Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-07
THAT DONAHOE AMENDMENT.

Iilhi pONhiiUL nHltHDHINis
How the Speakers Demagoguery Is Re-
garded by Representative Democrats
SIT is Hatched in Corruption and With
out Doubt for a Purpose
The remarkable "Donahoe amend
ment" to the 100000 Wilmington
street improvements enactment, now
that it is better understood by the COM
munity, is receiving condemnation
roundly from every side.
1t is criticised as so much catch penny
claptrap used by the senator Tor the
temporary purposes OF personal aggran-
dizement. Its apparent intentions were
J to aid the workingman and the people
/ of this community generally. 1t is now
| clearly seen that such an enactment,
! were it passed, would be suicidal to
| Wilmington's commercial future. 1t
would put us supon the black books in
all manufacturing and commercial
centres. All big contracts would be
driven from Wilmington and the com
mercial prosperity of the city would be
| imperiled. The past weeks reflection
! upon the question in all its various
| phases, as applied to this city, has
caused thinking citizens to come to this
conclusion, and the specious arguments
| of Senator Donahoe are now condemned
as being directly opposed to the present
and future business outlook of Will
mington.
This is the understanding on the
streets to-day as to how the enactment
would affect us. Numbers of citizens
are outspoken in their indignation over
such political shortsightedness as was
exemplif5d by the senator representing
the metropolis Of Delaware The general
demand is that he Immediately retrace
his steps and withdraw the dangerous
legislation he has SC. thoughtlessly of
| fered.
Various citizens were interviewed by
| THE GAZETTE reporter Monday morn
ing and the following expressions of
opinion were gathered
President William L. Porter of the j.
Morton Poole Company, on being asked
to state how he viewed the "Donahoe
amendment" spoke, without hesitation,
as follows: "rhe amendment is CON
trary to public policy; it is contrary to
Democratic principles, What is equally
bad it opens the door to jobbery and
corruption. 1t is an open invitation for
rings TO combine and conspire for the
express purpose of cheating and
knavery and of bleeding the public
purse.
at is Matched in corruption and, with
out doubt, for purpose. 1t places the
city of Wilmington at disadvantage in
that it is by this amendment precluded
from going into the open market for
material.
This city is supported, It must be re-
membered, almost entirely from bust
ness solicited and secured outside of the
State of Delaware, having the world to
compete with and when it once becomes
known that such bill is passed by the
Legislature it could not otherwise but
result in way detrimental to the inter-
ests Of the city.
''The amendment is silly. In itself it
Is simply ridiculous. Instead of bring
ing work to Wilmington it would drive
it away. Any self-respecting commits
sion would never ask for these bonds to
be issued under the terms of such an
amendment.
81 look upon Speaker Donohoe's
course as a demagogue's cry to catch the
popular ear.
"Did the commission accept bids and
prosecute the work the results would be
so serious to the public purse; what
would be accomplished would be done
at such high rate of increased prices
compared to what might have been
acquired in an open competition market
for the various contracts, that it is my
opinion that impeachment would lie at
somebody's doors for such reckless and
Intentional wastefulness of the public
funds. The amendment also opposes
the terms of the enactment forit would
prevent open competition for the best
and the cheapest material"
Andrew q. Wilson was seen Monday
morning at his office at the Harlan IL
Hollingsworth Company's works.
Mr.. Wilson also was very emphatic in
his opinion upon the "Donahoe amend
ment."
He said, "It would hamper all the
manufacturers of Wilmington in their
efforts to secure trade and work for
Wilmington, Our manufacturers are
entirely dependent on outside sources
for their business. In view of that cir
cumstance such an enactment should
never appear ON the statute book. 1t is
also unwise because it puts us in a
position preventing us from making oui
purchases in the cheapest markets. OF
|
Wilmington. 1t cannot come from any
, where else" Mr.. Wilson closed his
, remarks by expressing his opposition to
the "Donahoe amendment" as a very
unwise piece of legislation.
Dennis J. Mention was also seen. He
said: wilmington is the last city in
the world that can afford to be tram
meled by such legislation as that of the
'Donahoe amendment
We depend altogether on outside
sources for our business existence Sup
pose other communities should retaliate
, upon us with similar legislation. Did
they do so it would be commercial
death to us. Several years ago you may
, remember, western business men retail
, ated in that way on Philadelphia when
, at.city gained some prohibitive legisla-
ton of this Donahoe nature. Philadel-
, phia got bad name for it and it took
! her several years of wiser business
course before she recovered her standing
in western commercial circles.
Besides this the amendment would