Evening journal., 1918-08-09
COUNCIL REJECTS
JOHN J. M'GOVERN
Refuses to Confirm His
Appointment as Utilities
Board Commissioner
f. A. HIGGINS NAME
SENT BY MAYOR

tWO-Mirds or City COUNCIL required lot
confirmation and receiving but one vote
OF a Councilman OF his own political
party, John J. McGOvern, former city
Councilman, from the nth ward, failed
OF confirmation as a member OF the
Board OF Public Utilities Commission
before City Council last night. The
action caused some surprise despite
the announcement made some time ago
by Councllmen that they proposed TO
gO slow before confirming any appoint
ments 10 the Utilities Commission.
The name OF McGovern was present
ed TO Council a week ago and was or
dered filed.
When the matter was brought up
last night by Councilman Robertson, an
aye and nay vote was called for. The
result OF this vote was as follows:
4 Councllmen Kane, Hopkins, MearnS
Robertson and Forward, ayes: nays,
Counclimen Johnson, Atkins, Abberger,
Ward, McDonough, Harrington, Cath
cart and Lyons.
Councilman Kane was the only Demo-
cratic member OF Council to vote for
Mr.. McGovern's confirmation.
At the same meeting Mayor Lawson
submitted the name OF former City
Councilman Edward A. Higgins, as a
member OF the Utilities Commission to
succeed Frank Mock, resigned. No ac-
tlon was taken, however, the appoint
ment being flled.
Members OF Council took occasion
last night to take a fling at the garb-
age collections when it was decided TO
refer the bill Of Sylvester Healy, the
contractor, for the month OF July,
amounting TO 5000 10 City Solicitor Bay
ard for an opinion. The Councllmen
have stated that they will not pay this
bill. contendlng that the Health De-
psrtment had no right TO award the
contract on one-year basis.
The garbage matter was brought up
when a letter was received and read
from Mrs. Jennie Z. McHugh, manager
OF the Flodette Hotel, Nos. s07-09
French street. This letter which
caused laughter, was as follows
Wilmington, Del, Aug. 8, 1918.
Mr.. Arthur Johnson, City.
Dear Sir: VIII you please inform
me as 10 what has happened to the
Board Of Health. / have imagined
I
10 measles 10 quarantine them all in.
/ thought perhaps they were all dead
but | have been watching the papers
every night and saw no account OF It.
Il has been six weeks since the garbage
collector has been aroutd. and l have
been constantly calling the Board OF
Health for three weeks. Every time
cali ! get the same old answer, I'VE
] 20 nj VNn
ceiver.
l know they get tired OF hearing
complaints, but this thing Is Just a:
important TO housewives as the small
pox flag Is to the Board OF Helath.
am more afraid OF this fllthy garbage
can than | am OF smallpox, and ! know
il ! had smallpox patient in my home
the Board OF Health would jail me for
not hanging the flag out. often wish
that | was a man, and II ] was, The
flrst thing / would propose would be
having flags made for non-collectiOn OF
garbage, and when the garbage man
failed TO show up in one week, hang
your flag out. l know when the garb-
age collector takes the lid OF that can,
he is going to drop dead, and ] am
going to be frightened 10 pieces with
worms, so you may Just as well send
the coroner along with the collector.
And don't forget That like chrysan-
themums.
/, Yours respectfully,
JENNIE E. McHUGH,
: Manager Flodette Hotel,
sO7-O9 French street.
P. S.-I forgot TO tell you that Dr..
w. p. Miller also wrotS MFR. Cahill a
postal card about this garbage.
After the letter had been referred 10
the health committee Mr.. Johnson OF
the First ward stated that he hoped
the newspapers would urge all residents
who had kicks about the garbage col
lectlons TO register their names with
the public health committee OF Coun-
Gil. II was only by doing so, he added,
that Council will know what the real
conditions are.
Councilman Cathcsrt OF the Twelfth
ward. chairman Of the health commit
tee. stated that his telephone wires at
times now were almost burned through
with non-garbase collection complaints
but that with the new carts recently
obtained by the collector It was
thought that the complaints would be
greatly reduced.
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