Evening journal., 1910-07-14
COUNCIL ASKS SPECIAL
LEGISLATIVE SESSION

of the aforesaid Chapter III, Volume
"a Of the Laws of Delaware. it was
provided that the mayor then elected
should hold Office for the term of
two years, commencing on the first
day of July next succeeding his cleo
ton; and that the president of Coun-
ell and II members of Council then
elected should hold their Offices for
the term of two years, commencing
on the first day Of July next sue
ceeding said election.
Third-That the manifest intent to
limit the terms of Office of the Off
cials to be elected at the municipal
election in June. 1907, to a term Of
two years and no more, is conclusive
ly shown by the original bill Chap
ter III, Vol. 24) introduced into the
Legislature with the several indorse-
ments thereon, which provided for a
four-year term. the amendment to
said bill with the several indorse-
ments thereon, which afIirmatively
struck out the word -four" and sub
stitUted the word two" therefor, thus
reducing the term to two years, and
the several entries I'm both the House
and Senate Journals. showing the
due passage thereof, as the same are
now on record in the various Offices
provided by law I'm this State.
Fourth-That the term for which
the said municipal officers we're cleo
ted in June, 1907, having expired the
persons signing the aforesaid paper
writing are in possession of no mum
icipal Office in the city Of Whining
ton from which they can resign.
Fifth-That the municipal offices of
the city Of Wilmington, which are in
the gift of the duly qualified voters
of said city. arc now filled. with the
exception of one Councilman and the
city treasurer. under and by virtue
of the expressed will Of the citizens
of the city of Wilmington.
Sixth-That the recent decisions OF
the court sitting i'm banc to hear GER
tioraris taken in the election contest
had in July. 1909, in no way deter
mined or referred to the claim to the
offices now set up by the several per-
SONS who signed the aforesaid paper
writing.
Seventh-That is the scheme pro-
/ posed by the signers of the aforesaid
paper writing were put into effect, the
persons appointed to office in any DO.
sitions in this city, under and by vir.
tue of said scheme, would have abso.
/ lutely no authority beyond that oi
mere usurpers. Aud your committee
is firmly of the opinion that It is bet
ter for the persons now filling tn,
several municipal Offices given I,
them by the expressed will Of the cit
izens of this city. to retain the same
rather than enter into a bargain
whereby the offices belonging to tn
citizens of Wilmington would be be
slowed by mere usurpers.
Signed,
John J. McGovern,
James Kane,
NJ. 4. Conway,
Edward A. Higgins.
Dempsey Springs Surprise.
Following the reading of the repor
Mr. Kane, chairman of the financ
committee, presented the opinion o
Hawkins, Delafield and LongfelloW
attorneys for Harris and Company
which set out. in the opinion of thes
attorneys, that no government exist
In Wilmington, and when il was real
and Mr.. Kane moved to receive an
file it, Mr.. Dempsey jumped to hi
feet and wanted to know who wa
paying for this opinion. He was O
the belief that the attorneys had sub
mitted it at the request of Council.
President Bannings said he had n
knowledge Of it and he added that h
understood the attorneys in question
we're in the employ Of Harris an
Company
Mr.. McNlullen, Of the Twelfth ward
asked to whom the opinion was ad
dressed and Clerk McGovern replie
that it was addressed to n. w. Harri
and Company.
This served to satisfy Mr.. Dempsey
who made it plain that if any none
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