Evening journal., 1912-05-11
SATURDAY. MAY II. 1912
TT is UP TO THE TAxPAYERs.


r IT IS useless for City Councmen and their apollo
rists TO attempt 10 distract the attention OF tho
taxpayers Of Wilmington from the real issues nvolv-
cd in controversy now on relative to the pela-
ware river waterfront exploitation scheme Of the Will
mnrton Terminal Company and it's allies by pleading
that Wilmington should have developed waterfront
and that such a waterfront would serve to make our
city an important Atlantic port
from the outset OF this controversy the present
time no ono has denied that. Nor has anyone iaiiea
10 urge that the riverfront be developed so our eiV
NAV have it's share Of the doep-soa and coastwise
Waterborne traffic that now goes Philadelphia. ches-
Ter and elsewhere Neither has II been denied that
piers and drydocks and everything else that goes
with waterfront would contribute greatly to the pros
nery of our city and its inhabitants Those are not
questions in controversy. 1t would bo an exceedingly
unpatriotic wimingtonian who would deny any OF
those propositions.
Ono of tho real and Eroat questions involved is
ubether CITY Council shall agree that the waterfront
shall be developed with tho Of taxpayers or tne
benefit of speculative taxdodgers while the needs OF
the taxpayers remain unsupplied by this same CITY
Council that seemingly has worked so cnergetcaiy IN
hchaf f the taxdodgcrs that lost sight entirely
Of the taxpayers and their interests.
n is useless for the owners OF that Cherry Island
marsh waterfront 10 enter tho plea that they should
not pay taxes their marsh land holdings merely
because such holdings have failed to be profitable 20
them Il is equally useless for those City counolmen
who arc booming this Star Chamber scheme for the
benefit OF tax-dodgers and at the expense OF tax
payers. to advance such plea If It we're iustihahle
there is not an owner OF improbable piece OF real
estate in Wilmington. matter whether il hc mprov-
cd or unmprovcd who might not with equal grace
claim exemption all city taxes. There hum
dreds of mon and who own building lots in
different sections OF this city and who holding
them for speculative and investment purposes. There
is not Of them who is not paying taxes into the
city treasury such Improbable holdings; and yet
here arc these Cherry Island marsh land spectators,
who have hundreds OF untsxed land right in
tho city and who pay taxes whatever into the city
treasury who not only have tax exemption, but say
they oug' to have it, The Councmen not only
seem think that is proper plea but they want to
assist those exempted in getting between 500
and 500 acres more Of such speculative land to be
held from city taxes, and also TO pledge the tax
payers Of city to provide for these Spectators
who pay no city taxes a magnificent system Of boule-
wards and streets through their untaxcd building lots,
at the expense Of those taxed property owners who
cIamor fruitlessly for improvements are needed
for the benefit Of their fast-Iand properties
II is useless for the Councilmen plead that there
any purpose to put this riverfront deal
through without acquanting the taxpayers with its
provisions.
THE EVENING JOURNAL is in position to say
that there was explicit understanding among the
conferees that nothing should be made public rels-
tive to the proposed agreement with the Wilmington
Terminal Company and its allies until it had been
Councilman White. who is first cousin OF Will
liam G. Mahaify. president Of the Wilmington Terminal
Company. told a representative OF THE EVENING
JOURNAL that the agreement would not be made pub
lie until after il had been consummated, and that
there an understanding to that effect among the
conferees
Councilman Hinger told citizeh aud a taxpayer OF
this city that il not the purpose make tho agree
ment public until it had been put through.
II was information Of that that prompted THE
EVENING JOURNAL. 10 make its first attack upon the
Star Chamber proceeding and force publicity
It was realization Of the unfairness of the agree
ment to the taxpayers that prompted THE EVENING
JOURNAL to demand delay until public opinion on a
proposition Of such importance and magnitude might
become crystalized. II has fought for and obtained
that delay and there will be a public hearing on
next Wednesday evening in City Hall thai will be open
TO all taxpayers.
Now il is clearly up the property owners OF
our city If they desire TO remain at home and have
themselves and their interests exploited bv City
Councimen who should be the first TO protect thei,
interests. they will have no except themselves tc
blame. they have had fair warning that the Coun
cimen will put their deal through for the Wilmington
Terminal Company and its lilies unless they are