Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-29
rowNsEND sRtDen siLL.
The Levy Court Enters an Emphatic
Protest Against His PRSsnxe.

TOwNsEND BRIDGE BILL.
the Levy Court Enters am Emphatic
Protest Against nts Passaxe.
A special meeting OF the levy court was
held a. the county court house Tuesday
morning 10 take ofaeiAl action concerning
the Townsend Bridge bill, measure now
pending bsiors the Legislature, the pro-
visions Of which require this county 70
pay b. Frank Townsend and
others $4,000, the amount Of their
voluntary subscriptions some years since,
toward the erection of the Third street
bridge. Every member Of the court was
In attendance, and President 6hsllcross
occupied the chair.
After brief explanation - 10 the pur'
pose Of the meeting was made, the fol.
lowing resolutions we're presented and
passed by unanimous vote:
WHERKAs, There Is now pending before the
Legislature bill to make II obligatory on the
levy court Of New Castle county to pay certain
persons q cum Of considerable magnitude for
alleged claims against the county In oonnec.
ton with what Is known as the Third street
bridge claim therefore, be It
Resolved That the opinion OF the levy
court ia that the claim is not valid one and
that our senator's aud representatives be
earnestly requested to oppose the passage OF
said bill.
Resolued, That Attorney General Gray be
instructed to proceed TO Dover, taking with
him the protest Of the levy court against the
passage Of the Third Street Bridge bill now
pending before the Legislature, and he be
instructed to earnestly work and protest
against the passage of said bill, taking also
with him the proceedings OF the former levy
court in regard 10 this bridge and also the
resolutions Of the levy court Of the year 1888.
The following protest in addition to the
resolutions was also presented, unAni-
mously passed and signed by all the
members Of the court:
WHEREAS, There is now pending before the
General Assembly bill obligatory and man
datory on the levy court Of New CASTLE county
compelling the said levy court TO return the
sum $4,000 voluntary contribution TO the
building Of . bridge at or near Third street,
in Wilmington hundred. The act for the
building said bridge was passed at Dover,
March Goth, 1867, section 8 Of said act That
the levy court Of New Castle county 1
shall not make any appropriation
raid bridge, until the whole amount
OF the estimated cost of such construction
shall have been raised by voluntary subscup
tion and paid or secured TO be paid, &o, =
Now, therefore, the former levy court carried
out the law rs passed, and the voluntary sub
scriptions having been paid We cannot, in oul
| Judgment. conceive any justice or right thai
the present levy court should be called upon
to return the same. We, therefore, earnestly
protest against the passage of any act in re
lation to the same.
sERioK F. sHALLoRoss,
Chairman.
L. FRANK ELLISON,
CHRISTIAN FEBIGER,
EDMUND HANNAH,
JAMRs II. MAoKEY,
HENRY O. MAHAFFy,
GEoRaE O. RoTHwELL,
Amos SHAMELESS,
SAMUEL SILVER,
JAMES I. TAYLOR,
Levy Court Commissioners.
WILMINGTON, Jan. 9th, 1885.
The sentiment Of all the members Al
expressed at the meeting as we'll ss 10 tn,
vote upon the resolution was emphati
oElly in opposition TO the measure aud Il
the effect that the pending bill vas 81
unjust one and its passage would be
matter Of the greatest iIjuBtice TO tn
citisCns Of New Castle county.
|
The claim OF Mr.. Townsend and hi
associates is briefly That they con
tributed the sum At ist ue-Amountipg 4
41S, 060-with the Distinct understanding
shat should the bridge turn cut to be-
public necessity the money would be- re
funded 10 hem. No suoh stipulation
nor any thing resembling 1t, 10 to be toun
on the records OF the levy court bu
Mr.. Tow nsend claims that this WAS o
omission due TO the negligence or hos
tility Of the man whose duty 1t was
keep this record.
The Third Street Bridge bill Ia MOI
before the Legislature for the fourth time
having been turned down no less tina
three times by previous Lesisli
lures. Its hackers have claimed to hAv
the incoming levy court, which come
into power next Tuesday, "set up"
act In accordance with the mandate
the bill, provided the same gets throug
tie Legislature. ......
For a popularity Of this bill is that
is a legislative mandAmus, not "Autho
zDg," empowering" or requesting,
but "dirsoting" the levy oJurt Of tn
county to do thing which 1t ard its pr
!, decessors have explicitly refused TO
herstofore-repAy TO B. r. Townsend 81
others certain moneys subscribed by the
. toward the erection Of Third street bridg
,, These subscribers were: