Evening journal., 1910-12-22
COUNCIL APPROVES
BANNING'S OFFER
But May Yet Pass Ordinance
Allowing December Sala-
rieS in Advance
SOLONS SAY UNKIND
THINGS OF AUDITOR

The special meeting OF City Council
called for last night to discuss the
question Of paying city employees their
monthly salaries before Christmas
Day. resulted ia the following resolu-
tion being adopted
"Bc it resolved, That the following
plan be approved by the Council that
the employees on the police, miscellan-
cOus ana Council payrolls be invited
TO come I'm person to the Council cham
bors TO endorse the city checks stand
ing in their names. but not yet pay
able. 20 Mr. Bauning's order and to re-
ccive I'm lieu thereof Mr.. Bannings
personal check which Will be imme-
diatcly honored ON presentation at the
National Bank OF Delaware
10 was thought that the Councilmcn
would consider an ordinance 10 amend
an ordinance creating the city payroll
which was passed Ia 1871, the call for
the meeting having been worded in
this manner, but Mr.. Kane, chairman
of the finance committee, stated that
Council was not in position TO act on
the matter Previous to this state
ment the Councilmen Mayor Spru-
mce, City Solicitor Brady and Assist
mt City Solicitor Chaytor had con-
crencc lasting more than an hour in
he mayors private Office.
10 appears that the ordinance to
lmend the ordinance creating the city
payroll was referred to the law com
nittee of Council In last April This
committee has not yet submitted a
eport.
Before Council passed the resolu-
ion accepting President of Council
anning's offer to give his personal
heck TO city employees. aud they to
urn over their city checks when they
eceive them ON the first of the month,
lere was a lengthy discussion dur
lg which City Auditor Kurtz was
! lcntioned frequently by theDemocrats
he Republican members took no part
4 the discussion. Among the remarks
lado about Mr.. kurtz were that he
id not have the Christmas spirit i'm
is heart and that he did not care for
he poor man who might be i'm need of
money before Christmas.
When the resolution was presented
lfterward adopted Mr.. McMullen. OF
he Twelfth ward, said he approved t.
ng how other departments including
K ne Levy Court the Water Commission
| md Street and Sewer Commission had
rranged to pay the men in their en-
hoy before Christmas.
Councilman Dempsey said tho city
employees should have their money be-
'ore Christmas and he commended Mr.
Banning for the generous offer he had
made.
Mr.. Du1oss raised the point whether
the resolution could be passed i'm view
of the fact that it was not ihe mat
ter for which the special meeting had
been called TO consider.
Mr. Kane replied that the meeting
had been called to consider an amend
ment TO the city payroll ordinance bu
there was difference of opinion
among the cOuncilmen relative TO tn,
subject He also said that the com
mittee TO whom the matter was refer
/ red had not yet made q report on II
/ He thought the calling of the meeting
was uncalcd for.
Councilman McGoyern said the city
auditor had questioned the right o
! Council to pass an ordinance. Tn,
| Eleventh ward councilman also raiseC
! NtAN NNAAN MAA' NAA'i ANAi AANe NNNAAV
could be compelled TO sign the checks
under such am ordinance, in view o
the decision of the court In banc con
cerning the standing of the prescn
city government
Mr.. McGOvern said that Audito
kurtz was trying to make Council d,
his bidding and he did not propose Il
take any dictatiOn from him.
Mr.. kano said that City SOlicito
Brady had never given Council al
opiaion as to whether that body ha,
the right to pass an ordinance but n
understood that he was ready to Civ
one within thirty minutes TO the efioc
that Council had such right and coul
compel the city auditor TO approve IN
payrolls.
Mr. Dempsey held that it was al