Evening journal., 1912-10-31
MoNAGHAN ANp FIREMEN.

I recent issue of THE EVENING JOURNAL we
called attention to the fact that when State
Senator Thomas NJ Monaghan, Democratic candidate
for Governor, was a member Of the House of Repre-
sentatves voted against and assisted to kill bill
providing for the financial support of the Independ-
ence Fire Company of this city. That was IN lsOS'
when the independence Company now one of the best
volunteer hre-hghtng organizations in wilmington
endeavoring get its feet here. Investigation
of the legislative career Senator Monaghan shows
that he did not content with working and voting
against the independence Company when he was a
member of the House 19OS but that he carried his
tight against into the State Senate in the session oil
1905 In fact all the Democratic Senator'S except MI
Rose lined up with Mr. Monaghan to defeat tho bill
Il was made a party measure to speak by Senator
Monaghan and his associates despite the fact that the
mission of the fire company was to save human lite
and property why party lines we're drawn by Senator
Monaghan and his friends against the company Is III
conceivable hut the official records show that only one
Democrat voted for it in the Senate
II must be borne in mind that Senator Monaghan
was the Democratic member from this city It is to
be presumed that his influence carried great weight
with the other Democratic members 1t was doupuess
through his influence and representations as VII
mineton member that the other Democrats with the
exception of Senator Rose, lined up with him TO XIII
! tho companys bill
The bill required two-thirds vote Of the seventeen
Senator'S II received eleven votes. If Senator Mon
aghan had voted for IT, it would have had the neces-
sary vote, and would nave passed. AS IL was IL "oN
defeated second time, with Mr. Monaghan seemingly
leading the opposition
page 6Oi of the Senate Journal entries lot i'V''
we find the following
On motion of Sparks the bill blouse Pill No 25)'
entitled: An act to provide for the support OF the IN
dependence Fire Company OF wilmington, Del.' was
taken un for consideration. and. on his iurtner mouo
was read a third time by paragraphs in order to pass
the Senate. On the question, small lhe pil ppe9s ~
Senate?" The yeas and nays were ordered whch pe-
ing taken, were as follows ,,o ~ r,
! Houston, Lingo.
Pennewi Rose Sparks Stirling Mr. President Pre-
] tempore-ll 80, n,a;,hau
MONAGHAN Reed Smith6.
So fine question was decided in the negative and the
bin not having received the required CONSTITUTIONS
majority. did not pass the Senate.
Tho question naturally presents itself; What had
the sefsacrihcing members of the Independence rH'
j sorouany done that Senator Monaghan IN TWO success
siye sessions should work and vote to defeat and II
the last session make party measure OF Dill pro
ydlng for The companys support?
Another question which presents itself is What mac
the people Of the city and of the Ninth ware
in narticular done that Senator Monaghan felt II MS
dutv TO stand between them and the protection sup
nled by the independence Fire Company?
We await an explanation for this seemingly out
rareous action of Mr. Monaghan, first as Repre-
sentative and then State Senator IN using MS ON
cia power to prevent volunteer hremen from optaniu
tho srnnort needed to carry their hazardous
gratuitous and benenoent work It would nave pee
had enough had Mr. Monaghan acted himself and as
sumed the burden of responsibility; but when tn
, Democratic party was put record by Mr Monagha
and his friends as being opposed to support Tor Nof
teer fremen the situation made Infinitely "orS'
, H. seems to us that is incumbent upon Senate
Monaghan to explain his conduct towards the ndepeno
eucc Fire Company