Evening journal., 1912-05-08
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1912
A rrw WORDS no TAXPAYERS.

THE very eve of the tax-dodgns Wilmington
- Terminal Company and its allies lamming through
CITY Council the plan for the exploitation OF the Dea-
ware River Waterfront with Federal and CITY iuhus'
InE EVENING Journal desires 70 layo heai'-'o-
heart talk with the Wilmington taxpayers ON the h-
duty Of a proposition which binds the taN-p"Shs pun
lie TO finance tho establishment in this city or Water
front Trust that can strangle will the commercial
future of our city.
We take il that there is not aSpaycr in our CITY
who is not heartily in Of the establishment OF
waterfront and its development along lines that VIII
make for the commercial greatness Of Wilmington ana
the prosperity of our people
We take il that there is not taxpayer In our city
who does not think that Wilmington should have its
share of the deep-sea and coastwise rahe That now
masses within sight OF city and takes ON aud as
charges cargoos in Philadelphia and Chester.
II would be an exceedingly unpatriotc citizen and
taxpayer who would NOT declare himself in iaVor OF
those things But when It comes to the development
of that waterfront with the funds of the people of the
United States and of the taxpayers of the city OF Will
ningon and then turning to private and aN-dods-
ing interests for exploitation and speculation those
improvements made with public funds We take it that
there can be i'm the minds of intelligent taxpayers but
one opinion II is in the nature of things that per-
sons Of intelligence who know of the muncipalized
waterfrons of New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles.
Tacoma and scores Of other places. should put she
stamp of approval upon such a sordd selfish, out
rageous and one-sidcd proposition that with which
the tax-dodging wilmington Terminal Company and its
allies boast they have hypnotized the members OF City
Council.
We take it that those Republican taxpayers who elect
ed to Council the Republican members of that body
have no desire to them iammed down neck-deep in
Cherry island mud TO serve the interests Of
those tax-dodging patriots who seeking to exploit
our waterfront with public funds for private benefit
We take Il that those Democratic taxpayers who
elected to City Council the Democratic members of that
body have no desire TO them iammod down. neck
deep in Cherry Island miro TO enable those same
taN-dodging private interests to reap millions from
the exploitation land that has been improved
and made of speculative value by vast expenditures
of funds contributed by the people Of the United
States and tho taxpayers of the city of Wilmington
We also take it that Wilmington taxpayers, regard
less of whether they be Republicans Democrats did
not elect these Councilmen with any idea that they
would devote themselves for weeks to Star Chamber
consideration of such inquous waterfront expota-
hon scheme and then instead of giving to the taxpay-
ers ample time for the consideration aud discussion Of
that scheme. sit supney the ends Of Wilmington
Terminal Company jacks and permit the tax-dodging
exploers jam the proposition through City Council
The taxpayers i'm the outlying sections Of the city
Of Wilmington have been clamoring for better police
protection themselves and their wives and chill
dren and in demand they have been supported by
tho Board Of Police Commissioners Have the Council
found either the time the money to supply such
much needed protection to those sections that are
menaced by lawlessness? No; but they have spent
weeks in Star Chamber conferences with representatives
of the tax-dodging Wilmington Terminal Company and
it's allies in formulating a scheme the exploitation
the Delaware waterfront with public funds fol
private benefit preparing commit the taxpayers
of Wilmington to build for tax dodgers system OF
wide city streets through Cherry Island marsh.
Taxpayers in many sections of city have beer
clamoring for months, and in instances for
streets running through improved
property. Have the City Councmen devoted their TIM
effective effort obtain for such taxpayers the goo
streets they demand and have right to expect? No
but those same Councilmen about to jam through
City Council waterfront exploitation scheme tina
binds the taxpayers Of Wilmington who unable I
obtain good streets for themselves. pay in futur
for 2oo-foot boulevard and system of rang
ing in width from 100 to so feet for the IN
tax-dodging Wilmington Terminal Company whicl
paws not cent Of city tax and only fraction tn
county tax II should pay.
Taxpayers who live in the Happy Valley section