New-York tribune., 1883-06-19
THE DELAWARE SENATORS.

iFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
| WILMINGTON, Del. June 1S.-This community
is much disturbed over the conflict between the
Republican City Council and non-partisan"
| Democratic Water Commission which is composed
OF Cesar A. Rodney. Republican, and William L.
| Porter and Lewis Poynter Democrats, and which
was created by the last General Assembly of Della
ware for the ostensible purpose of purchasing
S1SOOOO worth of additional water rights for the
| city. The Commission, however, was really intend
ed as means of giving II. B. McIntire, the
Democratic boss Of this city, and Senator Bay
ards trusted lieutenant and confidential fnend the
| position Of chief engineer of the Water Depart
| ment. from which he had been removed by the Re-
| publican Council of 1882.
The history of the case follows:
| George. II. Bates an able Democratic lawyer
son OF Chancellor Martin Bates, was elected
to the General Assembly of 1888 from this city.
He went to Dover determined to at the hands
| of Senator Salisbury who for twenty years has
controlled the representatives OF the two lower
counties equitable representation for this county
| and city, The fact is that $4,000 people in New
Castle County and Wilmington have only one-half
as many representatives as the $4,000 people of
Kent and Sussex have. and this Unequal
ity to certain degree. has existed
for at least thirty years. Senator Bay
ard, whose political existence depends upon
this inequality, since Newcastle County and Will
mington are Republican in sentiment, has never
opened his mouth about it; but for the sake Of his
sea. IN the United States Senate, has permitted the
Sausburys, under the Constitution of 1880. to
deal out the patronage of the State. Wilmington
included, without protest
MAKING PLACE FOR A DEMOCRATIC BOSS
Nr. Bates thought that he saw an opportunity
TO supplant Mr. Bayard in the affections of the
h.r. -.
In the Lower House of the General Assembly of
which he was the presiding officer providing for
popular representation for Wilmington. The bill
received support whatever from his party associ-
ates aud finally killed. Mr.. Bates discovered
his mistake, and during the remainder Of the egis-
latiye session did his best to serve Mr. Bayard's
interests and friends.
Hence, when e1-Chief Engineer McIntre.
presented his water commission scheme he found
ready advocate in Mr.. Bates The bill became a
law. and ABOUT the 1st of May tho Commission or
ganized and at once depo'ed the RepubI lean
engineer David III. Coyle, aud elected Mcln tire In
his place. Mr. COyle refused TO surren der his
position, acting in this respect upon the al vice of
the ablest legal counsel IN the State. aud the C.
publican majority IN the Council backed him up.
THE cONsTITUTIoNALITY OF THE WATER ACT.
1t was found that the Water Commis-
sion Act. which was hurri ed through
the Legislature without allowing any
body in the opposition to see its provisions before
hand did not require the Commissioners to pay
the bonded debt which the city from time 20 time
had incurred in relation TO its water works nor did
IL require them to give personal security for the
trust, involving a bonded debt OF almost 100000,
and several hundred thousands of dollars worth of
property which the act proposed to place in their
hands
The City Council at once raised the question
"a " fafe
thus shift the bonded obligations OF city from its
Council 10 an irresponsible Commission, and holders
of Wilmington water bonds, who live in other |
States have also declared their intentions 10 test
the question in the United States courts. The act |
OF tho Water Commission requires tho Council to |
pay $4,000 annually as" tax on hre-pugs
The Commission passed orders for tine payment Of |
Mr. MclDtirs and all tho employees of the Water |
Department, excepting Mr.. Coyle, but the treasurer
refused to sign these orders and the Union
National Bank refused TO honor them. THIS |
was only the beginning OF long squabble over
the question OF salaries.
THE POSITION OF THE REPUBLICANS APPROVED.
The Democratic members Of the Water Commis-
sion about month ago seriously talked of calling
out the militia through the authority OF the Cover
nor who is in sympathy with them; but as the an
nual municipal election was at hand they were
afraid TO DO so. The late election held
on June was contested on this
issue, aud the Republicans won decided
victory The Council stands thirteen ton in their
to the coSrs and hs om%S % is nGT
anxious 10 see II there. The Democratic politicians |
expect TO win before the Court of Final Appeal, in
which Chancellor Willard Salisbury pTesdes. Such |
Republican lawyers of the State as Anthony Ilig- |
gins, BENJAMIN Nieds Nathaniel b. Smithers
and William q. spruance think that the
act IL invalid upon the ground that
II violates the contracts OF the city. |
Tho opposition to the Commission IL greatly
by the fact that the same time that
4 fhRFa not aagI ntsnr
ing the Republican Mayor OF this city, John L.
Waies. OF an poweras city magistrate and
Court to which Walter Cumniugs. a Democratic
lawyer. has been appointed as Judge" by the
Governor for term of twelve, years. thus taking
from the city all power of electing its own local
magistrate.
Many of the Democratic politicians have beon
urqng an extra session OF the Legislature for tho
purpose Of amending the Commission act so as Ito
make 1t hold water and City solicitor Henry Clay
Turner has openly boased that the next Legislature
icans are determined 10 fight the matter to the last
and the business men and manufacturers OF
are anxious TO have the validity Of the State Gov
ernment tested. They contend hat Legislature as
organized to-day, according TO Wilmington. which
contains one third of the entire population of the
State, only two Representatives out of the
thirty composing the Legislature IS not q
constitutional body and that it has, there
government OF this city and county. The people OF
Wilmington are seriously discussing whether the
~ |
competent TO make laws for Newcastle County.
WHAT SENATORS BAYARD AND SALISBURY ARE
STRIVING FOR.
Day by day the Republican newspapers here are
eviewing the history of the State since the futile
Peoples Convention of 1852, aud they are paying
attention to the acts of the Legislature
lurng the last ten years, during which Senators !
salisbury and Bayard have been directing
ho political legislation of the State. !
They taking the ground that the |
'al Court is n part OF general policy the part L
4 Messrs. Salisbury, Bayard, Bates and Gruble to {
hift the whole power of the people of this city to