Evening journal., 1909-08-06
PASSED OVER
MAYORS VETO
Council Gives Assessors And
Treasurer'S Clerks Salary
Increase
MAYOR DISAPPROVED
BOTH ORDINANC NCES

argument, went INTO their own party
last night in search Of trouble.
Council recently passed ordinances
increasing the salaries of the clerks III
the tax Office and the city treasurer's
Office. and these were referred 70
Mayor j. Harvey Spruance for his
consideration. Last night the mayor
returned them without his approval.
The Democrats promptly took It up
themselves 10 pass the ordinances over
the mayors veto This was accom-
plished with the assistance Of the
members on the Republican side, the
vote resulting in ten for and two
against the motion.
The communications from the mayor
had no sooner been read than Mr.
Kane. of the Fourth ward, moved that
the ordinances be passed over the
mayors veto. An aye and nay vote
was taken resulting as follows:
Ayes-Dempsey. Rash, Higgins,
Kane. Taylor. Benson, Bilderback,
Conway. McGovern and McMullin.
Nays-Mr. DuRoss and President
Banning.
Mr.. Downs of the Eighth ward was
absent
Each ordinance was acted upon
separately. the vote on the treasurer's
clerk measure being taken first. Be
fore the vote on the remaining ordin-
ance was taken Mr.. Kane. in an ef
fort to excuse Councils action, said:
Il Just want to say here that these
ordinances were approved by the city
solicitor and there is nothing in what
the mayor says about them"
Mr.. Conway, to give tone to Mr..
Kane's remarks. said he understood
that provision had been made in the
budget for the present fiscal year last
Nav for the increase in the salaries
OF the men in question.
The same vote resulted on each
ordinance. The measures provide for
an increase in the tax Office chies
clerks salary from 81 900 to $1,000 and
the assistant clerk from 1920 TO $1,000,
and the city treasurer's clerk from
$500 TO $1,000.
Mayor Sprnance in vetoing the
measures said the finances Of tho city
do not warrant the increase provided
in the ordinances. With respect 70
the measure referring to tho tax Office
clerks. he stated:
To the Council Of The Mayor and Coun-
ell of wilmington:-I return herewith
without approval. the proposed ordinance
SCISSORS aud collectors clerks for the city
of Wilmington" the same having been
passed by the Council on the e2d day OF
July. 1909. and having been presented te
me on the oath day Of July, 1902, with my
reasons for withholdiE= my approval
While appreciating the responsibility OF
the clerical force in the assessors and
collectors offices. and also the large
amount OF work that passes through these
Offices I believe that the financial condi-
tion Of the city at this time forhds that
the salary Of such force be Increased.
In addition. as the law stands at pres
ent the charter of the city as amended
provides that each assessor and collector
may appoint clerk at a salary Of $1,000
and an ordinance passed and approved De
cembor 18th. 1902. provides for the appoint
mont by Council of a clerk for each as
SCISSOR and collector. at a salary Of $40.
The proposed ordinance could not re
peal the statute providing for a clerk II
each Of said offices. and there is no suci
inconslstence between the proposed ordi
nance and the ordinance Of December IS
1902. that the later would be repealed b,
section Of the former.
posed ordinance is merely 10 increase thu
salary of the clerks provided for by stat
ute TO LOO, and the sa AIRY of the clerk
provided for by the ordinance of Decembe
18th. 1905. to $1,000, as the proposed ordi
nance is drawn there is nothing there.i
inconsistent with each assessor and col
lector continuing the employment of TIT
two clerks for such provision is alread,
made by the existing law. and also point
ing. under the proposed ordinance. II
became law. chief clerk. at salary o
81 900. and a clerk for his district al
salary Of $1,000.
Although II is necessary TO provide
sufficient force TO accomplish tho work ii
any office. and TO pay such salaries tina
will enable the procurement OF competeu
aud responsible men, yet IL is necessar
at this time to carry on the affairs Of tn
city without increasing the expenses there
o. and for these reasons 7 am compelle
TO withhold my approval from sad pro
posed ordinance.
J. Harvey Spruance.
Regarding tho trcasurers clerl
salary increase the mayor said:
Mayor Of the Mayor and Council Of VIII
mington
To the Council Of The Mayor and Coun
ell Of Wilmington;-I return herewith
without my approval, the proposed ord
nance entitled AN ordinance fixing th
salary Of the city trea surer's clerk" m
same having been passed by the Counc
on the ed day Of July 1902 and havin
been presented TO me on the cath day Z
July, 1909. with my reasons for withhold
ing my approval.
While ! appreciate the efforts Of N
Council TO provide competent help in tn
important office at a salary sufficient
remunerative TO enable such help 10 I
procured, the limitation Of our preser
financial condition make IL absolute
necessary at this time TO accomplish Il
work OF the city without increasing n
expenses thereof. While under other eli
cumstances might approve OF increasir
salary TO such an amount as wou
facilitate the procurement OF an effciel
clerical force am compelled this tim
for the reasons stated, to withhold my al
provai.
j Harvey Sprusnce.
Mayor OF the Mayor and Council Of vi
minEton.