Evening journal., 1911-03-24

arranged In the transaction, and II the
land was obtained by condemnation
the law provided for the right of in
gress and egress.
The vote then was called on the
amendments proposed by Mr.. Gormley
and they were defeated overwhelm-
ingly by viva voce vote.
Representative Moore. Republican,
of Wilmington. then spoke upon the
original bill. The question has been
so thoroughly discussed in the last
three weeks that it is futile for any
of us to attempt to discuss this bill at
this time" said Mr.. Moore Because Of
the magnifcence of the proposition
and the offer that has been made by
General DUPONT it is fitting that we
should vote on this bill and record
our vote for a greater Delaware"
Marvel Objects.
Representative Conwell, Republican.
OF Kent county. said that the question
was of much public Importance and he
moved that the House give the privi-
lege of the floor to anybody desiring
to make remarks on it. There was a
wait of minute or so and as nobody
came forward to speak upon the mea-
sure, Representative Marvel arose and
read speech from typewritten copy.
He prefaced his remarks by saying he
was sorry he had to get up and make
objection, and then said he objected
to the bill for the following reasons:
First The proposition as it now
! stands?
| fCaoopd A ,,o,,~ ,.~.d - -
where il is to run.
Third. The State has more roads
now than 1t has ever been able to keep
in good order
Fourth If any one Of the State
roads were to be used and we were as
sured that a trolley could or would be
built, even then we might be justified
to vote for such a proposition, but, in
my opinion, We are not justified to
pass upon a question of such magni-
tude
Fifth. To grant a right to any cor
poration, ever so great, we should be
acquainted with that corporation and
not be governed by any acceptance of
simple faith or belief that it is a good
thing.
sixth. Now grant this proposition
as It is presented to us and what are
we doing?
Seventh. For 16 2-3 feet of good
road bed and 13 1-3 feet of land we are
burdening the State with a fixed
charge of 100000 annually plus the
charges of a supervisor at S2500 a
year and by a very conservative esti-
nation the expense to the State would
be annually $125.O0O
Gentlemen, this will have to be paid
and those old roads vii remain in the
same old condition they have been in
for the past century.
Eighth. Now, IL the new corpor-
alton, as it calls itself. will take the
old Kings Highway. which is 100 feet
wide, and build for the State the 16 2-3
feet Of good road and dedicate the
13 1-3 feet more or total of thirty feet,
and they have the seventy feet for any
purpose for which they see fit to use it.
Ninth. Gentlemen, as this bill
/ stands today, if we as members pass
, it we are giving away one of the most
valuable franchises ever given in the
history of any people and burdening
9 our State with the greatest debt ever
/ incurred by any Legislature of our
: history.
/ Tenth. why not make this fran
[ chise for twenty-five years and by
that time il would be seen what was
z being done, and in the event OF any
Z misdemeanor on the part of a corpora
4 ton or corporations all lands should
S revert to the State and new fran
G chise be made by the people Of that
o day who should be better acquainted
- with the doings of said corporation
q than we are today. Then I feel that
y We as members of this House should
a weigh the proposition very carefully
I Would II not be wisdom on our part
:. to defer this proposition and be more
e careful for at least the coming week
3. and let the representatives OF this
t corporation present to this body a
S more definite plan of rough survey
< or route of where they intend TO have
this good road? Let us as members
be prepared to satisfy ourselves that
Q we are not giving other peoples
4 money away. / feel more timid IN
y voting for this subject than on any
r. bill this season.
n Mr.. HOffecker Replies.
r. REPRESENTATIVE Hoffecker, Republi
g can. of Smyrna. said there was a uni.
n versal sentiment throughout the
d State for good roads for a highway
from one end of the State to the Other
d such as Mr.. DUPONT offers to construct
L "a magnificent boulevard, and give Il
S to Delaware.
n Mr.. Hoffecker took up Mr.. Marveli
Q statement that It would cost S125,000 2
t. year to maintain the dupont highway
= and he asked pertinently what i
would cost for the State to build ant
It maintain such a road. Mr.. Hoffecke
r. secuted that the road would cost sucl
. a big figure to maintain and he SAID
j. he was perfectly willing TO vote to ac
cept the highway.
II Mr.. Hoffecker told an appropriate
r. story to illustrate his speech.
z The vote then was taken, and it re
i suited IN 33 yeas and 2 nays. MI
e Bell was known to be opposed to th'
bill. but there was some surprise a
Mr.. Gormley's dissenting vote, ant
o there also was some surprise whel
s Mr. Marvel changed his vote for tn
e bill. after he had first spoken and vot
e ed against II.
+ Cheer When Vote is Announced.
d When the result Of the vote was an
n nounced there was an, outburst o
of handclapping from the crowd in tn
1t public lobby. and 1t took Speake
'e Campbell several minutes to get or
AZ dor restored