Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-28
MAYORS ACTION ON
BONDS A MYSTERY
Sends Sealed Communication
to Council to be Considered
Tonight.

Mayor Leroy Harvey late yester-
day afternoon forwarded 10 the City
Council a sealed envelope which is
understood to contain the ordinance
providing for a bond issue OF 100000
IL the harbor work and a commu-
fication from him relative to the
proposed act. But what action he
took regarding the matter. whether
he vetoed or approved the ordinance
or whether he allowed il to automat-
ically become a law by failure TO
take any action was not made public.
Members of City Council were at
City Han for their weekly committee
r lettings, but there was no meeting
of the committee Of the whole. The
envelope was not opened last night,
the members agreeing that as the
communica ton was addressed TO the
Council it should be held over for
presentation 10 the Council in regular
weekly meeting this evening. Mayor
Harvey has refused 70 give any in
tii..ation of what his action was re-
garding the ordinance on the ground
that through courtesy to the Council
At body shol irst receive his
communication before the matter be-
comes public property.
There was nothing but specuIa ton
among the Councilmen last evening
as 10 the executives proba BILE decision
on the barbor bond ordinance. The
general impression seemed to be that
be had vetoed the ordinance and that
IN his 5mmunication to the Council
he would explain why ne had taken
this action. On the other hand some
members expressed the belief that
he had approved 1t. for it was. asserted
that while the mayor was known to
have been opposed 10 issuing so many
city bonds at this time he had finally
| been persuaded that the harbor bonds
We're essential now and that he had
therefore decided TO sign the ordi-
nance. This latter supposition how
ever was not the general belief among
the Councilmen.
With the belief general that he had
vetoed the measure there was further
speculation as 10 the probable action OF
the Council at tonights meeting with
regard 10 the action OF the members
when the ordinance was referred ~
them for further consideration. Whe-
ther they viii pass the ordinances
over the mayors veto or whether
they viii sustain the veto seemed
! IN doubt. 1t was recalled that IN.
original ordinance passed the Council
by the unanimous vote of all ths
members. and IL was questioned
whether any Of them could now re.
verse themselves and vote against il
-et It was intimated that the -ame in
huences that have been endeayorina
70 nave the mayor veto tht measur.
nave been working upon the members
OF Z council in an effort to have them
support him in his veto.
II was predicted on one hand tba,
the veto, II the mayors action shot,Td
be veto. would % sustained hy ~
Re1uolican majority members of thf
COUNCIL. On the other hand il wa.
claimed the ordinance would be mass.
e oVe- the veto and that there yyol,lT
De no difficulty in getting sbe 70.
quired nine, or two-thirds. vote 10 4,
| this. -
/ one prominent Councilman do.
ciared that TO fail TO pass the ordt.
nance would set the city back twent,
years and do Wilmington almost i'm.
ca!culable harm. He said it wollle
make the city look ridiculous in tbs
eyes OF the nation at large. for Con.
sfessmen have been brought here r.
view the proposed water front site
some OF the largest firms in the conn.
! try nave submitted bids for tho wor,
and the whole scheme has been al,
vertissd broadcast until it Is q weIl
known project in all parts of m,
I country. He said the city cannot wei
afford to withdraw from the PROPOSE
ton.
Just what action the harbar boare
"lil take in the event of a veto !,
NOT known. That department ba,
ample funds to defray all the er
penses contracted TO date. bur /
would b blocked from further opera
! ut4s. However. it was the sentin,en
OF some OF the counciInaen thai ~.
ordinance would be enacted into lau
with the understanding thar IN,
nrst unis of harbor work be carrie,
out but that nothing additional he
yond this would be undertaken fo
the present
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