Evening journal., 1899-02-04
on PArRTCK NEARYls BOSOM.

In their eulOICtu ictitoN NA' NeNNA |
Commissioners are presenting a ludi-
crous spectacle Ever since they loud
lv proclaimed to the water consumers
In December that their expenditures
for 1895 were s62 1000, their assumed |
surplus $4,000, and their real surplus
5000, the citizens of the city have
beheld the phenomenal spectacle Of a !
full Board Of Water commissioners
running for safety from an outraged
community. For four weeks the tax
payers have seen nothing but the
hacks and heels OF William T. Porter,
Washington Hastings and Alfred
Bette, and to-day we behold them nes-
tied on the expansive bosom Of Pat
rick Neary and crying for protection.
Patrick Neary did not open his arms
and say: Come unto me, all ye that
are weary and heavy laden" They did
not walt for an invitation. They did
not even inquire, May we conner"
But they went, and there we see them
to-day, seeking the patronage Of a man
whom they have feeced hundreds OF
dollars by their inlQuitous water tax
system. Patrick Neary is carrying them
when he walks; they lie down with
him when he sleeps, and he is their
only salvation. This is a spectacle
which the people OF Wilmington never
dreamed Of beholding. They win con-
tinue to nestle on the bosom of one
OF their principal victims until he be-
comes weary Of the load and tells
them that he is not keeping a House
OF Refuge for Extortionists, and that
they must seek comfort elsewhere.
When these men who are now nes-
tied on the bosom OF Patrick Mary
declared expenditures Of S62 900 and a
surplus OF $4,000 and turned that sur
plus over to City Council for general
purposes and for the benefit and relief
OF the non-consumers OF water, we
protested against such an ubiquitous
collection and such an unjust appica-
ton, and in the name Of the water
consumers OF the city demanded re-
ductdon OF so per cent. In the rates.
Then these three men who are now
nestled on the bosom OF Patrick Neary
endeavored 10 show that the water
plant was not complete and that vari-
Gus extensions were badly needed. We
Immediately asked them why IL that
were true, they paid $4,000 over to
City Council for general purposes in
stead Of using or retaining It for the
uses OF the Water Department.
Then these three men who are now
nestled on the bosom OF Patrick Neary
could not answer, for they were con.
founded; and they said that the sur.
plus should be continued and applied
10 the liquidation OF the water bonds
OF the municipality. We published II
full an Official statement Of tho bond
ed Indebtedness OF the city We show
ed that the twelve water bond
amounted to s677.O in round figures
that the surplus paid by the water con
eumen aggregated an amount which
barring interest, would, II properl,
applied, pay OF all but $4,000 o
these water bonds; that notwithsrand
ing this, S544.0OO worth OF the cityi
water bonds were stl.l out and un
paid and that, If the water consumer
were TO be held responsible for tn
redemption Of the water bonds. tn
Water Department and City Counci
between them had mssapphed betwee
100000 aud 100000 OF the funds col
lected from the water consumers an.
that they should receive credit for al
sums so misappMed, as well as due al
lowance for unnecessary water loan
and Interest payments thereon as
result Of such misapp,ication.
Then these three men who are nor
nestled on the bosom OF Patrick Near
were one more confounded and beg
gcd that the present hig
rates be permitted to cor
tinue and that the surplus Of s9S .OC
year be applied to the liquidation
the general bonded Indebtedness OF tn
city. We at once protested on II
ground that the general bonded il
debtedness Of the city should be Lou
dated under the general levy, and tn.
the water consumers could not be e,
pected to contribute their fair shai
OF such expense under the general lev
and $4,000 year in addition to thu
sum.
Then these three men who are no
nestled on the bosom Of Patrick Neai
did not know what to do They cri,
for help and no help came. They as
ed for mercy and It was denied. Pa
rick Neary introduced in the Hou
a bill providing that water mete
should be placed in small houses. I
did It because he had been payfl
sSl5 a year for water taxes on sm,
houses which he owned and felt I
onerous burden more than many lar