Evening journal., 1913-02-20
COUNCIL
APPROVES
TAX BILLS
Body, However, Objects to
Act Retiring Police After
20 Years Service
OPPOSE SALARY FOR
JUVENILE COURT JUDGE

For several hours last night mem-
bers Of City Council and some Of the
Wilmington members OF the General
Assembly discussed bills affecting this
city now in the legislative hopper az
Dover All the Councilmen were In
attendance but when the meeting
started the only assemblymen present
were Senator Reinhardt and Repre-
sentatives Cook and King Later
Senator Gormlcy and Representatives
Mooney and Grantland lame in. They
had been detained by late sessions of
the two houses
A number of bills we're considered
some Of which received the endorse
ment OF Council but others were dis
approved, Principal among the last
named was the bill providing for a
continuance of the act In effect the
past two years allowing the Water
Department TO retain 90 per cent OF
its receipts for maintenance. During
discussion Of this bill the Water Com
missioners were arraigned by the
Legislators who claimed that they had
not been treated fairly by the mem
bers OF the department in a confer.
ence with them recently The legisla-
tors eald that certain facts had beer
hidden from them and the members OF
the board had avoided direct Ques.
tions which would have thrown much
light on the workings Of the depart.
ment.
After considerable discussion on the
subject it was agreed to disapprove
the bill allowing a sixty per cent al
lotment and an agreement was reach
ed making the minimum allowance 55
per cent. This decision was reached
by a vote of to 3.
The responsibility Of revising the
water rates the Councilmen said will
have to be borne by the Water Com.
missionerss. the Councilmen believing
that the commissioners are trying to
shift the responsibility to them.
The tax bill sents 10 Dover by Coun-
Gil, all Of which have been explained
and were approved, were again dis
cussed and once more given that
bodys sanction. Il was thought that
the bill providing for a monthly pen
atty of one half of one per cent
would be an incentive for property
owners to pay their taxes
William p. Bancroft president oil
the Board Of Park Commissioners ex-
planned his reasons for favoring tho
bill providing 70 ran additional $3.50,
I 600 bond issue for park purposes. Tit
measure provides that Council shal
pass upon the loan only when II see
/ fit and then only with two-thirds o
the members voting in favor OF issn
ing the bonds.
II was decided to pass the bin 70
the time being.
The bill providing for a salary o
fS150O for the judge OF the juvenil
court and an increase OF salary fo
the chief probation officer and othe
! increases in the present appropria
I ton for that court, was disapprovel
/ by the Councilmen in short order.
While the bill now before the Leg
islature providing that the deputy
I Judge OF the city court shall act az
the juvenile court judge and the po
/ lice as probation officers could not D'
given the approval of the Council
men. they let IL be known that they
favored IT,
The bill providing that the term o
service in the police department TO-
pension be reduced from % TO p
years was not approved, the legisla
tors being informed that the men on
the street did not favor the bill. None
Of the policemen, so far as the Coun
cilmen could learn, know who draft
ed the bill. Il was said that should
the twenty year proposition become
effective. forty men would be eligible
for retirement next July. Some of the
patrolmen, it was said. favored max
ing the term of active service -
years instead of 20.
The Counoilmen and members o
the Legislature will hold other con
ferences on additional bills affectins
Wilmington.