Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-10-28
THE GAYNOR BRIDES.
CLERK CHARLES n. M'WHoRTER
ASKED TO HOLD MONEY.

The systen said To he Almost wsrth.
Iess-How 10 was saddIed Upon the
City-Tbe OIo,ars Applied To Ia.
| Opponents One Man Failed TO Receive
His Thirty Pieces OF silver
There is almost universal complaint
that the 6synor Police Telegraph sigma
1 System of this city is not, and never has
been, what it WAS represented TO be
| when 1t was put in use here. IL becomes
worse as time passes, and those who are
familiar with the workings OF such sys
TENS say that it viii only be matter OF
| time before the whole system will have
| to be taken out and better system sub
stituted 1t is claimed that Il can never
be extended TO meet the demands of q
growing city.
At the present time there are not
enough booths TO enable the patFolmen
to properly perform their duties in the
department OF public safety, and yet,
with the city making rapid strides in
every direction, it will be impossible to
increase this number.
Taking the system as an entirety 1t has
never worked excepting in connection
with the Bell telephone, which is not a
part Of the system
It's defects are many The stable in
stIument has only worked at intervals
i The time stamp and clock at the central
Office have never worked. The flash
| lights and switches in the booths have
not fulfilled their purposes and do not
seem to be ft for use. The push buttons
in the booths do not make the proper con
nections and are almost worthless With
these principal features of the sysem
under condemnation there is little left to
rAcaiva public commentator but the
poles and wires
ahe Bond Missing
The city has no redress. The bond
between the city and the Gaynor people
is missing, and believed by many to have
been stolen by Gsynor agent. Be this
as it-may, when the city calls upon the
company to fulfill its three year contract,
II practically ignores the request When
the city threatens the Gaynor people can
point to the empty pigeon hole wherein
the bond should be-, and with ell of the
iusolonce OF Boss Tweed ask "Well.
what are you going TO do about it?"
Came Here Under Cloud.
The system came into this city under
\
charge was made In open session of City
Council that members OF the bodylbad been
bribed to vote for the Gaynor system.
There is no doubt that a strong and
paid lobby and the use of money saddled
the system upon the taxpayers.
When the adoption Of the system came
up ia council every effort was made TO
get time TO become thoroughly convinced
- ~ 20
WAS unceremonionsly voted down. The
blindfolded and bridled couneilmen would
not even allow the opponents OF the
racer" ten minutes TO substantiate their
claims that the system would not be
satisfactory to the people
Que member of the council arose with
q batch Of letters from places wherein
the system had been placed and proven
its dement's. He asked for time 90 have
them read. They were from the princi-
pal cities of the United States and Can
ada. They were calculated to throw
much light upon the matter This was
what the daynoT people feared The
whip was cracked, the motion was killed,
and the members rushed the matter
through under cover OF darkness. The
CRY seemed 10 be Vote for Gaynorl The
public be DID, Everything was
done by the friends OF the taxpayers TO
give the city the best system obtainable.
The combined influence Of its friends
and 8 well filled barrel was too much
for them TO cope with.
Brides we're offered. and in some in.
stances accepted IL is stated that the
position Of superintendent was promised
TO q man who Is prominently connected
with the electric plant Of this city, II he
would lend his influence TO the Gaynor
movement. He gave his influence, but
after he had helped saddle the system
upon she people be failed too receive the
reward promised him,
Mswhorter and the Bribers.
Another rumor Of still more startling
nature has been ahoat on the streets 1t
Is to the effect that sealed envelopes,
directed to eight members OF City Council
and containing money were placed In the
hands Of Clerk Of the Orphans Cour'
Charles H. McWhorter, and that as soor
as he knew what they we're for he re
fused to become party to the scheme.
An EVENING JOURNAL reporter inter
viewed Mr.. MeWhorter yesterday after
noon When asked If there was any
truth IN the rumor he said;
mo, the rumor is not true as yos
state it. was. admit, approached by
Gaynor agent. He came and asked me /
would hold money in the Gaynor interest
to be paid to persons who had earned IL
as soon a. the system was adopted b,
City Council declined, and said that
would not have anything TO do with II
de then teld me that il iwould do 8
there would be a pile In II for myself
J told him that ] would not become
party to the scheme
{ Since the adoption OF the system man
I such rumors have been afoat, but the
! have either been denied or suppressed
Time will probably bring them all 20 th
surface.