The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-06
FIFTH EDITION.
DkEEHg AMONG Co,IMIssIoNEas,
Mayor shortlidge Says They Arc Im-
posing Upon tho Taxpayers, aud
Refuses to Sign the Transfer.

Mayor ShortiidRe says They Are In-
posing Upon tho Taxpayers, aud
Refuses TO sign the Transfer.
The matter of the purchasing OF the
two lots for park purposes In accord
ance with an ordinance pissed juno
18th by City Council created quite
breeze among the park commissioners
at their meeting yesterday afternoon.
President Candy brought up the
matter. The ordinance provided that
the lots should be paid by sum
equal to the price paid by the owners,
with interest and taxes added. The
purchase of money was not to
exceed fourteen thousand dollars.
which the commission was given pow
er to borrow on condition that 1t re-
pay the sum on or before August 1.
1894.
Tract No. was bought on March IA.
1892, more than n year before the
board was given power to buy tho
land from Mary Forman Day OF Balti-
moro county. Md, for $500. The
property was bought by Mary I. Day
from John L. Carswell and wife in 1883
for $500.
Tract No. was bought few days
before tract No. was purchased.
showing that both the lots had been
bought more than a year before the
board had power to buy the land.
Tract No. 9 was owned by Kirk Thomp-
son and wife AMI was purchased by
Candy and Mention for $500. The
property was bought by Kirk Thomp-
son in 1885, from Thomas Starr for
$500.
The ordinance OF Juno IL. 1898, de-
scrlbed tract No. ! as The lot OF land
bounded by Adams. Wawaset and
Jackson streets and the south long
race" ana tract No. 2 as 1.-The lot of
land bounded by jackson, Wawaset
and Van Buren, streets and the south
long race"
To purchase tho lots the owners Dor
lrowed the money from the Equitable
Guarantee and Trust Company. The
amount borrowed was $lI, 069.l4 ut 6
per cent, the Interest to be paid quar-.
terly and the full amount to be paid
on or before August /, 1894. The
amount borrowed Ia t62.14 more than
tho ordinance authorized the commits.
isi1n to expend,
Mr.. Candy, president of the commits.
sion. presented certificate OF trans.
fer from the two owners TO City Coun-
icil for Sl4,0G? IA. making the Council
Responsible for tho amount OF bor-
rowej money and interest. lie asked
Mayor Shortlidge to sign tho Gsrttti-
cato. hut tho Mayor refused to do so,
as It was not in accordance with the
ordinance passed by Council.
4 When Mayor ShorLlidge refused TO
Sign the certificate President Candy
said that the mayor had only attended
a few meetings. and since lie had come
Into the commission he had tried to
revolutlonlze things and that he was
ionly a member OF tho commission by
virtue OF his office.
The mayor replied to this that he
had not been properly received BY the
commission. When he had come In
the interest of the people to have car
lines extended to the Brandywino Park
+ The had been set upon. lie thought the
members of the commission had not
been doing their duty in referring tho
a matter to the executive committee.
4 President Candy replied [ q lie al, o
was working for tho lit rest Of the
masses and did not think he should DO
lcriticlsed for what he ud done. The
other members sustained Mr.. Candy.
5 After they had their say. the Mayor
replied that it was an outrage upon
tito taxpayer the way the mission
4 was buNing property for the park
8 driveway.
4 The mayor then again refused to
sign the certificate of transfer lie'give
' us his reason for not doing so. First,
, because he did not know how the
money was to DO paid, whether by
/ taxation or through the sinking fund.
-Second, the Park Commission, which
-had the power, should have had a
-icommission Of condemnation named
rto assess damages, to be paid through
o tho sinking fund. Third. he did not
yIsee ut this time any demand for the
Expenditure of tho money. There
were only n few persona to use the
new road. Fourth. lie thought that
the people should be relieved, in the
n president condition OF affairs. from
n paying the money. Fifth, he thought
i the price paid WIS exorbitant WHOM
e tho current price of property was CON
! sideled.
h Mr.. Candy said II the Mayor would
/ not Sign the transfer he would be com
I Ipelleu to by law. Mt the same time
@ bringing his hand down with an en-
), phntlc bang upon the table.
vl Mr.. Candy said there had never been
: any trouble among the com mlsslonsrs
n until lie became member of the body.
al The Mayor replied that there was
never. but he thought it was high
time there was. 1o thought the en-
tire system needed notwithstanding.
:, and that Is what lie wanted to do.
u The commission adjourned, Mayor
= ShoItliLee leaving without signing
the transfer.