Evening journal., 1899-11-13
SATURDAY. NOV. IL. 1893
COMMISSIONERS SIMMONS DUTY


the protest OF the Wilmington and
Brandywine Springs Railway Com
pany against the assumed purpose
OF the commission to endeavor to over
ride the Legislature in its design to
open sixth street to the Brandywine
Springs Company. The protesting
company asks the commissioners tol
reconsider their preliminary action in
the matter
Commissioner Simmons duty in the
case is quite clear, He endeayored to
induce his fellow commissioners to act
in accordance with popular desire pub
lie expectation. Official duty and the
statutes. In that, on last Tuesday, he
failed to the extent OF preventing Com
missioner Webster from making and
Commissioner Carter seconding the mo-
tion to allow the Wilmington City
Company to use the street. He succeed
ed in SO far that the motion was not
put to vote; and there. so far as actual
action goes. the proceedings rest.
There is therefore, at present, really
nothing open 70 a motion TO reconsider.
Commissioner Webster was counted
upon by the public pretty generally to
take the course he did. and none was
surprised. Il is therefore not to be sup
posed that he win tomorrow withdraw
his motion.
Commissioner Carter was in the good
viii OF the people He holds the posi-
tion of commissioner because at the
time OF his selection for the place he
enjoyed the perfect confidence of his
fellow citizens as a consistent Chris
tian gentleman: a man Of rigid integ-
rity, and incorruptible manhood and
sterling honor. He was wanted for the
mayoralty, but was not called for the
sole reason that It was felt that no
other man could be found to replace
him as commissioner upon whom equal
reliance for firm upnghtness could be
placed He was regarded as a man in
reserve for governor Of the state and
for any additional honors that he
might aspire to- Il was not supposed
that any influence could induce him to
disregard the general wish, and when
he exhibited himself as a weak reed,
the people looked upon him with pity
and grief. To see him absurdly stand
before the public demanding in the
same breath that the Brandywine Com
pany adhere 20 a contract and incon-
sistently enter into an antagonistic
contract left his friends in doubt as to
whether their indignation or disap-
pointment was greatest He would
rightly be indignant II accused Of lg-
norance Of the fact that the commits
sion has no more to do with the con-
tract between the two companies than
IL has with the color of Dom Pauls
barn. Yet he had no better excuse than
the existence of that contract between
the companies that he cared to disclose
when noundering in the shadows for
reasons for attempting TO evade per-
Torrance IN accordance with his prom
ises and what was expected Of him.
Il is in his power to redeem himself
Co a great extent He can withdraw
his second Of Commissioner Webster S
motion. II he mistakenly persists in
his initial error he is politically de-
funct; even now old friends pass him
on the streets with silent
stares. These old friends certainly
ought to be worth regaining. The es-
teen and confidence ne has enjoyed he
cannot wholly recover; but he can re-
cover much OF IT, and we hope that he
Will. As it now stands he could not be-
elected constable If running against q
wooden cigar sign IL the sign wer,
eligible II he persists as ne has started
he could not be elected scayenger over
yellow dog IL the brute were eligible.
IN case Commissioner Webster de
clines 10 withdraw his motion ant
Commissioner Garter declines to with
draw his second and. being a majority
OF the board hold that the motion an,
second shall be regarded as in effec
an affirmative vote-which would bU
absurd-then it will devolve upon Com
missioner Simmons 10 not only demon
strate for record what his own posi-
tion is. but to give the others one NOR
chance to save themselves from ex
tinction IN the public regard. and NOV
for a reconsideration. or that The mat
ter be oxpunged from the record. Tha
is the proper thing TO do, since. in it
present state the courts would un
doubtedly hold the assumed action @
the commission null It began bu
ceased before it accomplished; an
that that was done is OF no effect. Il
gally. Wipe il Off the record
The right OF the people TO what the
wish In a matter OF this kind cannC
be dened with success. The WIS
course is for the commission 10 ignoi
the pressure Of any presumed or a,
sumed obligations to any corporatio
or person to thwart the wish and ii
interests Of the people; 10 drop i
efforts 10 force the public 70 pay tv
fares where one only Is attainable an