The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-16

Buncoed Bin.
There Is no knowing TO what extent
the people of Delaware have been
'1Bill Lee'd"by the late Legislature I'M
t|l they come 10 make application and
tb enforce the laws that have been
passed. 1t seems now that when it
was thought MIR. j. Edward Addicks
was eiIectually squelched in his Of
forts 10 force his Hydrogen Gas
company on 20 the citizens of Will
thington, by o refusal Of tho Legisla-
ture to extend the charter under
which he was operating, he had anoth-
DR. harmless looking little bill put
through that gives him all the privi-
ieges and rights that he possessed I'M
der the old charter. The bill has no
Beniblance whatever 10 a corporation
net, neither the name Of the company
nor the name OF an incorporation
being named In it, but it was Just a
harmless looking cat in the meal
tub' affair to extend the time for re.
pording private acts, and nobody ever
dreamed that Il was loaded with oxy-
hydrogen gas or that Addicks was in
it at all.
The old charter would have expired
April 3, 1893, but this new "Bill Leed'
net passed February o, 1891, 1t is claimed
gives 1t a 20 years lease OF life. There
fsnot the slightest doubt that the legis-
lature has been tricked Into passing
the bill which all will agree is no cred
1t to 1t, and yet 1t is almost amusing
to see how easy our law makers were
buncoed. But there is still serious
side to this matter, which may cost the
people of Wilmington dearly In the
end. The oxy Hydrogen Company,
represented by Mr.. Addicks, having
spent over hundred thousand dollars
In the erection OF their plant, will DO
DESTROYS Of realizing upon the outlay
and will, no doubt, force matters. The
company has already been forestalled
by the Street and Sewer Commission,
shutting it out from using the streets
of the city for the laying of pipes. 1t
IS supposed that the Commissioners
are still Of the same mind and will 70
sist any attempt OF Mr.. Addleks' Com
pany to tear up the streets they have
gone to SO much expense to pave ant
repair, when the case must then in
evitably come before the Courts fol
adjudication, and every body know:
how costly thing law is to a city Of
county.
The people of Wilmington are les
disposed at this time to tolerate com
petition in gas than ever before. Tbs
old Wilmington Gas Company never
servel them with gas cheaper than i
h now doing and though it might b,
better, it is Of fairquRhty. 1t is doubt
full il there s a city In the Union oil
the size of Wilmington, and with bu
one company where gas Is served
cheaper, and the question Is woul
competitive company serve gooC
gas cheaper. But composition II
gas is quite different from competl
ton in nearly every other branch 0
dustry. L is not like that wnol,
some opposition in trade that We en-
courage In manufacture OF ma .Ainer
In curs, AMI in trade in general
a. co paaies arc cRmbersurn
things To andle and are composed {
81 II cry kind Of stock, especially wher
there is active composition. 'lhsy OIL
more Of the bull ami bear urde
eld whether the bulls or the bears AZ
up ermost the people haze to pay til
cost OF the fight.
Il we vera sure TO have two we
= snlated gas companies fuIni-liu
good gas a. low figures, with moo
crate pr lit to tile stockholders, W
would ct then look with such ave
sion upon Mr.. Addiclta and his ne
project, bus we have no assurance q
this. 1t Is more than probable thi
Wi uington would be yictimized III
cthor cities have been, Two comp
mics woald Struggle along awhile +,
exis ence and then one would sell OF
O. the other tho stock would he "
tered aud there being no eomPetitio,
the price OF gas would he raised
pay for the w'1tered stock. The poop
OF Wilmington want to escape this {
lemma.
IL THE death OF Alexander Kelley,
man has passed away who wus
great benefit to the city Of Wilmiui
ton. 1t Is a great deal to say when
m1n departs from earth in the fu
vipeuess of years, that lie h
bssn great benefit TO his country
large, his State, hts county, his cit
but this can truthfully he said of NJ
Kelley. Whether in the business d
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