Evening journal., 1891-01-27
DISCUSSING THE BILL,
E. G. Bradford Against 1t and
H. c. Turner for 1t.
GREAT INTEREST MANIFESTED.

Bl0nefB-hAs turner's = atronE argument
in It's Behalf-Another Bill.
STAFF Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER. Jan 26.-Ihe greatest interet
OF TO day centered in the publlcdiscussion
of the Five Commissioners bill The town
was full of Democratic politicians from
New Castle county, from levy court
men who favor q continuance OF the Levy
Court of eleven members, as it now ex-
lists, to Nathaniel Williams Of Middle
town, who wants it reduced to three
commissioners
Among the politicians from New
Castle county who are interested in the
measure, the following were noticed in
the State House. in the hotel corridors
and on the streets: John L. Malone, w.
Pierce Biggs, James r. Shallcross, J.
Wilkins Cooeh, Nathaniel Williams,
John A. Mitchell, r A. Sturgeon. S j.
Mccall, Thomas McCrscken, r. T. Cam
Jr., w. E Smith, A, 5. Eliason, G. Il,
Salmons, A. g. Cleaver. r P. CRrnagy,
William II Lee, Frank D. Carpenter, j
H. Whiteman, Brarch F. Giles, Thomas
]. Day, E F. Kane. Patrick Neary, John
F. Callahan, 81. D. Hickman. j. NJ. Solo
man, John Biggs. Horace Johns5n. Archie
Given. John H. Rodney, A s. Hurlock,
l. $ Adams. Jr. b + Townsend, j. j.
Dougherty. Thomas Toy, George w.
Mckee, g. G Turner, C. w. Crossan. w
+ Smalley, w L Wier, e g. Bradford,
Watson X Sperry, Marshal MahafIy, f.
Eden Bach, Sheriff William Simmons
and Pierce Gould
Public Discussion.
At 8. 40 o'clock this evening the Hall Of
Representatives was filed with members
and friends Of all modes OF county re-
forms. The lobby was full Of spectators
and even the floor Of the House was we'll
filed.
Speaker Of the Senate Donahoe was
made president Of the meeting. After
he TOOK the stand he said
GENTLEMEN. 1T has been announced
and requested that a public hearing be
given TO the bill, SO that everything
favorable OF unfavorable to It may be
brought forth The meeting is now open
to any discussion that may be offered
It is In order for any gentleman here 10
yentilate his views
Fer several minutes no one spoke. At
length there was a feeble cry for
Bradford In response to this demand
f g. Bradford of Wilmington, took the
floor Ee said:
"Mr Speaker and Gentlemen: address
you With considerable embarrassment for
for two reasons. The first is that hold
professional relations with the members
elect Of the Levy Court OF New Castle
county. The second Is that I am address.
ing body that does not hold the same
views as myself But l eau only present
briefly my sentiments as to the reason
Why the Legislature should defeat this
measure. / have always advocated 4
commissioners bill for New Castle county.
/ am still in favor Of county reform, and
the adoption Of some measure by whicl
the Levy Court Of New Castle county
will cease 70 be a political machine AMI
become a financial body entrusted with
| the finances Of New Castle county The
proposed bill Is altogether obnoxious.
| From time immemorial the people oi
the several counties il this state have
| enjoyed the right of local self govern
ment A right which they have held
| sacred as q right to tax themselves foI
! county purposes through their chosen
county officers They have done it as a
| psrt Of the system of local self-govern-
ment The most glaring part of this
measure is that it disregards that policy
/
which local self government has giver
us, aud puts in the hands Of the gov
ernor 60 appoint offers who will tax tbs
people for four years I submit to you
| gentlemen Of the Legislature that it Ii
going a little 90 far, to wreat from til,
people of New Castle county or any other
county, the right to tax themselves bJ
their own locally chosen officer:
] hEi nd hi
necessities and TO vest ia the governor
OF the state. or central power of the
| state, the power to create a board who
shall continue in power for four years
aud who, whatever shall be the demand.
Of the county. shall have the power tC
say to the people Of the county that they
| propose to tax you as they see fit II
seems 10 me that that is a very glarina
defect in this bill We have alread :
heard much of the commissioners that
have been appointed in the city of VIII
mington, but it does seem 10 me to be
necessarily dangerous for its teachings
in the future 1t does not seem necessary
| that the Levy Court should con
tinue in office for two or four years.
/ But | do submit that it is the
part Of wisdom and fairness thai the
cclrt which has been chosen BY the
the people should be allowed to be seated
and constitute the taxing body of that
county They should be allowed to ts1
the people until the people who are q
be taxed shall say that they prefer tc
have others or another system. In other
words, think it only fair that when the
people OF the county ask that they be
taxed by officers they have chosen, it /:
the duty of the officers TO do it and not
to allow others to do it.
/ am aware that there are some gentle
men of opposite political views who thinH
that the Re publican body which has beer
elected will use the offices to political
advantage. All have to say in regard
to that Is that am opposed. and alway.
have been opposed to the administration
of that system In such way that ], 00(
voters can be retained on the list and
| /, 900 others left off. If there are any
such fears may say that so far as an
concerned strike out that power which is
now vested in the Levy Court OF New
Castle county. Let the Legislature make
the Levy Court purely hnancisl body
that will exist for the financial interests
of New Castle county. Yes, strike out
that power Strike QUO that clause. Let
our Levy Court Of New Castle county tar
all alike, and then the argu
ment of my Democratic friends
who say that the Levy Court will be used
TO political advantage, will fall harmless
to the ground. / can conceive of no rea
son. politically or otherwise, why the
choice of the people of New Castle shall
be ignored and thrown to the four winds