Evening journal., 1909-03-30
CLASHED OVER
RAILWAY BILL
Director Sparks and Manager
Crook Talk About Mutt
lated Legislative Act
WAS AIRED AT STREET
BOARD MEETING TODAY

Following a declaration by General
Manager Richard w. Crook Of the
Peoples Railway that the bill passed
by the Legislature permitting the rail-
way to go down Fourth street from
Church street TO the Wilson line WHARF
had ben tampercd with and thus in
validated temporarily as a law. Di-
rector George w. Sparks, who also IL
president pro tenn of the Senate adj
mitted that he himself had mutllated
the bill and explained his reason for
doing 50 during a sharp exchange Of
words. lie opposed the bill in
the senate until it was revised when
he supported it.
Mr.. Crook last week requested The
Street and Sewer Directors for fran
cnise Tor the extension, declaring at
that time that the bill permitting IL
had ben executed and become a law.
Mr. Sparks was not present then. A
resolution granting the franchise was
read twice. and was TO have been taken
UP for adoption this morning.
This morning. Mr.. Crook surprised
President Melvin and Director Cray
| by declaring that he had erred in an
nouncing last week that the bill had
become a law.
Il had every reason at that time,s
Mr.. Crook said, to believe that tile
bill had become a law. Unfortunately
for the Peoples Railway property. L has
developed that the bill had been tam
pered with. that IL had ben mutilated,
In fact and that II had accordingly
not become n law. The back with tho
proper signatures was torn of IL ap-
pears. I can't tell you who did It.
Bill Was Mutilated.
Director Sparks at once interrupted.
Il did It." he said sharply.
"Weil, I'm sorry for YOU" reioined
Mr. Crook.
And I'm sorry for the snake crooked
methods of some OF your friends" Di-
rector Sparks added heatcdly.
"The bill had been signed by tho
Speaker Of the House and been sncakeG
to Wilmington without taking the pro-
per procedure in the Senate"
, he said. II had the back
page re- enrolled and sent TO the
presiding officers In the proper form
would not be responsible. Mr. CROOK
r for some Of the things your friends do.
. I'm not here for 10 account for what
p my friends do. I'm here to represent
8 the Peoples Railway" said Air. Crook,
. "Woll. they made a beautiful effort,
J but they didn't do the work" was Mr..
Q Sparks parting shot.
G In view OF the fact that Mr.. Crook
e could not present a certified copy OF
y the bill. the directors could not con-
{ slider the resolution for the franchise
further this morning. Action must be
awaited until a certified copy of tho
BILL signed by Governor Pennewill, Is
produced.
When Mr.. Sparks was asked what
irregularlty had prompted his snake
crooked" remark he became reticent.
Incident at Legislature.
To-day's clash between Senator
Sparks and Mr.. Crook is said to be
the outcome OF a little incident that
happened at the state Senate day
or two after the Fourth street bill had
been passed.
Ii was a Senate bill. introduced by
Senator Monaghan. and actively work.
ed for by Senator Finn. After The
bill had ben enrolled it was taken to
Speaker Cooper Of the Houes 10 be
. signed. one of the Senator's taking tho
= bill at the time. Then instead OF the
r bin being submitted to President pro
} TEN. Sparks for his signature it is said
!. il was rendered 10 Lieutenant Govern 1r
, Mendinhall, who Is president Of tho
, Senate. This is said TO have been taken
/, by Mr.. Sparks as a discourtesy and
an affront and the result was clash
= which resulted I'm the bill being re-
4 enrolled and resigned.
:. Mr.. Sparks defeated the first bill
/, introduced to allow the Peoples Rail-
. way to use certain streets occupied by
the Wilmington City Railway. Later
:. a compromise bill specifying Fourth
street was agreed upon.