Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-09

one OF the evening papers, meaning the
Every Evening, had made the statement |
or insinuation that Charles IL. Cramp
was opposed to the bill; whereupon n
telegram had been sent to Mr.. Cramp
asking him his opinion of it. To this
telegram, Mr.. Cramp wired:
g earnestly desire the passage of the
Hanna-Payne bill. "
When Mr.. Smith concluded, John S.
Rossell took the tloor and declared:
1t seems remarkable that in n matter
involving the interest of our city, a
newspaper would misstate fact; not
content to use argument, but msquotes
the head Of shipbuilling concern. |
confess that ] am almost indignant
enough to offer resolution of censure
for the journal that would be so lack
ing in public spirit and so forgetful Of
the community that supports il as 10
make the statement Mr.. Smith has re-
ferred to. -
Sometime after making the fore
going remarks, Mr.. Rossell had chat
with MIR. Smith and ascertained that he
had charged Every Evening with some
thing which Every Evening had not
done, and so he publicly retracted u
portion Of his remarks. In prefacing
his retraction he said that after con
ferring with Mr.. Smith he found that
he was under wrong impression, and
as he would hesitate as much to do
injury to paper, as to person. lie
desired to make an explanation. When
Mr.. Smith drew attention to the edi-
torial in Every Evening and tho posi-
tion of Mr.. Cramp, he thought that
Every Evening had made a statement
utterly false rs to Cramps position.
He now understood that what Every
Evening quoted referred to Cramps
position four years ago, and he made
the retraction with great pleasure.
As to Every Evenings opposition to
the bill, he admitted that the paper
had a perfect right to its position,
although he differed with Every Even
ing in that it opposed measure of so
vital an interest to the citizens of Will
mington. Mr.. Rossell was applauded
at the conclusion of his remarks.
THE CHARTER BILL.
The municipal reform committee,
through Mr.. Rossell, presented what he
called its final report. 1t reviewed tho
work of the committee which was. ap-
| pointed January 9TH, and which had
reported the charter bill with amend
ments on January 18th and had recon-
mended that the General Assembly be
requested to pass it. The committee is
still of the opinion that under the bill.
| the power TO regulate home affairs
would be restored to the citizens Of
| Wilmington. The committee had con-
| ferred with the Council, placed a copy
of the bill IN the hands of each men,
Der, and requested the Councils ap-
proval. So far as the committee is
| informed no action on its request has
been taken by the Council.
Upon the invitation of the commit
tee, the report continues, 'the Sena-
tors and Representatives in the General
Assembly from this city met the COM
| mittee on January 21st, and after a
general discussion Of the bill it,was
agreed that copy of the bill with a
list of the proposed amendments should
be sent to each of our Senators and
Representatives at Dover and they
would then confer and determine what
support, if any, they would give the
measure. The committee is without
advice as to their action.
1.-THE committee not having received
from the Council and the members of
the General Assembly their co-opera
tion does not feel warranted in pro-
ceeding further with the bill. 1t is of
the opinion that it would be useless to
do so. The matter is. therefore, re-
ferred back to the board and the COM
mittee requests that it be discharged y
The committee comprised Joseph l..
Carpenter, Jr.. A. s. Reed, a. l..
johnson, NJ. p. Satterthwaite and
John S. Rossell
The report aroused good deal of
| IiGpneSion coma nf tho man, barc Fanl
ing that the board should not give uu
the fight even If the Council and the
Legislature had not shown a disposition
! to cooperate. Members of the com.
mittee seemed hopeless of accomplish
ing anything, under the lack of public
sentiment for the bill and lack of sup
port on the part of the newspapers.
. Alfred ID. Warner opposed the dis.
charge of the committee and did moi
think the board should let the matter
90 by default, but should take every
step possible. Mr.. Rossel asked 10 be
relieved from the committee. The
, pressure against the bill, in his
! opinion, was of such u character and
!, came from such eminently respectable
quarters, that it would be hard tC
: secure its passage. Mr.. Carpenter re
ferred to the need of strong public
sentiment. Mr.. Reed spoke of thu
ignorance among persons who ought t
have familiarized themselves with tn,
bill. He estimated that not 10 per cen
= of the taxpayers had read the bill. Tn,
!, press had sat down upon the bill with
out offering anything in its place.
! Mr.. Johnson said that partisan ant
! personal interests are arrayed agains
: the bill. With them combined an,
a supported by the press there would b.
q little hope of securing its passage.
q do the citizens of Wilmington wan
9 a new charter" asked Frank Woolley
I NO." replied Secretary Taylor.
g "Then drop il. >" said Woolley.
81 believe the people want mex
charter,' insisted Mr.. Rossell. :"
don't believe 10 of the politicians il
il the city want it.
i Mr.. Bush thought that although tn
:: bill might fail of passage in its presen
- form, it might be possible to secur
!, the passage of its most important parts
:, He did not think it advisable for tn
!, board to back the bill to the exclusio
" of everything else.
~ Mr.. Warner said that he was not dis
4 couraged by the lack of interest Pos
,s sibly the people had not been able I
= digest the bill thoroughly. Ii was th
- sentiment of many of the best thinkiu
= men that in the main the principle {
m the bill is correct and it would be goo
! for the city.
N On Mr.. Warmers motion the con
N mittee was continued with authorit
II to back the measure before the Legi.
p lature, if in its judgment that be az
70 visable