Evening journal., 1893-12-06
TRUSTEES DEFENCE.
Mr.. Rodney Refuses to Serve
as Requested BY the Board.
WILL WORK WITH OTHER COUNSEL

Trustees Of the Common settle Down 90
Hard Work aud spend Busy Night 60
The Peoples Iutorests-AbIo Discourse
ON "rhe single Tax" BY orator Post. Of
New York Cit5-vessels Tied Up During
the storm.
Special Correspondence Evening Journal
NEw CASTLE. Dee 6 Trustee John H.
Rodney last evening declined to repre-
sent the Trustees Of the New Castle
Common in their defense of the sult
brought by the New Castle Water Works
Company for the appropriations amount
ing, now, 70 over SO GOO, and $4,000
annually thereafter This money Is
alleged 20 be due the water company,
according TO an ironclad contract made
by the trustees when the water company
constructed IT'S excellent plant here. Mr.
Rodney declined I'm frank letter which
was read before the bnard by Secretary
Ferris To it he stated that be could not,
oonscienuously, 60 ahead with the de
fense after one member of the board had
made au uncalled for and forocious attack
upon him for his action In taking up the
defense. In concluding his letter of res
iguation, Mr. Rodney intimates that the
trustees have good case, by saying
1T is my opinion that in making the
contract with the water company, the
Trustees Of The Common overreached
their powers.
lie recommends that a committee Of
three trustees be appointed 20 confer
with him In selecting associate counsel
at the meeting Of the trustees last
night Messrs Rodney, Ferris, Challen-
ger Mahoney. Toman Her6srt McGrory,
Wise. Borie Dalby and Morrison were
present. prepared for a breezy session
and none were disappointed ln fact,
during the session. the trustees rushed
out SO abruptly that Mr. Iomon gave
notice of resolution governing the
meetings OF the board.
Mr. Rodney was called upon to preside
In the absence of Dr Black, but he re-
tired FROM the room, calling Nr Mahoney
90 the chair when after transacting all
the important routine business. the
Rodney matter came up after the
attorney bad retired from the room,
Trustee Challenger made "a statement iu
which he said that he was The member
alluded TO 10y Mr rodney as having
made remarks about his taking up the
defe Sc of the suit against the trustees
"Mr Rodney has misunderstood ne.
Mr. President, hut TN make the motion
that the committee OF three. as b.
recommends, he appointed 90 confer
with him in selecting associate counsel
did remark uniavoably upon Mr. Rod
ney as our counsel in this suit, not that
] doubted in the least his ability to CON
duct the case. was merely speaking
for the taxpayers of our little common
wsal.h Now here is Or Black. our
president SIR Shaw, one of QUE best
members. Mg Rodney, who has been
selected to defend This board aud our
taxpayers directors and stockholders
Here we are, deciding to fight the water
company 90 the bitter end and ee our
selves aud our town from this burden
some t8Xation That's why / objected
20 SIR Rodney defending MS uuassistcd
And I siiii object and press the motion
for committee 90 help him select
asslciato counsel
The motion Vns carried and Temporary
President Mahouey sppointed Dr. Black
Mr Ferris and Mr McGrory as that
committee
Many OF the trustees expressed thtiI
distress that Mr Rodney had taken tho
step be did in declining TO serve alone
as counsel No attorney in the state ie
as well verssd In tine peculiar laws gov
erning the Trustees OF che Common and
city of New Castle. and none under.
stands more thoroughly the sentiment
% The people of New Castle on the
water company appropriation Nearly
all the trustees had implicit confidence
IN him Tie owns but small amount of
stock DO the water company, no more
than scores Of other prominent citizens
who are now fighting against the COM
pany.
Busy with other Matters.
Daring the early part Of the evening
and while Mr Rodney presided. much
business was transacted Bills for farm
repairs aud Improvements, approved by
the Acting Committee, were ordered
paid, as we're also the city and county
taxes, amounting together TO about
$500
Secretary Ferris made the report OF
the Sudden departure of Tenant Rob-
ert Montgomery, who pulled up stakes
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