Evening journal., 1912-05-21
TUESDAY, MAY q. 1912
oonNcnMrN ANn rHE MArERFRoNr.

C0TNCIIMEN AND THE NAIbhfh'Nls
r N THE light OF developments II is useless TOT tue
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates
10 plead longer that they the land beneath the wa
ter in the river between low water marx ana
the line Of the proposed bukhead state OWNERSHIP
OF that land admitted in the Bulkhead Law OF i'Vl
in the agreement the Wilmington Terminal Company
and its associates seeking to have the misguided
members of City Council sign. and in the deeds on
record in the County Court House for the property
purchased along that waterfront by the Wilmington
Terminal Company.
n is announced today that Notwithstanding the reye-
laiions made in relation to this waterfront scheme
there are certain members of City Council who are
bent bound and determined TO drive 1t through Coun-
ell al meeting Thursday night We do not
think they will t. Our opinion Is that before tney
do anything more they will seek advice from the CITY
Solicitor or the this exceedingly important
question OF course, when such man as Councilman
sover of the Seventh ward charge of an important
public question there is telling what folly he may
try to commit but OF opinion that there are
enough Councmen who recognize the gravity of the
present situation hold the impetuous and en-
thusiastc Councilman Stovor in check His friends
have ntimated that the other members Of Council VIII
follow his leadership in this matter no matter to
what lengths Of folly It may take them That may
be but doubt II.
Councilman stover may try TO lead them to sign the
agreement proposed by the Wilmington Terminal Com
pany and its associates and We have no doubt will
urge them to do He has committed himself so
Car on this question that he sees way Of getting
ont of It except by making a disagreeable crawl and
that he is averse doing There councilmen how
ever who have not tied themselves closely TO
tho Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates
Oho without doing violence to themselves or their
convictions may that they think of the inter-
ess the taxpayers than they do Of the interests Of the
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates. That
Is the spirit that should acuate Councilman in
dealing with this question. Il is clearly situation
IN which private interests seeking TO exploit pub
lie interests. and City Councilman has any
cuse for delay in making a choice They know they
were elected by the voters Of their respective wards
70 represent the public interests and that It never
was intended by the that they should spend
time In seeking protect and promote private inter-
ests than public interests. like Councilman
stover may have misooncepton Of the purpose for
which the~-axpayers elected him, but we doubt SER
iously that any member OF City Council ad-
vance such excuse in the hope that II will be ac-
ccpted by the Wilmington voters
The duty Of the City Councilmen is plain II is TO
serve notice on the Wilmington Terminal Company
aud that they will do nothing with
tho proposed agreement until they obtain legal ad-
vice the important questions involved in IT, par
ticuary with respect TO the ownership OF the hum
dreds Of Of land under water. The Wilmington
Terminal Company and its associates they own
st. That claim Is disputed by the Bulkhead Act Of
1901; by the terms Of the proposed agreements by
the yevy deeds whereby the Wilmington Terminal
Company obtained possession OF the Cherry Island
marsh property; by William r. Kurtz prominent
and disinterested lawyer, and by Robert G. Harmsn
twice City Solicitor and authority on riparian
rights. II is ridiculous proposition that City
Council should be party TO turning that State prop
erty to private and receive reward
for such dsloyalty to the Delaware public two small
pieces inat Stare property. II " be set upoI
serving the interests of the Wilmington Termina
Company and its associates in this natter let IL a
least obtain for the city something that is wortl
while.
Councilman Slower. the leader Of this plan turI
that riverfront to the Wilmington Terminal Com
pany and it's associates. may hatter himself that h
has the other Councmen by the ears and that he cal
drag them into any ridiculous position he plesses AM
then pose their councilmsnic boss but doub
that he can give to the public such exhibition
He lacks the calm temperament and other reau
sites which make for leadership. and while he ha
sought TO outshine his colleagues City Council an
70 pose before the public born leader of h
simply has served in instances to mako himse
ridiculous. Il perhaps would be fitting climax
an inglorious Councilmanc career If he we're to al
tempt in the secret meeting tomorrow night and
the open session Thursday. TO drag the other men
bers of City Council out INTO the Cherry Island mu
and show to the community what master Of me
d4