Evening journal., 1906-10-29
Monday, October a9, 1906.
AdAIN rHREE AaAINsr Owe.

FIRST the Every Evening, then the Morning
i News, and Yesterday the Sunday Star took
up the defense OF the schemers who are endeav-
oring TO saddle upon the taxpayers Of Whining
ton the property of the Lea Milling Company
which is about to go out OF business. mus II p
again that THE EVENING JOURNAL stands
alone in fighting an outrageous imposition upon
the people: In matters where corporations and
certain individuals are interested Every Evening,
the Morning News and the Sunday Star will al
ways be found together on the side against the
people. With them private and corporate IN
tcrests are superior to those OF the pubic. an
this case they approve not only the deal, but the
seandalous methods used by the Water Commits
soners in passing it.
1t made no difference to those papers that the
deal was made by the Lea Milling Company and
the Commissioners without the public knowing
the matter was even being considered and with
out any reason being given either for the purchase
of the property or the enormous sum OF 100000
agreed to be paid for it. If the proposition OF
buying the Lea property was all right and god
reasons for such action coulu ue given, why was
the matter kept so quiet ant ,"c deal consunl-
mated at secret session when not one single
outside person or a newspaper representative was
present! That alone is enough TO convince any
reasonable person that there was something
wrong.
Think of it'll Two hundred thousand dollars
of our money voted away in secret meeting
without any notice whatever to those who will
have the debt to pay. Indeed it was not intended
we should find il out as soon as we dld. The
public was to be kept in ignorance Of the deal un-
til all plans were completed to put It through the
Legislatures The transaction has every appear
ance of grand graft. The reason for the deal
is that the Lea Milling Company has decided to
discontinue its business, not, however, because
il is tired of of making money, The business and
the properly being Improbable, the scheme ot
-
its earning capacity suggested itself to its owners.
Keep it quiet and let us get all we can was the
maxim. SII the lpeopie know about it the deGl
mightbe headed off, they probably argued among
themselves. Apparently It was not difficult TO
arrange matters with the Water Commissioners,
and the first we knew about the affair is that be-
hind closed doors the deal had been put through
and the taxpayers stung 10 pay 100000 for
property which at fair public sale would not
bring half the amount. Heavens Have some
men neither fear non shame Fhatyis another
blow 70 the rotten Commission system that has
in one way or another cost our city hundreds ci
thousands OF dollars
Fortunately for the taxpayers the Water COM
mission did not have enough Of their money in
hand TO pay the Lea interests 100000 at that
secret meeting. or the poor people would ha' c
been stung for fair but now the matter has to 90
before the next Legislature on a proposition ia
pass an act authorizing the Water Commission
ers to issue bonds on the homes and property o
Wilmington to the amount of S2ooooo Tha
means If Preston Lea and his milling compan,
and Water Commissioners Ford, Lindsay anC
Shaw. and the big lobby they will have can sc
such bill through the Legislature, that tn
owners of property, every little home in VIII
mington must pay annually about $1,000 more o
taxes, and at the expiration of about twent
years, when the bonds mature, they must rails
and pay the 100000 borrowed and handed owe
to the Lea Milling Company for property prob
ably not earning to-day 5 per cent on $4,000, o
have their own property sold.
We are opposed to the scheme and although
single-handed, we will so with the people to tn
Legislature and help put this secret session dea
in the coffin where it belongs.
There is much just criticism of Governor lie;
that he would be party to such deal in orde
to have it come before the Legislature during hi
term Of office 1t may be that he does not wan
TO take the chances of his successor vetoing tn,
deal bill should it pass the Legislature. If i
goes through the next Legislature it will prob
ably not be vetoed by the Governor.