Evening journal., 1899-04-01
SATURDAY. APRIL !, 1899
rHLR GoNERNoRls Aur.

No more UNJUST and unwarranted
act was ever performed by a governor
OF the State Of Delaware than that Of
Governor Tunnel in refusing TO APP
prove the Senate bill giving TO the
water consumers Of the city ~ vii
mfngton the benefit OF a 40 per cent
reduction on their water rents. He has
overridaan every principle OF represent
tative government and utterly ignored
the rights of the people. He has used
his powers to foster a system OF tax
alton which is robbery, plain and sim
Pile. and NE has done it in Difference tol
the wishes OF a small coterie ~ men,
and in utter disregard Of the expressed
wishes OF the duly elected representa-
tives Of the people of Wilmington.
In his comments on the Ibi,i he shlaws
his ignorance OF the subject which
came before him for determination, Tor
he in no particular touches the vital
issue contained in the c-ntrovensy.
This lis shown conciusively by his dec
lafaticn that the issue can be decided
by The people themselves, who have
fuA redress in the election Of their
mayor and Council"
What do the water c-nsumers OF
Wilmington think Of this expression Of
statecraft? He may not know it, but
they do, that no mayor appoints mere
than one Of the three Water Commits
eioners. and that there are always two
bo,dlng-over men. He may net know
h, but they do, that City Council has
no more to do with the Water Depart
ment Of Wilmington than the Town
Council o. Lewes, where the governor
resides.
This display OF ignorance OF cur sys-
tom or gOvernment is aamentab,e IN a
man VINO arrogates to himself lhe night
&c disregard .he wishes and interests
"a The people who gave him aaoh lib
eral support a, uhe election two yeans
ago.
We have an excellent water system,
and why shouldn't we haye? To begin
with, nature has given us a water sup
ply unsurpassed In the country. The
water consumers have contributed in
tlhe last thirteen yeans enough maney
to equip and maintain The department
and nearly quarters OF million
dollars more than the department
could use Then why should not the
water system be in perfect condition?
For it to be otherwise would be prac-
tically a matter OF dmpossibliity.
Under present rates the water con-
sumens are paying sl64,OOO to run a
department. which costs but $4,000 tc
maintain. They are paying their fall
share of tax. at The rate Of $1.4O on the
$iOO, to make up the general fund, and
in addition to that, contrgbuting to that
general fund nearly 100000 a year
in wafer surplus, thereby keeping dowr
the taxes rf owners Of big pants ant
vacant lots and non-consumers O
water. to say nothing of fire protec
tion and the reduction II insurance pre-
m.ums because Of such protection
They are supplying free all the waite
needed for fre-fghting purposes; 70
public schools; f-r city buildings; 70
State Armory; for public fountain
aud for eprinliing the streets. not Il
mention the maintenance OF CO
Spring Park. The aggregate OF th
free supply Is ssS,OOO, every cent o
which should come out Of the genera
fund.
But these things count as nothing o
Governor Tunnel A delegation q
water surplus grabbeTs went befor
him, pulled a silk stocking down owe
his head and caNed IN him for ve,S
They got il. TO all intents and purposes
and for two years longer thanks to h
action they VIII continue to get l.'
Assessments. water at meter rates an
100000 q year Of the water consumer
money with which to pay their generi
taxes. AT the expiration Of that tin
the deiuge will come. and no senab
or representative viii be elected in n
city Of Wilmington who is not an ou
and-out advocate Of cheaper water. n
that alone. but no governor viii
eiected who does not declare befoueha1
that he vii. sustain wglmington's re
resentatives in. their hght fon q
rights OF the people
THAT RABBIT TRUST.
Wall street has It's fits OF humor