Evening journal., 1913-02-04
$4,000 WAS
NOT PROMISED
OFFICIALS SAY
Street Department Directors
Declare Outstanding Sewer
Lien Figures We're Not
Specified
OBJECT TO PAIRING
OF THEIR APPROPRIATION

Al the meeting Of the Directors of
the Street and Sewer Department this
morning. a letter was received from
the finance committee OF City Council,
relative TO the annual appropriation
to the Street and Sewer Department.
The letter stated that at the last meet
ing of the Council il WAS decided that
in making the appropriation for the
Department this year about S28OO0
would be deducted the Department
owing the city that amount it having
promised TO collect sewer liens TO the
amount of 100000 and turn over the
money to the Council Only $1,000 OF
this money has ever been turned over
to the Council. and in making the an
nual appropriation it will consider
that the department is indebted to
the city for such part of this sum as
it has not turned over to the city.
The directors said that they had made
no such an agreeemnt with Council
and had only promised TO collect what
money they could and turn it over to
Council. THIS, they claim, has been
done
letter was received from the
Board OF Police Commissioners rela-
tive to the bill that the department is
advocating which will give its foremen
ana special officers police power and
the authority TO make arrests for such
oiienscs as splitting on the sidewalks
and other similar Olfenses committed
ON the streets, and such other prop
erty as moce within the jurisdic-
tion OF the department. The letter
stated that the board did no approve
OF the proposed bill, and that the
board was of the opinion that the
special officers had enough authority
in looking after the needs of the De-
partment. The board decided to hold
a conference with the Police Commits
sion and discuss the matter, which
they say is not In the nature of Great
ing two Police Departments, but would
be the means of enforcing such ordin-
ances as the splitting ordinance, etc.
General Manager Nv. A. Heindle, OF
the Wilmington and Southern Trac-
ton Company. appeared relative TO
complaints that have been received
about the blocking and delay of traf-
fic at Fourth Eighth and Tenth ana
Market streets by the trolley cars of
the company Quite a number of
complaints have been received regard
ing these crossings. and il is claimed
that large amount of time could be
saved to traffic IL the company would
install automatic switches or sta
tion switchmen so that the motormen
would not have to take time to climb
off their cars and turn switches. 1t
was stated that the worst place was
at Eighth street. where the delay is
quite a serious interference with traf-
fic.
Mir Heindle said he understood that
these conditions were now improved
hut that the company had considered
installing automatic switches TO in
crease the Efficiency of the service. He
said that as il takes but few seconds
for a motorman TO turn a switch, he
did not think this was the cause OF
the trouble He was Of the opinion
that the law forhidding automobiles
from passing cars when at a stand
still was IN a large measure the cause
Of the trouble, but that his company,
if found at fault. would remedy the
condition. The expense of sVitchmen
or OF automatic switches was very
large, he said. The board will con-
slider the matter again. and Mr.
Heindle will secure information re.
garding automatic switches for them
TO look over