The daily gazette., 1883-05-16
DailuaE gnzette
WILMINGTON. WEDNESDAY,. MAY le
A Revolutionary Opposltion.


parment, in refusing, yesterday, to turn |
over the department TO the Water Commis- |
sion, in accordance with the demand made
oy the chairman of that body, has assumed
the attitude of revolutionary opposition to
the law of the State, and the City Council
will be equally lawless and revolutionary if
it sustains him in the position he has taken.
1t is no justification for the action of
these people that they consider the Water
Commission act passed BY the last Legisla-
ture to be unwise or unconstitutional. Even
admit ng that the law is an unwise mea-
sure, t demanded by the public interests,
and it affords no grounds for violently
opposing its provisions, while its con-
is question that neither the
CITY Council or the late Chief Engineer of
the Water Department have the power To
decide.
Thus far there has been no attempt to
contradict the broad assertion that he city
is but the creature of the Leg
islature, and that the latter body
has full power TO pass any Law per
tanning to our municipal govern
ment that in its wisdom it may see proper.
This principle has been admitted ever since
we had municipal existence, and the revo-
lutionary opponents of the present law can
not find within the bounds Of the State
lawyer of character and standing who will
risk his professional reputation by publicly
expressing an opinion to the contrary. The
Water Commission act is law Of the State,
and all proceedings in opposition TO its pro
visions are as revolutionary and uuwar-
ranied as though they were directed against
a law that had been standing unquestioned
upol our statute books for full century.
So much as to The legal aspect the con-
troversy The wisdom Of the law has been
fully demonstrated by past experience,
and the fact that it was desired by
a vast majority Of the people was amply at
tested By their general acquiescence- in the
action OF the Legislature. While hundreds
OF people petiuoned for the passage OF the
Commission act, scarcely citizen opposed
its passage, while some OF our heaviest tax
payers were open advocates Of the measure.
1t simply iuaugurates as permanent
tried several years ago as a temporary ex-
padient, with gratifying success aud com
plete satisfaction. Aud further. one Of the
members OF the Water Commission that go
faithfully attended to the work OF complet-
ing the Cool Spring Reservoir job on
which thousands Of dollars of the peoples
money had been squanderrd by incompetent
CRY C3unells-is a member OF the present
Commission, while mis- coueaZ ues
c,mprise practical mechanic and leading
manufacturer, aud gentleman whose ser
vices in the Water Department have been
almost gratuitousiy given to the city to
the past twenty-five years.
Under these circumstances the men VII,
violently resist the legal powers Of III
Water Commission are reyolutonists il
every sense OF the word. The Commissio
is creation OF the Legislature OF Dels
ware, duly authorized to act in IL
premises. In pursuance OF its Just power
il has elected a Chief Engineer OF the Wate
Department, ami made a formal demand 70
the possession Of the department from thos
who now have il in charge. Every ste
thus Tar male has been in strict conformit
with law, aud no attempt has been male b
the oppositiont to justify their violence turih,
than tue dimsy pretext that the law is ol
noXious to them ard unsatisfactory to Il
putlic.
The only reputable course for the CT
Council aud The late Chief Engineer of i
Water Department to pursue Is toquietly I
cede from the osition they have arbitrari
assumed and give up their unlawful posse
sion Of the department. II they desire
contest the Legality OF the Commission .
the courts are open Tor tn
purpose, but until its legality
suee ssiully assailei it is la
Of The State and they are bound TO respe,
It a. they woUli ary other statute.
Already The conflict Of authority b
caused confusion, and Is drpTiviug mar
people OF money justly due them for s.
vices rendered. 1.-THE unwise opposition
Longer continued more trouble will resu
and the iull responsibility will eventual
rest upon those VINO assume the role
reyolutiouis,s and assert the right 10 :
aside the lust pferogauyes Of the law-ma
ing power Of our Commonwealth.
s~--
AFTEK RETIREMENT Of ten years, n
William Magee, whose term Of service
Ex-Mayor Valentines force amply demo
strated his uufEuess Tor police duties,
braught fourth from ohscurity and given