Evening journal., 1913-01-31


business to the Legislature will eX-
pire on February TO- City Council is
being swamped with bills and meas
ures affecting this city for its approv-
al, this being necessary before the
bills are sent to Dover. The body it.
self may have several bills to pro-
duce increased revenue for the city,
tor the consideration OF the Legisla-
ture. More money will be needed If
all the demands being made are to be
met. Nearly every department in the
city wants more money and last night
a delegation of policemen appeared
before the members of Council urging
that they be given an increase of pay.
No stipulated amount is asked for,
but the policemen when they asked
for an increase several years ago fix
ed the salary of a patrolman at SlOSO
a year, sergeant, $1,000; capita rs,
$500, and chief Of police $500. They
received only a part of the raise they
asked for, however. and at present
receive the following salaries; Pa
trolmen, $500; sergeants, $1,000; cap
tains, $1,000, and chief of police, $500.
The question arose last night
whether il will be necessary for the
police to go to the legislature for the
Increase or whether Council can grant
It without legislative enactment. lt
appeared TO be the opinion of thv
Councilmen that they had the power
TO grant the increase. Whether they
Will vote to do so. however, they
would not say. No action was taken
and the matter will be taken up later.
Governor is Welcomed.
Members of the Board of Water
Commissioners, including Governor
Charles r. Miller. a former member
of the board. held conference with
the members of Council following the
regular meeting relative to the tinan-
cial needs of that body Governor M l.
Ter came into the Council chamber
unannounced and several members Of
Council Immediately escorted him to
the mayors Office where the confer
once was held. His appearance was
a pleasant surprise to the members,
and an impromptu reception was held
before getting down to the business
that brought the members of the
board to Council chambers.
The chief topic for consideration
was the bill the Water Commissioners
have prepared renewing the old bin
which expires this year and under
the provisions of which the receipts
of the Water Department are divided
between the city aud the department,
the city getting 40 per cent and the
Water Department so per cent. The
commissioners are anxious to have
this arrangement continued, and their
bill makes this possible. They are
seeking Councils approval of the
act
It developed that there was oppo-
sition on the part of some of the
Councilmen to continuing this ar
rangement, they claiming that the
body would provide sufficient money
to the Water Department TO properly
operate it and there was no necessity
OF going TO the Legislature for this
purpose. No definite action was
taken
City Charter Bill.
Irving Warner. president of the
Wilmington Civic Association, and a
delegation Of members OF that body,
appeared in Council chamber in the
interest of the new charter bill for
Wilmington drawn by the Initiative
and Referendum League. Copies of
the proposed charter were distributed
by Councilman Higgins. and a letter
asking for a hearing on the subject
from the Civic Association was pre-
sented by him. and on his motion
Council will hold a public meeting on
the subject on next Wednesday
night.
The communication from the Civic
Association follow; s
For nearly two months past the
Wilmington Civic Association has had
under its consideration the charter
bill prepared by the Initiative and
Referendum League of Delaware We
have held public meetings of discus
sion. have made amendments to the
bill originally proposed and now be-
lieve that we have the draft in such
form that it can be presented TO the
Legislature.
Before doing this we would like to
have you give US the privilege of a
hearing so that we may discuss the
features Of this bill with you and
thereby secure your support in get
ting the bill passed by the legisla-
ture.
BE advised that this bill Is only
an enabling act covering all the
municipalities in the State of Della
ware, and it only becomes operative
when passed upon favorably by the
majority of the electorate of any
municipality The bill is copied large
ly after the New Jersey law which
has operated so successfully in a
practical manner IN Trenton for the
last IS months"
A communication received from the
Mercantile Association, H. d. Nal