Evening journal., 1907-02-02
CITY In FERMENT
OVER LOAN BILL
Philadelphia Paper Says New
Castle Residents are Divided
in Two Forces
SOME ARGUMENTS FLIMSY
specIal o The EvenInr journal


NEW CASTLE, Feb. 1-Under the
head line New Castle in a Ferment"
and bearing the date Of New Castle.
Del, January 30. the following article
appeared in a Philadelphia paper:
This usually Vuiet city, heretofore
devoid of feuds and factions Is at
present in a ferment over the proposed
passage by the Legislature Of an en-
abling act authorizing a 100000 bond
issue so that municipal improvements
may be made. The proposition has di-
vided the citizens into two coutendlng
forces, known as the progressive and
standstil or reactionist parties.
''rhe act which has brought on this
discussion was prepared by the Board
Of Trade and was introduced in the
Legislature last week by Assemblyman
Chauncey p. Holcomb, of this city. It
provides among other things that the
$780, 900 shall be expended in two per
iods or parts (s5O.O0O each), and that
except the incidental expenses Of sal
aries, advertising and other minor
charges, all shall go tow3yds the inn
provement OF streets, sewers, wharves,
etc. AS originally drafted the act
named five commissioners to supervise
the expenditure Of the money. This
provision met such an avalanche Of
political objection that two proposed
members announced their intention Of
declining to serve and the measure
was changed so that the commission
could he named by the qualified voters
at a special election. To overcome an
objection made by Republicans (the
city being DemOcratic) the act has
been so framed that Governor Lea shall
have the appointment of the inspectors
and judges at the special elections.
Although the act is surrounded by
every safeguard, there is vigorous OBJ
lection from a certain source The
progressive element, however, which Is
behind the bill does not fear this OPP
position to any appreciable extent; II
Is the protest Of the old residents. IN
many Instances large property holders.
that they fear most. This element is
making an objection largely on the
ground of increased taxes, but Incl
dentally the objectors say the city has
been good enough for them, and is suf-
ficiently ideal for their future. One es-
Unable woman Of large means goes
so far in her opposition as to state that
It would be a desecration to tear
away the old rubble (stone) streets
which have LASTED a century. while a
0ven-to-do old man said that the
streets have been good enough for him
to walk upon for seventy years. and
so they are surely good enough for the
remainder Of his days.
while these arguments seem nimsy
they are made, as a rule, by large tax
payers. who propose to appear with q
delegation before the Legislative Com
mittee at Dover. A much larger del
egation. however viii appear i'm the in
terest OF the measure. It's argument
will be in substance as follows:
New Castle has not at present q
cent of indebtedness, but on the Other
hand. owns valuable realty outside th'
corporate limits; with all its natura
advantages and wealth, it is antquat-
ed so far as civic Improvements arr
concerned, and unprogressive; no sewei
system is owned by the city, and. with
one exception, no streets are paved il
a modern manner; the water front an,
wharves which should add to the city''
beauty and revenue, arc in a state o
decay
"As a clinching argument II will b
alleged that prosperous. well-p1it
worlSmen at the two large steel mills
are now obliged to live in Wilming;oi
because Of a lack of houses. These. 1
win be asserted, will not be built unit