The Morning herald., 1876-07-20
FOR PRESIDENT,
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS
TEE NEW REsERvOIR AND STATE
RAILROADS.

TEE NEW RESERVOIB AND SAAIE
RAILROADS.
We have before alluded to the dangers
that would attend special session OF the
Legislature. When Governor Cochran
met special committee from the City
Council Of Wilmington, to whom had been
entrusted the Object Of soliciting him to
use his executive prerogative and order
such session, there was every reason for
il. The reservoir is in that condition now
that it should be completed. Apart from
the valuable pecuniary assistance, it would
give large number of the worklngmen,
the work already put upon it must depre-
ciate in value, unless attended to. But
even this is Of secondary Importance as
sociated with a special session of the Leg
islature. As Governor Cochran stated to
the committee, it is far better for the
reservoir to remain uncompleted for some
time, than to convene the Legislature and
perhaps loose nearly half million dollars
to the State. What the Governor means
by this, is that if special session of the
Legislature was called, the old bills that
were overwhelmingly defeated at the last
session of the Legislature, asking State
aid, for railroads in the lower counties
would be urged, and the session thereby
necessarily prolonged, at great expense,
and the bills offered probably, passed. In
this case the accomplishment of the origi-
nal purpose of the special session would
not be commensurate with the losses that
would be incurred by this means which be
urges as good reason why the special
session should not be held.
Our readers are fully aware of the un-
tiring effort that was made at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature to urge through
the bill asking the States credit for certain
railroads. The amount asked for was
100000, and the bill was introduced by
Mr.. Houston, of Sussex county. The ap-
preparation, if obtained, was to be di-
vided as follows: to the Georgetown and
Seaford road, $9S,00O, to the Georgetown
and Delmar road, SSs,OOO, to the Milford
and Bayshore road, $SS,00o. This would
leave $4,000 out of the grab, which
was to be retained by the State Treasurer
for two years interest on the whole. The
State was to be secured by first mortgage
on the roads named. The people of Sussex
were ripe for the appropriation. 1t told of
increased values to property in that
county. With the improvement of rail-
roads, Kent County felt an interest, and to
New Castle County wa. left the gigantic
task of fighting this subsidiary scheme
single handed. The fight was skillful, and
happily the bill was defeated. One of the
most daring attempts upon the State Treas
ury by legislative iobbing was crushed, and
the credit of the commonwealth main
tanned.
To avoid recurrence of this is the rea-
son that Governor Cochran assigned for not
holding a special session, and that he was
right, all who oppose such grabs as they
proposed at the last session of The Legisla-
lure, must declare
1t is generally understood that this same
bill, possibly altered little, will come up
at the next session of the Legislature, when
it is to be hoped that it will be even more
summarily defeated than it was at the
last.