Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-15


Mr.. Turner, who was defeated in the
Fourth ward, had been chairman of
the committee on new buildings ever
since the retirement of Samuel Fl.
Baynard of the board, and as the COM
mittee is we'll under way with the new
high school project, it is altogether
likely that Mr.. Turner would have been
continued as Its chairman had he been
reelected. Mr.. Turner has given great
deal of attention to the matter and
was an exceedingly valuable member
Of the board. His successor, j. Prince
Ford, is also a competent man and
fully capable of filling the position with
credit to himself and the board.
The retirement OF Mr.. Belts, in the
Sixth ward, also marks an important
change. He has been identified with
the body for many years, and, like Mr..
Turner, devoted much time and atten-
tion to the work. He was chairman of
the committee on fuel, heat and venti-
lation, which had charge of the heat
ing, &C., of the schools and also con-
troll of the ianitors He is entitled to
a great deal of praise for the manner in
which he attended to his duties.
Messrs Coyle and Prick were also val
liable members and assisted with the
work of important Commuters.
The memberselect are all substan tial
citizens and there is no doubt but that
the work of the board will be con.
tinued with the same degree of
efficiency that has characterized it in
the past. The members are elected for
four-year terms. The new board is as
follows First ward, John Pyle, Daniel
Ross; Second, John 9. kersey and
James II. Green; Third, DIR. J. Har-
vey Spruance and James d. Carter;
Fourth, J. Prince Ford and John R.
Hartman; Fifth, DIR. Benjamin R.
Veasey and Lewis B. Morrow Sixth,
Walter L. Buckmaster and Robert g.
Fraim Seventh, Abram E. Frantz and
DIR. John Palmer; Eighth, Mordecai
Barnes and George f. Alfrey Ninth,
DIR. Evan G. Shortlidge and Robert
Adair; Tenth, Thomas F. O'Donnell
and Thomas Huey; Eleventh, A. G.
McCausland; Twelfth, DR.. d. l. Nc
Colley and George Rommell.
The Tenth ward was the banner ward
with respect to women voters, IA cast
ing their ballots there. No women voted
in the Eighth, Eleventh and Twelfth
wards. Women voted as follows: First
ward, 1; Second, s; Third, 3; Fourth,
illni loiAtn, oeNobel, D
Ninth, 8; Tenth, IA. An effort was
made to get women out to vote in other
wards, but without success.
A peculiar thing about the election
is the fact that colored woman voted
in the Sixth ward. She is Mary F.
Blackiston and owns house on French
street between Ninth and Tenth and as
she showed tax receipt setting forth
that she had paid the city and school
tax for 1898, the election officers &C.
cepted her ballot. Another colored
woman applied to vote, but as she had
not paid tine school tax was not per-
mitted to do so. With respect to the
Blackiston woman. Assessor and Col
lector Lewis of the Northern district
said on Monday that when the assess
ment for 1888 was made he was under
the impression that under the new Con-
stitution colored people would be re-
quired to pay school tax and so assessed
them, but he soon learned that he was
mistaken and deducted the school tax
from the bills of colored people, He
did not learn his error, however, until
some colored people had paid their
taxes, and Mrs. Blackiston was one
of the number. She paid on July 22d,
the amount being Sc. 81, of which 81. 2S
was city and S203 school tax. This
explains how she came to have tax
receipt showing that she had the same
qualifications for voting as white
women.
Politics figured in the election in
some of the wards.
There is still vacancy in the board,
caused by the removal of John G.
Singles from the Eleventh ward. Col.
A. G. McCausland, who was elected on
Saturday. is the lone member from
that ward, and the hoard will be called
....s... 40. Ell tho uannnnu