Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1911-02-22
COUNCIL STATES ITS SIDE--SH0WS STEPS
TAKEN PRIOR TO MAKING LEASE.
CLAIMS CRITICISM HAS BEEN UNJUST

desire to employ ior the purpose ol |
auditing the statement-and turthcr
the entire records of the town are open
to examination and audit in the same
manner and it is our desire that tho
prote sting citizens secure an able ac-
countant to make entirely clear to
everyone that our statement was not
only correct but was far on the safe
side
There is no possibility Of error IN
the statement referred to anl it SHOVE
that there was taken out OF money re-
ceived as taxes and dumped into the
Light and Water plants the sum OF
$I5,677.43 in Is years and at the same
time the bonded and floating indebted
ness increased $4,000, showing deficit
in the plants OF S24,577.43. and we
konw that if the books are properly
audited over the period mentioned,
LARGER DEFICIT will be shown.
Under the terms Of the lease we have
entered into the plants will show net
profit of over ST. 500 per year, anu TINS
after paying sufficient amount into
the sinking fund each year. to pay on
the entire bonded and floating indebt-
edness Of the town amounting to S47,-
500, belore the expiration OF the lease.
This figure does not contemplate
taking any more out OF taxes tor tlre
protection and street lighting than has
always been taken i'll the past.
Owing to the extremely large and
growing deficit in the Light and Water
plants, Council made a thorough in
yestgation OF the charges made, es-
pecialiy for lighting i'll other places,
and found that at Middletown til
charge so cents permonth meter ser
vice, 81 per month minimum and 8
cents per K. W. hour for current
The rates at Wyoming, Del, are II
cents per K. w. hour at Ridgeweood,
| N J.. IS cents per K. w. hour; Jen-
| kintown Pa, IA cents per X. ". hour;
| Philadelphia, 10 cents per X. w hour
| and Elkton. Md, 10 cents per X. w.
| hour.
From the above it can be readily
seen that the largest permissible
charge under our lease is far below
any town OF similar size.
Referring to Mr.. Cooch's complaint
! Sat there is a charge OF SO per year
| ior reading meters-thlS is not
| charge for reading meters, but mimi
mum charge that protects the small
user-if a person uses 40 cents worth
o, current under this plan his charge
| would be 90 cents, and under the o!o
rates he would have paid ST..
AS to the manner and time OF pass
| ing this lease there was nothing un-
usual--it has always been the practice
to take up important measures at spec
ial meetings, but a precedent had al
ready been established by preceding
council of which Mr. Cooch was 4
member-ths council had made a
lease wit hthe Elk River Co. for one
year at price 33 I-3 ner cent larger
than was asked by the Elk River Co.
and no other offer was considered at
ter this act, that particular Counci
was voted out of Office. but before
their successors could be sworn IN
RUMP meeting was called, the one
year lease cancelled, and lease fol
three years entered into. It can be seer
from this act that Mr.. Cooch's present
and genuine. and the reasons may only
be surmiseA
No member OF the Council that voted
for the lease is interested either dl
rectly or indirectly in the Newark Co
or the Elk River Co.-while a larg,
number of those who are endeavorlns
holders in the Elk River Co. or hav,
relatives or friends who are, and thel
acts Oh protest are not against an,
| lease, but rather in favor OF a leas
with the Elk River Co., at any cost tt
the town, so that they, or their rela
tives or friends may realize financia
! benefits therefrom.
The article appearing in the VIII
| utn Feb &C
= and designated an address by MI
Cooch, is misleading in every respec
e it is purposely distorted, and exhibit
] either a painful lack of knowledge c
the lease or wilful desire to hide tn
iscts-probably the latter.
j One of Mr. Cooch sons has az
q pcared before Council as attorney TO
e the Elk River Co.-and this fact coup
: led with the probability of other in
e terests explains Mr. Cooch's desire t
e help the Elk River Co., now as evel
0 at the expense OF the town.
/ Among those who protested mos
t, loudly against this lease are indivit
u uas who have publicly expressed thel
e willingness to sell the pants for $50
ooo--and it hardly appealed to OF
e business sense that an investment car
able of netting the town 10 per cen
n on $50. 900 should be sold so low.
II Some of the heaviest taxpayers
e Newark are represented in Councl
e which should be sufficient guarante
l. that the best interests of all the ia,
y PAYERS have been carefully considere,
II Feeling, as we do, that the best II
terests of this town have been car'
o fully protected in the lase, and that r
lie protest was made when such actic
lie should have properly been taken,.
W namely while the lease was under COZ
le sideration, our only regret is that Il
y town will now be put to great eNpen
or in defending the action hrot.oFt
er Messrs A. A. Curtis, Geo. G. G. Ke
and J W. Cooch.
e. Signed:-
e. J w. CHAMBERS,
ne WALT H. STEELE,
IS D c. ROSE,
AZ HOWARD LEAK,
al