Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-30

would suggest a commission for redis
tricting rural schools, placing from eight
TO Ii schools In each district Under the
present single school system the number
of pupils in any district may tiuctuate
very much from year TO year. Under the
suggested system the average would be
more permanent.
Captain Dasey asked what would be the
most practicable method Of securing school
funds in the districts.
Superintendent Gray said the school
funds arc not always handled in as
straightforward manner as they might be.
It might be practicable to establish
bonded officer in each county who alone
/. should pay out money 1t is question
~ hat needs attention.
II MIR. Handy-Why don't you try the
Maryland plan? Iou might take a super
intendent, put him under bond, and make
him a!so the dsbnrsing officer for the
school fund Of the county.
The meeting adjourned with this ques-
tion unails wered.
The House committee on municipal
corporations devoted most of the afternoon
to another hearing of the Silverbrook con-
tGstanis. Peter J, Ford and $. Redmond
smith appeared for the bill. Their oppo-
nonts were Joseph i. Carpenter, Jr. j.
Newlin Gawthrop, Samuel Chambers,
Engineer Hatton and Charles VI. Curtis.
hopefully of an outlook for an arrange
ncnt satisfactory to all parties to be
| reached through some amendments to the
| pending bill, and Mr.. Ford expressed him
self in similar language. Chairman Wat
| kins, however, understood that the con.
| teStants left off about rs far apart as they
began.
Engineer lIatton estimated the cost of
| sewer, to be constructed not of drain pipe
| it,ln IN al urt
| from Third and Webb streets, go around
| by Browntown and empty into Clements
! run, ut 500, COO exclusive Of any rock ex-
cavatiuns and of the cost Of right Of way.
| City Solicitor Curtis said We think it
| is manitestly unfair TO the department to
| require that this sewer shall he constructed
| out OF the annual appropriation for cur
| rent expenses The revenue available for
the construction of sewers and other work
| ot the department excepting the paving of
| Streets is, in round numbers Sl50.UOO.
| The fixed charges for cleaning streets,
| lighting, collecting ashes, &c,, are some
/ thing over $4,000 for the current year.
There is immediate demand in bullt-up
| portions OF the city for sewers that will
cost Sl2S,0 900, Therefore it would be unfair
to the rest of the city to require us to cV-
| pend SO large portion of an annual
| income for sewer to be built for a com
parRtively small portion of the city. II 1t
is built 1t ought TO be built along the line
of streets, which are not even laid down in
part of the section through which it would
pass. 1t ought to be built like other
sewers, so that abutting property owners
should pay propOrtiunate share of the
cost. That portion ought to be brought
into the city limits before the city is re-
quired to construct this sewer.
Tonight, in talking Silverbrook. Senator
Filling got in shot at Preston Lea, who
was party to the conversation, by saving
to Peter j. Ford; They won't allow your
sewer to cross any other sewer at grade,
will they?" The yelled reference to the
gripping Of the Wilmington Il New Castle
Electric Railway bill, in the Senate, is
highly enjoyed by members of the House.
Among the Senate bills given their first
reading in the House to-day WIS the
Council officials bill. This contains the
compromise agreed to by the legislative
committee of City Council, as reported
while the original bill was in committee
i'll the Senate. It provides that the out
going City Council shall, at its first stated
meeting in June, elect for one year city
auditor, clerk and bailitf of Council, coal
oil inspector, clerk Of the market, city
auditors clerk and city treasurer's clerk,
the latter to be also clerk of the finance
committee. The terms Of the officers shall
begin on July list, 1888, and end June Both,
1871 Their successors shall be elected by
the incoming Council at its first stated
meeting in June, 1894, and bicnnially
thereafter, The city auditor shall receive
81, POO per year; the clerk of Council, 81 200;
the baiiiff 5000 the coal oil inspector, the
compensation now fixed by law; the clerk
Of the market 5000 and the fees to which
he is entitled, ANA the city auditors and
Ireasurers clerks, $40 each.
The Joint resolution in relation to Troop
b armOry authorizes the State Treasurer
to make demand upon the trustees of the
armory for payment of all arrears of
interest due the St9tc Oh the bond and
mortgage made in 1891, and, if said arrears
are not paid within 90 days; the state
Treasurer is authorized, empowered and
directed to fpTeclose the mortgage and
collect the amount due on the same, in
cluding interest, principal and costs.
Dover, March 23-fhe special feature
of this days legislative session was the un-
expected defeat of the Silverbrook bill.
The House reConvened at $50 y. IN, eX-
presslv to consider this measure, which
mad been made the special order of the
special afternoon session. Both sides were
well represented. Colonel EnoGh Moore
the prospective successor of Street Com.
missioner Carpenter was also present and
took an earnest interest in the fight that
followed.
As soon as the House had been called tC
order and a reasonable approximation tC
quietude secured Representative sipruanct
reported the bill favorably from commit
tee, with an amendment 'eXclnding the
time, il any, necessary for concluding con
domination proceedings for right OF way
, for said sewer" This qualification re
ferred to the time Limitation, of one year
for the construction of the sewer.
The bill was then read by paragraphs
! for passage, after which the trouble begar
forthwith.
Mr.. Cooch took the floor in opposition
to the bill, which he characterized rs mos
, monstrous aud designed 10 benefit only
one manufacturer and sparscly settlet
/ suburb. He referred to the old eontro
: versy between Peter !. Ford and thu
Jessup y Moore Company. Now, said he
r Mr.. Ford virtually asks the city OF vii
4 mington to eXpend about Sl000O0 to built
: 4 sewer q miles long, mostly outside tEt
{ city limits, merely for the advantage q
a himself and few others. This sewe
) would be of no Use TO any body else, Mr.
CCOch alluded to the remOnstrancG sen
: down here some weeks ago, representing
/ half the assessed realty Of Wilmington
/ The Street and Sewer Department is EN-
: barrassed for money. If YOU are going Il
/ build a 100000 sewer here, what vii
: the people of the Ninth ward say
:. where 5000 or GOO0 people are clam
n orng for sewers Ffye.sixths of tb,
\ streets Of Wilmington in huilt.up section
. arc even now without sewers. This bill
= if passed, will be for years for the beneii
4 OF MIR. Ford and few others only. Ar,
i we to build network of sewers out in tn
, country and let the streets of Wilmington
I go unsewered? The estimated cost Of thi
I, sewer is $4,000; this does not contemplate
7 land damages and the blasting of rocks
=, Is it not reasonable to estimate this at q!
n much more? This would mean an addi
/. tional ~ cents to the tax rate--for sewe
;. out in the country. There has been thre