth, 1906.
" me President and Members of the City
pentlemen;-In connection with my
s, .er to your honorable body, / beg to
~. Ia.e mat you will doubtless have a report
sa' The accounts of the city treasurer
~, .e IN a deplorable shape. This is quite
, ~ and Is by reason Of the fact that the
ss'ant M. that you have appointed for
& Office is totally incompetent. As
tSG,e3 tS;s before, regret very much to say
I,a out only do so after having given
' m,, lengthy trial, as you know. It was
ras nope at first, and up until quite
naen..iy' that he would be able TO master
Htuation and become sufficiently pro-
iIat iesl ,t TO Justify the position he held.
h., eliat have been somewhat remiss in
bes, porting this earlier, but il has only
me- ior the reason that / wished TO be
rs.; .g lement with him than would ordi-
nigb, seem proper, by reason OF what
eoor r' seem to be prejudice due to his
sbna ana the conditions surrounding his
tiras o'4p'ment. y | feel that in very short
m can have the trcasurcr's accounts
N''' rate shape provided competent