Smyrna times., 1907-01-23
SMYRNA DELEGATES SEE
BENEFIT FROM CONVENTION
MUNICIPAL CONVENTION AT WILMINGTON
LAST WEEK MAY RESULT IN GOOD.
President of Council S. J. Reynolds aud Sec
retary Grieves Represent Smyrna, the
Latter Being Elected Vice President.

President of Council S. J. Reynolds aud Sec
retary Grieves Represent Smyrna, the
Latter Being Elected Vice President.
President Samuel j. Rey nolds and
Secretary Harry B. Grieves of the
Smyrna Town Council, who represent
ed Smyrna at the Municipal Convention
in Wilmington last week, have re-
turned pleased with the convention and
of the delightful hospitality accorded
by the officials of Wilmington. Presi-
dent Reynolds was only able to attend
Fridays session which was really Will
mington Day" at the convention, but
Councilman Grieves was there from
the opening on Thursday until the ad-
journment on Saturday. The latter
believes that the Municipal Conven-
tion, which will now be made an an
nual affair, willinure to the good of all
the towns of the State in that it not
only gives an opportunity OF an ex-
change of ideas and methods, but will
eventually lead to the acquiring of uni
form laws for all towns. Mr.. Grieves
made an active representative for
Smyrna and was not afraid to "speak
out in meeting" when he thought he
could say good word for Smyrna and
the down state towns. He was inter
ested and succeeded in getting a reso-
luton passed recommending emer-
gency hospitals for Kent and Sussex
counties. He pointed out that the re-
cent smallpox cases costSmyrna $1400
and that the epidemic was caused by
strangers coming in our midst. An
emergency hospital would have saved
the town the annoyance and expense
which we should not have been forced
to bear. The resolution provided that
the hospital shall be erected by the
Levy Courts, shall be under the con-
troll of the State Board of Health and
that funds for its maintainence shall be
provided for by the Legislature. Coun.
Gilman Grieves also took an active part
in recommending uniform fre-plug
connections for Wilmington and dowr
state towns. He was also favorable tc
the "Home Rule Plan" in which towns
might have the right to borrow funds
to the amount of ten per cent of its as
sessed realestate valuation without be
ing put to the trouble of appealing t
the Legislature.
High License and "tiOme Rule" Advocated.
The Convention was called to orde
Thursday morning. Mayor Horac
Wilson, of Wilmington, chairman, we
coined the delegates. William Pennt
will, of Dover, was elected secretar
of the Convention and the followin
were elected honorary vice-presidenti
Col. Theodore Townsend, Milford
Mayor E. G. Boyd, New Castle; an
Councilman Harry B. Grieves, Smyrna
A demand for high liquor license fet
claimed a prominent part in the day
discussion. Mayor Boyd presented
paper for the New Castle represent
ttves, urging that each city and tow
have the power to fix bond issues by
vote of the citizens and also advocatlr
that the money derived from the sa
of liquor be divided between the Sta
and the municipalities. The resol
ton was referred to a committee.
which William P. White, chairman {
the Finance Committee of Wilmingto
City Council, ischairman. Discussir
the liquor question, Colonel Townser
declared for high license and that hf
of the fee should go to the municipal
instead of all of it to the State, as
present. He admitted that the Stat,
income is running low and the OIL
way for the towns to get any revenl
from the liquor source to
crease the license fee. Two ideas we
brought out upon the propose that
taxation of railroads should be
formed. Delegate Lynch thous
that the State should supplant its lul
sum taxation on the basis of railro
property, just as the individual is tax
Mayor Wilson advocated local taxat
of the roads by the towns and clti
There was considerable criticism
the present system, which was con
cred unjust as between corporal
and individual. Colonel Towns
said the railroads were by agreem
required to pay a small amount of
and the Legislature even voted
duction on that. Councilman VIII
of Wilmington, and ex-Register Z
e. Bach denounced the system. d
ing the afternoon 81. b. Grieves,
Smyrna, led discussion on the adj
ability of having uniform fre-plug
nections in Wilmington and the dill
ent towns, as the Wilmington.