Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-16
WHY THE SEWER LOAN FAILED.


Addicks' Gas.
Tho price demanded for the passage
OF tho bill allowing the Street and
Sewer Department to borrow 800, 600
was that directors Of the department
agree to give the Oxy-Hydrogen Gas
Co, permission to lay pipes. The price
was not forthcoming and the bill did
not pass. A. S. Webster. Democrat,
and William Simmons, Republican, arc
the directors who were given the option
OF selling out the department in order
to secure the loan bill, but they de-
clined to sell. Their experiences in
the matter show that the Union Re.
publicans were prepared to support tho
bill for tho price mentioned, and
according to Mr.. Webster's informa-
tion, Senator John Pyle was the man
who held tho agreement. the signing
OF which was TO bring such results. g.
Tho effort to secure a promise from
Directors Webster and Simmons was
made on Monday ut Dover whence they
had gone to do what they could for tho
loan bill which had remained on tho
table for some time. Mr.. Webster was
approached with a proposition that il
he sign paper to give Addicks per-
mission to lay gas pipes in the city.
the Union Republicans in the Senate
would pass tho loan bill.
When asked about the matter Tuesday
evening, he said that no was asked to
sign paper bnt did not do so. He
had been approached by Union Repub-
Leans whose names he did not care to
mention. ..-
."They came to me-" he said, with
a proposition that IL ] would sign a
paper ending the injunction proceed
ings now in court against Addicls' gas
company and allow the company to lay
pipes in tho city, that the loan bill
would be passed..
What did you toll them?' Mr..
Webster was asked.
II said that neither Mr.. Addicks
nor his gas company had ever made APP
plication to this board for permission
to lay pipes. If such an application
was made could not tell what could
do until l had made full examina-
tion and seen IL it would be any adj
vantage to the citizens to have the
pipes, but as for signing paper bind
ing myself to do such thing, was
something that / would never do.
II was told by the Union Repubi-
cans that il we went to Senator Pyle,
who was chairman OF the committee
on cities and towns, and who had the
agreement, and would sign the paper
everything would be all right. | told
them would never do such thing,
and | also failed to learn why Senator
Pyle had the agreement"
Mr.. Webster did not look any further
into the matter and did not see the
paper to which his signature was
desired.
Mr.. Simmons had similar expert
once In some respects to Mr.. Webster.
While in Dover, he, too, was asked to
sign paper to allow Addicks and his
gas company to lay pipes, and he, too,
refused to sign. II was told by one OF
two persons, > says MIR. Simmons, "that
II / would sign there would be nc
trouble about the passage Of the bill.
10 the persons who asked me- to do 1t
told them that tho loan bill was not a
private bill, but that it was public
bill and I had no private interests in
| it whatever. It was designed especially
to improve the streets OF the city and
be benefit to the citizens, and in,
diyidually ! didn't care continental
whether it passed or not, except that
i would like to see it passed for the
benefit Of the people"
Mr.. Simmons did not see Senator
| Pyle in the matter. l'.
:" It was a hold.up, stand and deliver, y
| remarked Mr. Simmons.
President William A. Pratt was moi
approached with reference to the de-
sired agreement. He said he. guessed
that those who had attempted such
work did not consider it worth while
to try him,as his term expires in few
weeks.