The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-02

tCominunicatej.1


I notice that several communica-
tfons have appeared in the press of
this city concerning the construction
OF sewers, under the Act to be found
~ Vol. 10, Chapter 200. of the Laws of
d laware. am in favor Of sewers.
b At / am opposed to an unjust and
tyranlcal law; there is no equity In the
law. anu under said law the rights of
free American citizens are usurped
with impunity. Let us see how the
matter stands. The directors of the
Street and Sewer Department have
borrowed S500,060 to construct SOW
ers; the property owners pay the in
terest on this money. whether they
have the benefit OF sewer or not.
They have no say about how their
money Is to he used. This Is at the dis
erection of the department to say
where and when sewer is to be con-
Quoted, and the kind of \ sewer need
ed is ali in the hands OF the directors
of the department. 1t matters not
whether the property owners are re NY
or able, or in need of a sewer, they
have no say, but a sewer is construct
ed in front of rs property on Searles
street, width OF lot is SO feet, On
, this lot is frame building which rents
for ten dollars per month, when IL Is
rented, and can be collected. The
sewer is constructed without the
knowledge of H. A bill is rendered for
500 for SO feet.
Now, the property on the opposite
side OF the street most certainly pays
sec for the privilege or this sewer,
making sl32 paid for the use of this
sewer. Neither II, or the property
owner opposite are able to employ a
plumber and tap this sewer. Tor that
would cost at least $50 more for each
ownor of the property opposite this
sewer, but tho department. has theiI
money and cares nothing for the
rights OF the people, rs under this law
their rights have been taken away by
Legislative enactment. According tc
section of the act the directors pay
two-iifths of the cost and the property
owner three-llfths. According to this
the sewer must cost for RS property
$92 d2. Deduct two-fiths and you
have S26 40 the directors paid and SCI
the property owner II. paid, making
500. 40 for the sewer, and the property
opposite paid 500 40 also; this would
be 1854 SO for 81 feet OF sewer.
This looks like an enormous price,
and believe 1t is Section 3 of the
act says all assessments shall be made
upon the properties abutting upon
that portion Of any street or highway
lane or alley, in which any public
sewers may be constructed under this
provision, ut the rate OF fifty cents for
each front foot of such property upon
such street, etc. Now, for 50 feet, II.
would be assessed but $500. but this
Is not all. r.. is assessed for more thai
each square foot OF such property be
tween such streets;this is for paving
| suppose.
can't see where the equity comes
in, but this | do know, the Street AM
Sewer Department, nor the City Coun
ell can assess property for paving tht
public highway. nor can the Legisla
turo grant any such power. Thu
City Council undertook to do thi,
some years ago, when they lnacada
miZed7 or pretended to macadami2t
Fourth and French streets, and to col
lect the money from the owners o
property on said streets. The Councl
persisted in this stupid and unlawfu
work of robbing under threats, ant
did collect from many people. Tn
Baptist Church, corner Fourth ant
French paid $500, and my property
No. 422 East Fourth street, Sl3T.
Council threatened to enter sui
against all who refused to pay, but thu
late Chancellor Salisbury whlspere,
into the City Solicitors ear while n
Dover, that it was unlawful, for tn
improvements of the public highways
namely, the streets must be paid GU
of the general fund of taxation 70
such purposes. After this opinion wa
given, no effort was made to rob tn
people for councilmanics stupidity, an
was authorized by the Legislature
satisfy all unsettled liens, and | did S
as clerk of the Council. am hearth
in favor of sewers being constructed
and l believe property owners hay,
some rights.
Now, suppose the Legislature wa
, asked to allow Council to borroN
fifty thousand dollars 10 number ant
name the streets and to put up LAM
posts, and the Legislature woul'
pass the act, then the streets woult
be named and numbered and the pee
pie would be assessed to pay any por
: ton of the cost for this work, do yol
, believe it would be right-borrow tn
money to do certain kind of worl
and then assess, not tax, the people c
pay for it, The people have RICH
by petition to ask for improvements
such us they do need,
II you take this light from them b
legislative enactments. what become
of the law OF local seif-govefntneni
Now,if this work of constructing sew
ers was done by taxation the increue
Of the tax on RS. property wuull III
be more than say SIS per annum, an
! Il. would have twenty years In whie
to pay the sec, and not be threatene
with the sale of the property II Il
i s66 was not paid within ono year.
I am of the opinion that if the Chance
4 lor OF this s ate was to give an OPT
ion upon this sewer and street law
would say these improvements to u
public highways must he paid by gel
/ eral taxation, and not otherwise.
believe in the right OF petition by Il
1 people for public improvements an
local self-government.
March LIST, 1898. L. i. FRAZER.