Evening journal., 1893-02-22

as we thought, Of its adoption should
have been explained by the gentleman
from Sussex who reported Il, and who
outranks me on the committee on corpo-
rations; but as he seems TO be reluctant
to do so, will state briefly the reasons
why we make this minority report.
In 1864 the Legislature Of this state
granted charter to certain persons
within the limits Of the city of Whining
ton TO construct and maintain railway;
and by the terms of that charter this
company is given the exclusive right and
| privilege TO build, construct, operate and
maintain a street railway system within
the city of Wilmington. In pursuance
of their charter these parties did build a
railway in the city of Wilmington. 10
had to contend for great many years
with all kinds Of difficulties and was re
garded as peor sort Of investment It's
stock could be had exceedingly cheap.
A few years ago other parties bought the
controlling interest and began TO make
improvements. We now see a fine street
railway with cars run very rapidly by
electricity. ! have been in most of the
large cities in the East-I have not been
very far West, l admit-but l have yet
to see any system operated as well as
that within the city of Wilmington
/ Their fare has been reduced to five cents:
as cheap as we will find anywhere in the
country. | know Of no other line which
gives even an inferior service for the
same money. After this line began to
be extended the stock went up and now
when the road is in a prosperous condi.
tion, Immediately we have demands from
all sides for charters to infringe upon the
rights of the persons mentioned in that
bill, and their successors. 1t Is not plain
to anyone that this company is abusing
or misusing their privileges TO the slight
est extent. They have made, within the
last four years very extensive extensions
in their road and they have all been TO
the direct benefit of the people of VIII
mingtOn. The money has not been put
in the pockets of the stockholders but it
has been used in building extensions ia
their lines, which, in their effect, cannot
help being Of benefit 10 the city and the
people of the city. They expect to be
paid for It sometime and should not they
be paid for it?
when the road was in the condition
10 was five OF six years ago these men had
the pluck to buy the stock up. Is IL the
proper thing, the moment they show
signs Of prosperity, for the state TO break
It's plighted faith for other railways?
This is a better bill than many that
have been proposed. I have been anxious
TO support it, The people of New Castle
want some road into the city Of Will
mington. They ought to have it. But,
is il the proper thing TO strike a death
blow to a prosperous, aud as good service
as any city in the United States is receiv.
ing? For these gentlemen who appear
for this charter have nothing but the
kindliest feeling. It's counsel, who has
ably represented it and / have played
together as children, and there has
been a friendship and degree oil
intimacy existing between us for
many years. would be willing ant
glad to do anything for him consistent
, with my sense of duty. But when any
body asks us to strike blow Of this kline
= think it is going too far for this Legis
I lature to 60. This amendment was sub
mitted to the meeting of our committed
I last Thursday night by the gentlemen
n representing the Wilmington City Rail
way Company. President Preston LEI
, an Vice President Salisbury. Il pro
: vides that the Wilmington and New Cas-
+ tie Railway Company can extend thei
lines from New Castle to any point OF
d New Castle avenue, and provides tha
q they can make arrangements with The
D | Wilmington City Railway Company Z,
, carry its cars or passengers within th'
: city Of Wilmington. That proposition
a had been made before. 1t was Objecte'
q TO at that time because there was moth
\ ing to compel the Wilmington City Com
. pany people to live up to their promis
Z and they would not give them fair ani
\ equitable arrangements To meet that
. the Wilmington City Railway Company
v in a spirit Of liberality offered this addi
I. tional proposition, of appointing arbitra
:. tors. II they had not been acting il
good faith they would not have been il
4 favor of putting on amendments that {
!. they refused TO carry their cars and pas
/. sengers the new company could go Q
!. Fourth and Shipley streets with or with
,. out the consent of the Wilmington Cit
IS Rail way Company. They were willin
a to contract 10 carry those cars. Tn
4. amendment provided that if they woull
not make these fair terms, upon applica
a tion of either party to the resident iudg
/. of the county afbitrators should be al
!. pointed FOR the purpose of settling th
's questions in dispute If, in the opinio
"A of the arbitrators the terms insisted upo
n blythe Wilmington City Railway Con
,e pany are unfair the new company ca
I build their lines over Just exactly th
N route proposed in the bill. II anythin
: could be more fair and reasonable
10 would ike TO know what it is2 Whe
the amendment was suggested IN II
"a committee meeting members Of the CON
70 mittee advocating the bill admitted +,
y once that it was fair and reasonabl
proposition.
Cooch-"So far as am concerned,
left it with the counsel of the railway
Saulsbury-"I understood the sent
re ment to be that that proposition WI
n a fair one and that the counsel for u
ye other company should accept it, / WI
ia say that not a single man agreed
RI support that amendment l did not q
an tend to make any such implication
But the counsel for the company, WI
10 was in town, was sent for He appearl
nv before the committee that night
~ DpmnpD Dp OU V0UD nUEDn