The sun., 1898-12-02
BOARD Of TRADE MEETS
Question Of Municipal Govern
ment Discussed at Length
by the Members.
WANT ANOTHER RAILWAY
Law Committee Presented Report
on the Incorporation Act. ..Ban.
guet to be rendered Hon.
George Gray on His Re-
turn From Paris.

The Wilmington Board Of Trade at it's
meeting last night considered at great
length the question OF Munici pal Govern
ment. , ~
The matter was introduced by M. P.
Satterthwaite who read statistics and
produced such large quantity of data
relative to the subject that the Board
found that the subject would occupy the
Boards attention 81 long that other i'm
pOrtant business would suffer.
Mr.. Satterthwaite had been 50 indus
triuus in the pursuit OF the desired in
formation that he had dat. from many
towns similar in size and population to
Wilmington.
The one main part that was made ap-
parent by Mr.. Salterthwa was that
towns receiving tile same or about the
same amounts for taxes as Wilmington
were troubled by a balance while with
Wilmington such was not the case.
The question to decide was "How to
Increase the Revenue of the City With
out Increasing the Tax on Real Estate"
The members cast around first on one
thing and then on another to find some
article not already taxed, but to no avail.
The matter of taxing the City Railway
was talked Cf but it was said to be i'm
possible owing to the existence of its
charter.
Mr.. Wooley said the only remedy for
the existing evil was to cut down the ex-
pense Of running the Municipal Govern
ment, and that there was too much poll
! tics in the State Of Delaware and too
many politicians who must have fat
places.
Mr.. Satterth waite said that he would
not lay it at the door of any one, but
was hunting for a remedy for the evil
and would suggest that the board ap-
point a special committee to look further
into the subject and report to the board.
A motion to that effect prevailed, aud
Mr.. Satterthwaie was appointed chair
man of the committee.
Mr.. Wooley said in reference to the
amount of data procured by Mr.. Satter.
thwaite in reference to the subject was
remarkable, and moved that vote o.
thanks be given him for his industry.
The motion was carried and vote OF
thanks extended to the members who
assured the board that he felt fully re-
paid by their appreciation of his work,
which had caused him considerable
labor.
A communication was received by the
Board in reference to a railway across
the town frolr the Wilmington City
Railway Company in reply to similar
communication from the Board. The
company said that they had contem-
plated such move and would be glad of
any advice or suggestions from the Board
of Trade on the matter.
After some discussion Alvin r. Nor
rison moved that committee be ap-
pointed to confer with the railway COM
pany about the contemplated road.
Many surmises were made as to the
best course for the road to run and after
several Suggestions it was decided that
the railway company would likely con-
struct the road on whatever street would
be most profitable to them and the dis
cnssion was abandoned.
The law committee made report on
the Incorporation Act, and suggested
that the new charter should be left with
the Board to take such action as should
be necessary from time to time.
The proposed workhouse bill was re-
ceived with letter from Chief Justice
Lore, which recommended that the
prison system OF our State should be
changed.
A communication was received from
the National Freight Protective Associa-
tion, in which were resolutions to be
signed and forwarded to our representa-
tive at Washington bringing the express
companies under the jurisdiction of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The banquet committee reported favor.
ably to banquet and suggested that it
be held on the return of Senator George
Gray from his duties at Paris as Peace
Commissioner. The report was accepted
and the committee continued, with the
understanding that the banquet should
be held on Mr.. Gray's return.
A. s. Reed offered resolution that The
Board should endeavor to get the tee-
phone companies interested in properly
connecting the towns in lower Delaware
with proper phone service. 1t was
represented to the Board that the service
did not extend lower than Dover. The
resolution was adopted as read.
L