Daily Republican., 1881-03-16
THIRD EDITION.
Partisan I'M pUDENCE.

N NoketlN0 VOtos % tmc No"
Delegation.
special Correspondence ofthe Republican.
DOVER, March 15.-Closely drawn
party lines carried the Wilmington
iscal year bill through the House to-
lay, in the face Of strong opposition
from the New Castle delegation. The
return Of Mr.. Matthews, ,ofSussex, made
up the lower county Democratic qao,o
req uired to psss the bill under the two
third rule on corporation acts. This
was what City Solicitor Mscallister,
representing the Council Committee on
Legislation, has been waiting for,
and the bill was called up this fore
noon in the House by the Democrats
and on Mr.. Robinson's motion was put
upon its final passage.
Mr.. BRApFoID's OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Bradford, in an hours speech,
opposed the bill. Coming
from WILMINGTON, he said he felt IL to
be his duty TO submit some remarks
upon the bill. He would deal as fairly
ss he knew how. 1t was his opinion
il this measure. had been pressed on its
own merits, and considered on its own
merits, It could not pass the House.
There was nothing political in the bill
no gentleman will contend that II Is
OF a political character. There can be
nothing in such a measure, which is
purely q financial one, affecting all
alike, and q political character can only
be given to it by being improperly
forced into 1t.
rHB BILLS POLITICAL Aspect.
And, therefore, be argued, it is
strange that a purely political bias
hould, Gas l am afraid it has, be CIV
en- this measure. 1t is strange tnat
matters have come TO such q pass, that
on q measure relating to dollar and
csnts,t In which both parties are inter
ed, efforts should pe made to get the
gentlemen from the two lower counties
to vote, from a political standpoint, in
favor Of bill, which the representa-.
tives from Wilmington and q majority,
if not all, Of the New Castle deleg alton,
oppose. The matter 10 one refersing ia
Wilmington, alone.
Now, why is il that an attempt has
been made to inject politics into this
q question. Why should 1t not be left
to the discretion OF members as all 9th
er Wilmington bills we're. ltwas done
because there was opposition to the is.
cal bill. and tthere must necessarily
be political opposition. In its origin
it was not political and it WAS not polit.
ical when presented here. But 1t &C.
@ uired Its political aspect, not that il
v as political question but that q two.
third vote was required 20 pass 1t. Look
AZ the bill on its merits and | am con
ident that it will fail Of q two thirds
vote.
In regard to his own position Mr..
Bradford stated that at one time he had
been in favor Of the fiscal bill as against
what is known as the "borrowinS
scheme" which allowed the Temporary
borrowing OF money from year to year.
But after carefully examining II he
concluded that bstter one could
be formed which would accomplish the
end desired by the Asoal bill and avoid
its hardships.
| THR BORROWING OF MONEY
by Che City Council has been necessary
from year 10 year to bridge over a gal
betyeen the time OF the exhaustion .
the water rents and the collection 0
the city taxes. Let US suppose that tn
expenses OF tho city amounted to $400,
600. The water rents amount, We vii
suppose, 10 $4,000. 1t is impoesibl
for them to run the city until July
and the city has to borrow money
carry it on in the interval. This ha
led to great abuses. The practice hs
been to borrow money and give not
payable on August lst. Then, to NEE
this, another note would be given, an
80 on, until the meeting Of the Legisls
Iture, whom City CouDcil would com
here and have this floating debt adde
to the bonded debt Of the city, whio
has grown until the interest is burdeI
some.
1t is possible to lorrow money
bridge over this gap without II csstin
the citizens one cent, except for inteI
est for the short time its use is nscel
ssry. 1t can be borrowed in anticipi
tion of taxes coming in in July. Abor
$50, ,00S would he necessary, and whe
the taxes are levied the payment
this back in those taxes should be Col
sldsred, and the amount included
the $685., 900, yet to be raised, accor
ing to the computation Of the sity's @
psnses, which have made.
The bill sontemplates this in a ce
tain manner, which shall allude
further on, and has good object
! visw-the putting Of the city upon
cash basis. This is to be accomplish'
by changing the fiscal year, and ma
ling IL commence on the first Of jul
when all the city taxes COME in, viii
In connection with the water rem
will run 1t until the first OF the Ju
following.
! THE Bills BEFRCT.
But the bill has a vital defect. HI
We are confronted with this inter
between May, when the water tax
expire, and July, when the city tai
!, come in. After this year this will
done away with, but to meet the int
val this spring the city coupcil proI
v ses to borrow $60, 900 to bridge II ov
and mean that the people OF Wilmil
ton must pay that sum to be put OF
y. cash paying basis. shall have to
nay share Of the zee ,000, over q
- above oth.r taxes, which is to be Il
to meet ths expenses OF one year,
four equal instalments are to De 10
ed on three other years. | feel 90
T.. PEELED to oppose 1t, because this oan
,st avoided. This matter has bsen mi
Id q political qaestioa, but it will not
l \ - q I. ~