The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-26
THE COUNTY FORCE BILL
CALLED THE FIVE COUNTY COM
MISSIONER BILL.
Purely Political acknowledgements
Want II simply to Keep Themselves
in Powcr-Their Argument in
Favor of 1.-THE BETTER lsie-
ment of Democrats OPP
POSED to II.


and what 1t really provides for much
interest has been manifested, border
Ing upon excitement in regard to 1t.
The large majority OF the people are
1iatly opposed to 1t, and the opposition
Is composed of the entire Republican
party OF New Castle county and the bet
ter and most Intelligent element of the
Democratic party. The "Roosters' OF
the latter, those who manipulate the
assessments and ran the tax Office dur
ing the late campaign are the strongest
advocates OF tho bill. As the Every
Evening, the leading Democratic paper
IN the city very justly remarks: There
has been entirely too much holding
back, star-chamber business thrown
about this Five Commissioners bill all
the way through, and there are hun
-dreds of very good Deinocrats in Nov
Castle county VINO do not like such
tactics
Such Democratic leaders as are
leaders for revenue only are favorable
to the bill. Patrick Neary and John r.
Dickey, who grew wealthy as tax col
leetOrs; William II. Lee, the man who
gerrynandered the city south of sixth
street into six wards, allsDemocratic,
and left all above sixth street, with
one-fourth more taxes, with five Re-
publican wards, and who for years has
been secretary OF the Board OF Health
through his own gerrymander; Ed
mund L. Kane, plumbing inspector at
$500 u year salary white the receipts
TO the city through his Office do not
run over 500 II year, and n number of
Others who run the Democratic party
and get in all the fine points OF dis
franchisement OF Republicans, are the
CHIEF sponsors OF the new Five County
Commissioner bill. These men are all
named for Office under the new law.
A few years ago the Democrats got
greedy to have another Democratic
ward south of Sixth street, as they did
not feel safe with the narrow margin
OF one Democratic ward more than the
Republicans had, and 50 they divided
the Tenth ward with its enormous
Democratic majority, took in Silver
brook and created tho Twelfth ward.
There was great disappointment and a
howl Of rage went up from the Demo-
cratic throat when this new ward went
Republican and has persisted in going
80 ever since. This and the ReDubli-
can uprising of last fall has com
pletely knocked all calculations OF the
Democrats for carrying the city elcc-
tion next June and clecting majority
of the City Council. Under this
change both Lee and Kane cannot
longer hold their offices, and hence
have become leaders for the Five
County Commissioner bill.
lee, with the repute of a ballot box
stuiIer, wanted to lie comptroller, but
Neary, II Is said, got tho drop on him
and knocked him ont hut whether
Neary, Dickey, Wier or any other
Democlal for revenue gets tho comp
trollership, Lee and Kane stand good
chances for clerkshipS under the
comptroller. They are looking out
for themselves and nre howling advo-
Gates OF the Five County Commits
6ioner bill. Indeed 1t is said thnt they
! and their like have been about the
only men that have been at Dover to
log-roll this business through.
Scores of lending Democrats who
believe that u Democrat who has no
Office Is aS good as one who has could
be named who oppose this bill, but
they do not want their names mem
fioned, owing to the persecution they
would meet with from the Neary-I.ee-
Schooner Long type OF tho party.
There is considerable anxiety mani
Tested in regard To the attitude of
Clerk OF the Pence Biggs towards the
bill, MIR. Biggs Is opposed to the bill
IN the iiist place on principle, and in
the second place because, pure and
tAS ~ Ailbt lIlltll'tttl, IL MOull
"knock him out of S4,500 OF the per-
quisites of his office as clerk Of the
Levy Court.
In measure to placate him It was
aftt fwards agreed to make him Clerk
OF the Board of Commissions with a
salary of $1,000. But this did moi pla
clte him. There was big difference
between 81, 200 and $500. According
to the Every Evening, good Demo-
cratic authority, II is now proposed to
make him the comptroller, but even
this will not abate his opposition to
bill that he looks upon AS an outrage
upon the people. The Biggs family
have influence and whatever may DO
said of them they have always been
men of the masses.
But why push this bill through so
hurrledlyY Here are the arguments
condensed and set forth by the Every
Evening, which with all candor and
justice must DO said, Is opposed TO
haste at least, if not to the bill in its
present shape.
necessity of such speedy action, it is
urged that self preservation demands
that the Democrats of Delaware shall
make use OF the weapons within their
grasp. The new Republican levy
court of New Castle County will 20
into operation on the first Tuesday Of
February. II this be permitted. the
court Will acquire statutory right to
take possession of the election mn.
chinery, which it may be difficult to dis |
possess 1t of. Meantime the Repubii- |
cans at Washington are straining every |
nerve to pass the Force bill. III they |
succeed in doing this, they will DO au- |
thorized To put II bayonet behind ev-
cry ballot in Delaware. With the |
Force bill at their back and the local |
machine in their hands, the Democrats |
OF Delaware might as well let the next |
election go by default, for they would |
have no show whatever against such |
an entrenched an INSCRIPTIONS foe.
Therefore, does not the law of self |
preservation demand that, now they |
have the power, they shall dlsaIm the |
enemy before he can pick up his |
weapons and strike them into the |
dust2 And, II we can do this by giving
the Republicans just what they asked |
for in their State platTorm-the choos- |
ing OF Levy Court Commissioners by |
districts in such a manner as to en- |
sur0 Just minority representation, |
are we not justified in doing this? And
.ls not the bill just in conceding to !
the Republicans the members from the |
Two proposed districts which they car |
fled In the election of November last? |
We think we have put this argument |
es forcibly as 1t well can be putt
What do intelligent and fair minded |
people think of such arguments for
the passage of the bill2 II Is virtually
acknowledged that the Republicans
can and world oara.y Natv CauIIa