Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-07

meeting OF the Board OIL fafK COmmlS-
sioners in regard to the manner of the
acquisition by the commission of certain
land to be added to Brandywlne Park.
The whole matter has been for some
time known to the public. The accepted
idea has been that the commissioners
had shown they were thoroughly straight
In the whole transaction from its first
inception TO the final securing of the
property for public purposes. Tues
days discussion developed nothing in |
the direction of charges of malfeasance. |
The discussion was a very stormy one, |
but its highest point developed simply |
the accusation by the mayor that the |
chairman of the Park Commission, who |
Is also the chairman of the executive |
committee is, in common parlance, a one
man power.
The commissioners who were present
at the meeting were the president,
William M. Candy, Mayor Shortlidge,
William Candy, William P. Bancroft,
George w. Bush, Francis N. Buck and
Dennis J. Mention.
Mr.. Mention asked permission to retire.
This was granted and Immediately the
president brought up the matter Of the
two lots. On June 18th last Council
passed an ordinance authorizing the
commission to buy two tracts of land
for park purposes. The commission
was to pay for them "a sum equal to
the price paid by the present owners
with interest and taxes added" but the
purchase money was not to exceed the
sum of $4,000 The commission was
given power to borrow the money which
was to be repaid on or before August
LIST, 1894.
Tract No. was bought on March
18th, 1899, more than year before the
board was given power to buy the land
from Mary Forman Day of Baltimore
was bought by Mary F. Day from John
f. Carswell and wife in 1888 for 81, 500.
Tract No. Q was bought few days
before tract No. was purchased, show
ing that both the lots had been bought
more than year before the board had
power to buy the land. Tract No. 2 was
owned by Kirk Thompson and wife and
was purchased by Candy and Mention
for $4,000. The property was bought
by Kirk Thompson in 1885 from Thomas
Starr for $500.
The ordinance of June 10Th, 1898, de-
scribed tract No. / as 1.-THE lot of land
bounded by Adams, Wawaset and
Jackson streets and the south long race"
and tract No. Q as "The lot of land
bounded by jackson, Wawaset and Van
Buren, streets and the south long race"
The money to acquire the property
was borrowed from the Equitable
Guarantee and Trust Company. totals
$14,O62.14. This shows an item Of
$62.l4 above the authorization OF
Council.
President Candy presented to the
board Tuesday certification of trans
fer from the owners to City Council fol
the purchasing sum, $l4, 062.14. Mr.
Candy asked the mayor TO sign the GER
tifcate Mayor Shortlidge declined tc
do SO, stating that it is not in accord
ancc with the ordinance passed by City
Council.
Then a somewhat heated discussion
ensued, Mr.. Candy charging the mayo
with conducting policy of revolution
izing things ever since he had becom,
member of the board. He added tina
the mayor had attended only few
meetings of the commission and that h
Is member of tho board only by virtu
Of his office.
Mayor Shortlidge rejoined: II wa
elected by majority of the votes o
the people of this city, and have RICH
here. | do not come here as an ap
pointee represent the masses of tn
people. When / first came into th
meeting of the commission and made
few suggestions about cleaning up th
parks and holding conference wit
The City Railway Company to see if col
could not be run down to the park,
was set upon and not treated right
lm here in the interest of the people
The masses-and | am going to see tina
their interests are protected while i cal
| do not represent those people VIII
have horses and carriages and who ca
drive. Those people do not care Ger
for the park, and they are the people til
commission are working for. I'll
masses Of the people have no carriage
and | want them to have some plac
clean and nice, where they can spend
Say. These are the people who wal
The park. think the members of IL
Park Commission have neglected the
duties by referring almost every thir
10 the executive committee, which hi
Deen running the Park Commission"
President Candy replied to the effe
that he and Mr.. Mention had purchase
The park lands at the lowest prices o
,ainable, and he did not see where ar
criticism laid.
Messrs. Bancroft and Bush strong
deprecated any criticism of the cour
,f the president and Mr.. Mention.
i The mayor then expressed his opinit
hat the way the commission is purca
ing land for the driveway is an outra
IN the people. Mayor Shortlidge thu
rave the following as his reasons for
filming to sign the transfer certiticat
First, he did not know how the mon
was to be paid, whether by taxation
through the sinking fund. Second, t
Park Commission, which had the pow
mould have had commission OF &C
lemnation named to assess damages,
n 10 paid through the sinking fund. Thl
le did not see at this time any dema
M or theexpenditure of the money. Thu
"A we're only few persons to use the N
Dad. Fourth, he thought that the pr
lie should be relieved, in the pres,
condition of affairs, from paying
money. Fifth, he thought the price p'
vas exorbitant when the current pr
If property was considered"
To this Mr.. Canbys reply was,
Mayor Shortlidge does not sign the C
jticate he can be made TO sign by ID
do not propose to be kicked around
he city any longer"
Following another warm discussi
X he mayor added that he is satisfied
pmmission is not run properly. l
OF run by the commission but by
n kecutive committee.
M When the commission adjourned