Evening journal., 1919-04-25
CITY COUNCIL is
GIVEN MONEY TO
PAY FLU BILLS
lContlnued from page onsl

Continued from page oneI
dupOnts offer had been read. Mr.. Rob
ertson said that he was instrumental lnI
having the four revenue bills framed
and presented az the recent session OF
the Legislature, which caused some
persons 10 take special interest in run
ming 90 Dover 30 ask the Governor 20
sign them. Mr.. Robertson then eX-
plained the bills, one Of which provides
tax on public utilities on a basis OF
two and one-half times the assessed
value OF the utilities real estate. An
other measure. he scid, was that OF H.
censlng pawnbrOkers and junk dealers,
while the others were a tax on taxi
cabs and a tax on underground vaults.
This last measure was drawn up by
Colonel George w Sparks. then presi-
dent Of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment. The utilities tax, he said. wo ld
bring In an additional revenue Of siOOW
90 the city.
81 felt a personal interest In the
bills" continued Mr.. Robertson "as !
knew they would satisfy the financial
needs OF the city. The bills were
passed. but want o. say very frankly
\ That the committee which was so
anxious a few days ago 90 get the
I Governor 20 sign them did not turn
hand over 10 help set the Dllis
passed. But now, like Betty and the
/ bear. they come In and want 10 say
did Won see us kill him.? In my es-
| iimaiion lt was nonsense, or rather i
should say unnecessary, for any com
mlitee 10 20 10 Dover for such a rea-
son. The Governor would have signed
/ those bills. 7 never had the least Ink
ling OF a doubt but that he would sign
/ them. I've never been a man 10 be
blurred. and when the Chief Executive
OF this state tries 20 hold a club over
mo or any Institution OF which ! am
member. I for one don't propose 10
stand for lt.
we all know the feeling down the
State toward Wilmington. Had the
/ bills provided that the revenue derived
should have gone into The state treas
hurry instead OF to Wilmington so that
10 per cent. OF II could be turned over
10 Kent and Sussex counties, the Gov
ernor would have signed them forth
with. There would have been no delay
then. Why3 Because they respect
Wilmington for what they get out OF Il.
70 Is the same respect a farmer has for
his COW. So long as she Is a good milk
er lt Is all right, but let her fail TO
produce milk and he will cOnsign her
20 the butchers block. The Governor
is no exception 90 the rule.
Il have said that the influenza bill:
will be paid. I have never said they
wouldn't be paid. I have never heard 8
member OF this Council say so. But W.
doubt the legality Of the methods boy
which they were contracted. Thel
were Illegal. Had they not been illega
the city would have been sued for 'heH
long acO.
II want 10 thank the members o
this Council who stood by like men ant
would not be bluffed. They woult
not say a word until after the bills haC
been signed by the Governor, notwith
standing the fact that they We're hell
as a bludgeon over cir heads. wan
10 say that the members Of Counril ar,
made OF true Wilmington stun and
appreciate It,"
Councilman Cathcart urged the three
members TO be appointed upon the com
nitiee he men who Will go through th'
hills thoroughly, from A to Z, and pay
only those which are just and legal. h'
pointed out that while he was the
chairman OF the health committee Of
Citv Council. and worked with th'
Board OF Health during the influenza, h'
mad not been consulted by the Defense
Council in the expenditure Of the
CITY Council. sometime ago, when th'
bills were presented to that body re-
, ferred them back to the State Council o.
defense. which is now in possession o.
them. Before the Council committed
can audit and pay the bills they Wi
have to be called back from the STATE
Council OF Defense. Since passing th'
buck" back to the Council OF Defense
City Council has made no move what
ever 10 pay the bills contracted durin,
.ba unt,H endemic