Evening journal., 1915-11-19
council BALES ON
Chain GANG" bills
Condemn Working OF Pris-
onerS on Streets and Will
Not Pay the Expenses
TO DISCUSS THE
SUBJECT FURTHER

Declaring that all attempts by the
Chamber OF Commerce TO boost Will
nington should cease and the opened
street here should be enclosed and
converted into penitentaries, Council
man McDermott OF the Eleventh ward,
approved of the action OF Councilman
Oscar c. Draper. chairman of the f.
nance committee OF Council. who in
formed City Council last night that he
had ordered the clerk OF Council 10
send bills for about $50 back TO the
clerk OF the Municipal Court. These
oils Mr.. Draper said. were for hand
,uffs. mattresses, food and other sup
plies which we're purchased for the
ise OF the "chain gang" which worked
IN the streets until yesterday. Ac~
-ording to Mr. Draper these bills we're
marked approved" but they we're not
iigned
II was evident by the debate on the
subject that Council objected TO bills
'or such purpose being contracted i'm
he name Of the Mayor and Council Of
Wilmington without their knowledge
,r consent and Councilman Draper
declared that where the money was to
'ome from 10 meet the bills was
MYSTERY to him. as no funds had been
set aside by Council FOR such pur-
lose
Councilman McDermott said that by
,nclosing the street on which the men
we're at work the city would be saved
he disgrace of the men being seen at
work here
II was the opinion Of some OF the
members OF Council that Judge
IA. Ella hr n
confer with Council on the subject
out the motion failed as no member OF
Council would second a motion 10 that
effect Councilman Kane suggested
that Council confer with the Street
and Sewer Commission directors on
The subject Councilman McDermott
declared il was an outrage in these
modern days to allow "chain gangs"
to exist and he made a motion that
Judge Churchman confer with Coun-
Gil relative to the bills. This motion
did not prevail. however.
The matter was brought up when
Councilman Draper said that accord
ing to the local newspapers, Council
was to be asked TO pay for the ser
vices Of the men who have been sem
fenced in the City Court to work on
The streets. He declared that he di1
not know who contracted the bills,
and he was not interested. but some
one will have 20 be interested in the
matter of these bills, for they will
nave to come before some committee
of Council, and no committee can re-
port favofably upon them without
some understanding as to how, why
and by whom they we're contracted.
lie said City Council should be re-
spected and notified and that body
should have been taken into the con-
fdence OF whoever was responsible for
the bills He declared that whoever
bas charge OF the matter wants to
meet with Council first, before the
bills are going TO be paid il Council
S going to pay them. He said Coun-
eil has no appropriation for such
work or supplies. and he declared he
does not know where the money is
coming from with which t. pay the
bills He said Council will want
ettcr from the ones responsible for
hem.
Mr. Draper thought il a rather diff
cult matter TO ask the Judge OF the
City Court to confer with them, but
Councilman Kane thought the Street
md Sewer Department might be re-
'ponsible as the convicts are working
Tor that department. at least under
hat departments supervision.
Mr.. Draper said they had some bills
now which he had directed Clerk
simmons to return 10 the clerk of the
city Court as he could not approve
them. and no other member OF Coun-
ell could approve them. These bills
are TOR the supplies purchased for the
chain gang" men.
Nothing definite was done in the
natter. however and the bills ordered
cent back to clerk Of the Municipal
lourt were not acted on at a commit
&c Of the whole Council.