Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-17
THE HIToH FIXED Up
Between tho Prison Refsrmsrs and TIN
Lazy linnrI.


There was hitch Thursday between
the Levy Court Commissioners and the
prison reformers, which at one moment
looked as if it would cause difficulty. But
q certain resolution referring to the quarry
purchase site introduced by Court ATTORNEY
John IL. Rodney made things all straight
again.
The cause of the hitch is simply the as
serted suddenness with which the motion
TO purchase a quarry site was brought for
ward at the last meeting. This aroused
all the leaders of the prison reform move
ment in the city, as il the Levy Court pur-
chased q quarry site, and, as would fol-
low, the erection of workhonse. this
would directly antagonize the purposes OF
the enactment prepared by the prison
reform people, whose contemplation is of
State workhouse
In reply to questions Thursday Judge
Ball gave the full list of the executive com
mittee OF the Prison Reform Association
| and other facts in regard to the movement.
The members of the court expressed the
opinion that they had no official know
ledge of what was being done and that
that might account for the molten for
| quarry purchase.
Judge Ball asked the commissioners OF
to act hastily in the matter.
Chairman Scott--"I would like to see
New Castle county have stone quarry for
one reason, that the outside hundreds
could get better roads"
| Judge BalL-"No doubt under any cir
| cunstanGes ohe bulk of the Work would be
in stone quarries and that would be here,
as Kent and Sussex are generally sandy"
| Mr.. Armstrong to Judge Ball-"When
| will your bill be introduced p
Just as soon as the Senatorial excite
| ment is over, that is next week.
Judge Ball also said that in his opinion
l. Il q 49,. 4
| purchase quarry site AS the bill provided
no means for paying for it.
Chairman Scott do think you good
people of Wilmington, now after two
years OF the existence of this act, are in a
strange position in coming here now and
telling us that the enactment to purchase
is no good"
tunity, since the enactment OF the law, t.
rectlfy the matter"
The Chairman-"Mr. Rodney, the courI
attorney, tells US we have the right to pur
chase"
Judge Balls eyes opened wide at the
statement, which was obviously new in
formation to him, and replied, We'll thi,
isall for the general interest of the county
We thlak the Levy Court Commissioner,
should be as hot-footed after the public
| interests as we are.
Judge Ball then left.
The court then entered into a genera
discussion OF the quarry site matter. CUur
Attorney John Rodney appeared and drew
| up the Following resolutions, which Wer,
introduced by Commissioner White. anC
passed unanimously:
WHEREAS, by action Of the General Assem-
bly,, passed at Dover, April aOth, 1893, the Lev,
Court OF New Castle county wore authorized
and directed 10 procure stone quarry for III
purpose therein set forth. said quarry TO b
purchased within Two year5 from the aboy
date, and
WHEREAS II has been suggested that Their
may ne possible Legislative action looking I
the erection Of state penitentary whereof
the purchase of the said quarry might DO un
necessary.
Rsso.gsd, That action upon the said quar-
purchase be postponed until the regular meet
lug on February hth, 1895.
The way the matter now stands is, tina
while the commissioners, or majority o
them, hold to the opinion that the enact
ment empowers them to buy quarry site
they are willing TO postpone action il
order 10 see the outcome of the propose
prison reform enactment
If that bill successfully passes the Iegis
lature there will be no necessity Of pu
chasing stone quarry. But should it ia
the commissioners will Immediately pr,
coed to purchase and erect workhoust
The two years allotted for this under I'll
enactment of the bill will not lapse unit
tho beginning Of April The promoter
Of the Prison Reform movement haN
promised that their bill shall be intr,
duce9d as early as possible, probably mel
week.
, Levy Court will meet next on Februar
F.! 5th.