Evening journal., 1912-05-17
PASS
ACTION ON
AGREEMENT
COURCiI Talks River Front
Subject Again and Then
POStpUneS Action
CRITICISE NEWSPAPER
STAND ON PROJECT

City Council last night did not pass
the proposed agreement with the RI
parian owners of the Delaware river
| front, a question which was discussed
the night before at largely attended
/ meeting of the citizens of the city
most of whom voiced their opposition
TO the proposition. lt is understood
however, that the proposed agreement
will be signed by the members OF
! Council with possibly a few voting
| against IL. This was learned last night
when at least two members of Coun-
Gil wanted to have City Solicitor Hast
ing's opinion ON the question Of own
ership of the land TO be made back OF
the proposed bulkhead before voting
on the project. This move, however,
was voted down and IL is probable that
the members who voted in favor OF 1t
will most likely refuse 10 sign the
proposed agreement with the riparian
owners.
The river front proposition was a
secondary consideration last night.
Col w E. Stover offering a resolution
which had to do with THE EVENING
JOURNAL, criticislng Il for taking the
stand Il did against the adoption OF
the proposed agreement before tho
public had an opportunity 10 pass
upon It. In the vernacular Of the boy
OF the street the resolution took a
fall out of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
an answer TO the big public meeting
held the night before, which. II is pre-
sumed would never have been held
had not THE EVENING JOURNAL
taken the stand it did on the question.
The resolution was adopted and
copy ordered sent TO the editor OF
THE EVENING JOURNAL as well as
TO the owners OF this paper
No action was taken on the river
front proposition. a recess having
been taken and the matter discussed
In Mayor Howell's Office behind closed
doors but with no avail Had two
or three members Of the hody not
held our for a thorough understand
ling on the question of ownership Of
the ground to be made back Of the
, proposed bulkhead. the agreement
might have been ratified last night.
AS Il was. Chairman White. Of the
navigation committeereportedp progress
when the Council reconvened, he stall
ing that the committee would have
something tangible to offer at tine
next meeting.
Trade Board for Agreement.
The Wilmington Board Of Trade
river front committee in a communi-
cation to Council informed that body
that the tentative agreement between
the city and the river front owners
had been accepted by the Board of
Trade members.
On motion of Mr. White the COM
munication was ordered received, re-
corded and filed
A communication received froust he
Referendum League of Delaware in
closing a resolution in which tba
league questioned the moral right OF
Council TO enter into the proposed
g river front agreement. was, on motion
1 Of Colonel Stover. ordered received
and filed
a Mr. Higgins. Of the Third ward.
+ moved that the matter of the river
! front agreement be referred 10 the
city solicitor for an opinion as to
4 who would be the rightfui owner Of
, the ground back Of the bulkhead
! should the proposed hll-in be made
r he stating that he was not satisfied
on this point and before he could act
, intellgently on the question he want
! ed more definite information. Mr..
. Zimmerman seconded the motion.
Councilman Haney Of The Tenth
ward, amended Mr.. Higgins motion
by adding that tho city solicitor bs
requested 10 appear next Wednesday
night and give his views on the sub
iect publicly Mr. Haney contended
that the riparian owners had Attorney
+ TT. II. Ward at the public meeting
Wednesday night TO present their side
and he saw no reason why City Solici-
/ tor Hastings should not be asked VI
; give his opinion publicly.
Mr.. Haney thought the members NJ
Council should feel honored TO have
such gathering present as attended
the public meeting Wednesday night
He considered the proposed agree
ment a serious proposition. He want
ed 10 do the right thing he said but
. could not satisfy himself as 10 the
question OF ownership as stated by
Mr. Higgins
Colonel StOver Suggests Action.
Colonel Stover said City Solicitor
Hastings had already approved the
agreement and saw no objection to H.
He said he was perfectly willing to sit
again on next Wednesday night to
Continued on Second Page.)