Evening journal., 1890-10-28

! longer under this delusion, they had Q
full month OF the legislative session OF
1893 within which 10 repeal the act. OF
course, If the Democratic party con-
trolled these two Legislatures, whatever
course they took would be denounced by
the Republicans, and they would endeavor
to make political capital ont Of it. This
shows more than anything else that from
beginning to end the one idea of the
Republicans in this matter was to delude
the people BY false pretences Of reform.
How did the Democratic Senate meet
tho questions thus unfairly forced upon
themf
They at once employed men to sit up
night and day and draft for them meas
ure which would in their judgments
meet the demands of the tax payers and
as result there was produced what is
known as the Five Commissioners Bill.
It's chief characteristics were that
New Castle County was divided
into five districts and each dis
trict was to elect its own commits
sioner, thus insurlng minority repre-
aentation in the body A provision was
made FOR ptroller, who was to be
elected by the people for term Of four
years. II was made his duty to examine
and approve every bill and every con
tract to which the county was party.
No bill could be paid without his ap-
proval, nor could the price Of any con-
tract be fixed or paid until he was salts
fed it was in every way honest and fres
from every suspicion Of frAnd Whom
ever he decided adversely to a claim, the
claimant had the right Of appeal to the
Superior Courb. The bill also required
great strictness and publicity in the
keeping OF accounts
These we're the salient features of the
Five Commissioners bill.
The Republican leaders made two OBJ
jeetions TO the bill.
Their FIRST objection was to that part
Of the bill providing for comptroller.
They objected to this provision not
withstasding the fact that it provided
for the very restrictions to the expendi-
tures Of county funds for which they had
so loudly clamored. The reason they
gave was that the comptroller had too
much power, and this in the face Of the
fact that any one aggrevied by the comp
trollers decision, had the right to appeal
TO the Superior Court.
Their other objection was that the
county was not fairly districted. That
the provisions of the bill woHld give all
the districts to the Democrats. The
Democrats in the Legislature met this
by saying to the Republicans Gentle
men, make tho districts to suit your.
selves, and then we win see II we cannot
agree to them. The Republicans then
said they weFe opposed to districts of
any kind, thus again showing their real
intentions, and again that they were not
honest IN their talk about reforming the
fiscal machinery of the county.
Ever since there has been Republi-
can party in Delaware its members have
been crying for district representation,
and here. when they were told to dis
trict the county as they pleased they
said they did not want It dlstricted.
II the Five Commissioners BILL pro-
posed by the Democrats, had passed the
Republican House, the sitizens Of this
county would next week vote for the
officers therein provided for and also for
a comptroller, TO guard more closely the
public expenditures.
The above calm statement is submit
ted for the Judgment Of the people.