Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-15
COUNCIL DIGS UP
Continued from page

last Saturday nights meeting All Of the
members OF Council Were there save one
who had business doubtless with the
parade the absentee being Mr.. Hopkins,
the colorcd member Inside the city
fathers enclosure was the same audience
or rather, pretty much the same-as
last week while outside very many OF the
faces were recognise bic. The same pro
cedure was observed IN the qulzzing save
that last night the members Of the com
missioners board queried were placed
under oath which was not done at the
first session OF the probe.
AS on the first occasion, officials OF the
traction company were conspicuOuSly
absent lce-President and General
Manager Wilson sent letter, however,
for himself. G. y Ryan. auditor, and
" illlam 4 Helndlc, mans ger, 10 the effect
that the notice for them TO he present was
invalid and that the matter OF the COM
mlSsioners order was pending III court.
And 50. with the bands Of the colored
parade outside punching ont patriotic
airs in march time. Sousa hack-stlffenCrS,
Annie Laurie and other musical popular
itics arranged to quickStep tempo, and the
.Tovan lightnings flashed and Vulcan beat
his thunderous old anvil and the Aquarlus
person dumped his waterbucket over
things tic city dads sat IN InqmsItlon
tho doomed TO 20 Smokeless through the
evening because the antI-snoke rule was
In force
First of President Lyon had Clerk
Simmons read the powers OF the mayor
and Council with regard to holding such
inquiry. to summon witnesses, swear them
and punish them for contempt or perjury
II IL Il ~
falsely. broad and wide jurisdiction
enough it seemed TO those who heard it
No sooner had My Simmons finished nan
Commissioner Gsrretson was on his feet
asking permission to be heard W hIch
was promptly gwen him by pefunctory
vote.
SFR4PEEL FOR CoTN IL.
Then Mr. Garretson proceeded IN shell
Council with shrapnel his battery Of guns
consisting Of "a half dozen sheets of type
written statement the content OF which
fellows In part. the small cap lines therein
not being Mr.. GarretsOn's but added to
give typographical grace:
THE Board Of Public Utility Com
missioners OF the city of Wilmington Is 3
judicial body, possessing jurisdiction over
certain matters which are entirely outside
of and beyond the jurisdiction OF the City
Council OF Wilmington. The City Coun-
cal has no more power to question the
members of the Board of Public Utility
Commissioners with respect 70 their
official acts and conduct than IT has to
question Judge Churchman with respect
10 his decisions upon ordinances Of the
CITY or his reasons and motives therefor
or than II has TO question the judges Of the
Superior Court with respect 10 their
decisions IN interpreting the laws and
ordinances of the city
The provision OF the City Charter
authorizing City Council IT, summon
witnesses and lnteTrogate them with
respect ~ matters affecting the 'munici-
patty does not contemplate any such
ll-conceived proceeding rs they are nov
indulgIng in
1t i probably not the time nor the
place for general discussion Of the Law
creating The Board 81 Public [tilitv
I commissioners and Its many impcrfec-
tons i Is known that the law was
originally makeShIft confined only to
the city Of Wilmington because Of the
unWllhngness Of the Street Railway
ompanIcs OF the Slater to permit an act
T. be passed which would be Statewide
~ rs jurisdiction, such as exists in every
other enlightened state today II is
we'll known that the law rs passed aDpli-
cable to the city Of Wilmington alone.
was, when II was adopted laughed At by
the Public Utility Corporations operating
m the city and regarded as a SOD TO an
exlstlFg public demand but wholly
impotent IS an effective governmental
agency Since that time the City Coun-
ell Of Wilmington has done nothing
u whatever to helm make Tho Hcur3 of