The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-20
CONTINUED from Page One)

Representatives ana is now IN pro-
cess of passage through the Legis-
lature. This bill was amended by
me before introduction so as to
preclude the issuance Of revenue
bonds for the purchase of facilities
now furnishing gas or electricity to
the City of it's residents because
this appeared to be a matter of too
much Importance to the community
to be acted upon by the Council
alone without a vote of the people.
Il have not introduced the re-
quested bill to repeal the authority
of the City of Wilmington to furnish
free water to INDECENT persons be-
cause as I construe the present
law, the Council is not required to
furnish free water but is merely
authorized to do so in its discretion.
1t can refuse to do this if it so
elects and think it well for it to
retain the authority to act if the
occasion should arise in the future.
II also refused to change the
election laws relating to Wrights-
vile Beach because the suggested
change in my opinion would have
weakened rather than strengthened
the present law.
"a request has been made also
for Introduction of a bill to increase
the present salaries of members
of the City Council from 5000 an
nually to $4,000 annually and that
of the Mayor from $4,000 to $1,000
annually. I have investigated as
to the salaries paid similar officers
in other towns and cities of the
state having the Council-Manager
form of government and find that
in the larger cities, including Char
lotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Gas
tonia, Goldsboro and Wilmington,
salaries of the Council members,
excepting the Mayor, are uniform
ly fixed at $4,000. Durham pays
$250.00. Wilson. 100000. Salisbury,
100000, and High Point, $500. The
smaller towns pay annual salaries
to these officers varying from
$500 90 in Morganton to $1500.00 in
Wilson, the average salary being
approximately $4,000. Membership
on the City Council under this form
Of government is, believe, large
ly a matter of public service and
honor, and I do not believe that
any one offers fo- a place on the
Council because Of the remunera-
ton involved nor do / think that
the present membership of the
Council is interested particularly in
having their salaries increased.
Under the circumstances, l am not
inclined to make any changes,
since the present salaries for the
Mayor and members of the Council
in Wilmington conform substantial
ly to the average in other cities of
like size.
"A request was also made for
the passage Of legislation to place
the Bureau of Identification under
the control and supervision of the
City alone instead of under joint
control OF the City and County as at
present. The County Commission
ers by resolution objected to this,
and thereafter. it was proposed that
the Bureau be placed under the
supervision of the Sheriff of New
Hanover county. The head of the
Bureau publicity expressed his OBJ
lection to this course and the
Sheriff also indicated that his de-
partment would not particularly
desire the change. I have careful
ly read the Act under which the
Bureau was created in 1885 and the
law now provides for the appoint
ment every two years by the City
and County of an Identified alton Ex-
pert to be in charge Of the Bureau
of Investigation. His salary is fixed
by the two governing bodies. His
general duties are prescribed under
the Act which provides that ne
shall be under the supervision of
the two governing bodies. 1t would
seem from this that the City and
County now have ample supervi-
sorry authority over the Bureau and
that rules and regulations govern
ing its operation can be passed by
these bodies to assure its proper
administra ton if there are any
complaints at present. l think it
is the duty of the governing bodies
Of the City and County to execute
the supervisory power given them
in the Act in such way as to re-
move any possible criticism which
might be made of the administra-
ton of the Bureau. Accordingly,
l am not inclined to sponsor legis-
lation which will compel any
change in the present set up.
Legislation has also been re-
quested to permit employees of the
ABC Board, the Associated Chair
ties and the Wilmington Public
Nursing Association to receive re-
tirement benefits under the City
employees Pension Fund created
by the 1943 General Assembly. The
North Carolina Supreme Court has
ruled that two of the above groups
could not legally come under the
retirement act as presently writ
ten. The proposed legislation would
add approximately SO persons to
those City and County employees
now entitled to the benefits of the
Retirement Act and as only four
Of them would be eligible for re-
tirement Immediately, if they so
elect, no appreciate drain on the
pension fund will follow if these