Evening journal., 1914-08-14
NO BI-NOkIHLY PAY
FOR CITY Officials
Solicitor Hastings Says Ac-
ton Would Be illegal Under
Present Ordinance
LEGISLATURE ONLY
CAN CHANGE LAW

City Councilman Draper. chairman
Of the law committee, At the meeting
Of City Council last night presented a
written opinion from City Solicitor
Daniel o. Hastings, relative to tho
legality Of scmi-monthly pay day Tor
city employees.
The opinion follows:
August 1S, 1914.
Hon Oscar c. Draper.
Chairman Law Committee, CitS
Council. Wilmington, Del
Dear sir
In reply to your request as 10
whether Council can by ordl-
nance arrange for bi-monthly
psy-rolls for tho various offices
Of the city. ! would call your
attention TO Section 81, OF tie
city Charter. which provides
that.
The salaries OF the several Of
GERS herein provided for. shall
be fixed from time to time by or
dinancc. payable monthly, aud
shsll not be less per annum than
tho following amounts respective
ly. o" and then follows q list
Of the principal officers Of The
city, including members aud exec
utive officers OF the Board ~
Health
section 6. Of tho Aci creating
the Police Department. which 10
found on page c0a. OF the Charter.
Laws and Ordinance Of the city
Of Wilmington. provides that.
Tho pay of the ordinary police
man shall he Nine Hundred Dot
lars per annum. aud tho said sal
aries shall be paid monthly; off
GERS Of the police shall be paid
mcnthly. and they shall receive
the following amounts. resnec-
lively q"
And then follows a list ~ oft
crrs Of the forces
These two sections practically
cover the entire pay ron. and Il
will be observed from tho quota
tions above made that the pay
ments are 10 be made monthly. I
do not think Council can by Urdi-
nance. legally change these TO BIZ
monthly payments.
Yours very truly.
DANIEL o. HhSTtNS.
City Solicitor
After the opinion had been read
Councilman McDermott. who had sug
gested the idea Of paying tho city en-
ployes every two weeks. stated tha'
n would he q good idea 90 make th'
next General Assembly pass IN,
amendment so that the suggestion
could he put into effect
President White remarked that IN
law committee can be instructed Il
take whatever action necessary 3,
have such an amendment passed b,
the legislature. just prior TO the con
vening Of that body. and he requueste,
Mr.. McDermott 10 remind Council
Of The matter al that time.
Council received a bill from Tho
Street aud Sewer Department, which
had been sent to that department bj
Thomas J. Biscoe and Company foi
repairing the fountain at Fourth ant
Franklin streets. The bill was FOR
SEIZE. and It was accompanied by 8
letter from William Poole. secretar,
and treasurer OF the Wilmington
Fountain Society.
The regulations OF the Street anC
Sewer Department forbid any one ex
ccpt the Water Board and the publ,
Service Corporations from tearing III
the streets. For that reason IN,
Street and Sewer Department did tho
work I'm his letter Mr.. Poole said:
AS tho Wilmington Fountain So
ciety assumed the care Of this and 9th
or fountains belonging 10 your de
partment or the city proper. the bill
in question is naturally against IL
and in the hopes that you may Sc,
your way clear 10 cancel this charei
against our society, is my reason To-
writing YOU.
This society in connection with u
many drinking fountains in differen
parts Of the city, offered two year
ago to care for the city fountains re
ferrcd to, and besides the weekl,
cleaning TO keep them in order. II ha
put quite A little expense on then
from time 20 time. and In view OF IN
work tho society is doing for the com
munity think the donation Of the cos
OF the repairs in question would nice
the approval of the public and 70
which VIC respectfully ask"
The bill was referred to the financ
committee Of Council for the cOnsid
GRAFTON of the mpmbars