The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-21
IT'S FoRD's BILL.
Citizens Say The "strike" Measure WIN
Be Detriment to the City,

Last night'spublic meeting Of the Board
Of Health at which was discussed aud de-
nounced the bill relating to tho Whining
ton City Railway Company, was largely
attended. The bill Is aimed particularly
at the long hours the employer are com.
PEELED to work, the running of summer
cars In winter; the occupying of streets on
which cars hre not run and the bad cOndi-
tion Of the Front street tracks. The bill
was denounced because the company had
done much to develop the city and because
Its provisions were detrimental to the
olty's interests.
After the meeting had been called to Or
der and the nature Of 1t stated the secre-
tary read the bill, which has already been
presented to the General Assembly. When
Mr.. Taylor had finished reading 1t a SEN
sation was created when Peter ]. Ford,
the well-known manufacturer, stepped for
ward, and said that he. was the father Of
tne Dill. Mr.. Ford said that he wanted to
assure the members that there was moth
Ing disreputable behind the so-cailed
strike BILL" Owing to his physical condi-
tlon, he said that he would not be able to
say much for 1t. The bill, he said, would
be brought up before joint committee Of
the Legislature to-day, and he CHALLENGED
the officials Of the Wilmington City Rail-
way Company to be present and give their
reasons why It should not be passed.
He admitted that In some sections OF the
city the street railway line was the finest
to be found in the country, while in 9TH
ers, namely Front street, 1t is the meanest
in the country. Summer cars, he said,
were run In the month of November, and
nj To At 10 foo
tory were drenehed to the skin.
ID. M. Hopes spoke In the highest terms
of the railway company He said that he
had no apology to make for signing the
call for the special meeting. He said he
thought that he was doing his duty in pro-
tecting legitimate enterprise. He had
never seen such improvement and progress
brought about as has been brought by the
railway company. 1t increased the value of
property and annihilated distance. In this
way it added thousands of dollars to the
treasury of the city in taxes. He said that
the danger lay in establishing precedent.
1t was dangerous to lay heavy hand on
the enterprises of the city. The Whining
ton City Railway Company he said, had
been more benefit to the city than any
other enterprise.
George W. Bush thought that 1t was out
ner Mr.. Ford's bill did. He then offered
set Of resolutions, after which a long
discussion followed.
Washington Hastings was of the same
opinion as Mr.. Bush He thought that the
bill was an unfair attack on one Of the in
situations Of the town. He compared the
present line with that Of twelve years ago.
when the cars were drawn by horses. The
bill. he said, was full of personal and pri-
vate spite, but there was no public grew
ance. The Legislature, he said, should not
manage railroads.
This statement brought Mr.. Ford to his
feet with q denial. He denied the allega-
lions made by the previous speaker, and
said that they would not have been made
if Mr.. Hastings knew more about him. He
was not ashamed to be behind the bill.
s. II. Baynard said he agreed with Mr..
Ford that improvements and better facili-
ties were needed, but it was a question Of
the best method to go about getting them.
He did not think that Mr.. Fords plan was
q good one
DR.. Smith said that the railway company
was showing discrimination. The facilities
OH Delaware avenue, where the rich man
rides. are all right, but on Front street,
where the poor man rides, the road was
not fit to travel over On both OF these
lines the same fare is paid.
John s. Rossell said that he was present;
10 oppose Mr., Fords measure and to rep
resent considerable of the stock of the
He told Of some Of the work
lone by the company, He said that it has
tried to get Its capital stock increased SO
hat II can make certain improvements,
cut was unable to do so. 1t was good Gusi~ . !,
ness, he said. to make the line as good as
possible and ne company would do all in
is power to make the road so that every
,ne would want to ride on it. He admit
ed that the Front street line was in bad
condition, but said that the. company
'ould not do everything at once.
Mr. Hopes suggested that committee
II three be appointed to confer with the
officials Of the railway and Mr.. Ford to
zee what could be done. He offered reso-
ution as an amendment 10 that Of Mr..
3ush's and it was adopted. The resolution
md the amendment follow:
Whereas, There is bill before the Leg
stature Of this state to take from the own
RS the management and operation Of the
ines Of the Wilmington City Railway COM
ANY, and practically vest the same in the
tate of Delaware. By the provisions OF
his extraordinary bill the railway company
s compelled to double-track its lines re-
ardless OF whether such increase Of facii-
les may be demanded by public traffic or
nj N nj which
nay be so far as we know and probably
re less than actual cost and the business
of the railway company un-
ecessarly interfered with,
Resolved, That the Board OF Trade of the
ity OF Wilmington takes pressure in com
lending the management of said railway
for It's efficient ard satisfactory
crvice its efforts and improvements bav-
lg the hearty support of the people gen.
rally, and we condemn and greatly deplore
UGH attacks upon our business interests as
alculated to discourage local enterprise
nd investment in local securities by our
WIN citizens, who hold the stocks and
onds of this company, as well as the dis
to the establishment here of
who may be induced by our
lIroads and water facilities to Locate
ere.
Business confidence cannot be sustained
r restored by unjustly attacking COM
any, which, after many years OF loss and
Improbable business, by adopting new
,ethods and meeting all reasonable pub
c needs and demands, is only now able TO
btain a small return on its capital; and
e 1t
al hat khn