Evening journal., 1912-06-01
SATURDAY. JUNE l. 1912
no wILMNGT0N TAxPAYERs.


CT HUs far you have every step In the fight to
prevent the exploitation Of tho Delaware river
waterfront by tho Wilmington Terminal Company and
SIS associates aided by certain OF your City Counoimen
who seemingly are more eager TO put the deal through
than those who would reap hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars from tho operation Of the proposed
mont
You demanded an abandonment Of The Star Chamber
methods in which this riverfront scheme take State
land and develop Il with Federal and municipal money
and then turn it TO the Wilmington Terminal Com
pany and its associates for private exploitation, had
been framed, and your demand for such an abandon
ment was needed.
You demanded that those City Counclmen who had
been engaged for weeks with representatives Of the
Wilmington Terminal Company and it's associates turn
tho light and lot you what they had been doing
behind those closed doors They acceded to your de-
by making public what is regarded by thousands
you of the most iug-handled propositions
advanced seriously by Councimen here in other
city.
You demanded that the scheme to jam that agree
ment through City Council be abandoned so you might
res1-iho proposed agreement and for yourselves
what It might mean 10 you and your children With
insulting reluctance action the proposed agreement
delayed
You demanded public hearing that you might make
yourself heard on this question Certain Of the Coun
cimen who had been foremost In the scheme TO Jam
the deal through became frightened by the outburst
of public sentiment that they voted to have that public
hearing When it was held those of you who went there
TO protest against the scheme received dscourteous
treatment from your Councilmen, al least of
whom applauded the speakers who appeared in behalf
of the Wilmington Terminal Company and It's asso-
ciates and seemed incensed that the taxpayers had
anyone there speak their side of the import
ant question.
You demanded that the proposed agreement be not
acted upon by City Council until it had been referred
the City Solicitor and his opinion obtained relative
TO the ownership Of the hundreds of land under
water that is the foundation of this whole exploitation
scheme. That demand also needed. but in doing
of your Councmen made insulting remarks rela-
tive 10 two Of your former Mayors, Of former
Presidents Of Council and preacher Of the Gospel Who
in the interest of the people and common deceney had
insisted that Council delay action and obtain the Views
of the City Solicitor
But those who have planned to put this scheme
through in the face Of your opposition have not aban-
doned their purpose At the meeting of City Council
last night ordinance having in view the eectuaton
- that proposed agreement read twice and referred
TO Council a committee Of the whole to await action
by the City Solicitor Someone behind the scheme had
put the tines of the fork Of corporate greed into the
backs Of your Councilmen and given prod that COM
PEELED them to shove the project just as far ahead as
they could without actually passing it.
If the City Solicitors opinion be that the Wilmington
Terminal Company and it's associates hold title to that
land under water, the Councilmen want TO be in a
position jam the scheme right through and 10
nit you assist in paying for this Fiyerront improve
ment that will put hundreds of thousands Of dollars
the pockets the interested in the Whining
Terminal Company and its associates
THE EVENING JOURNAL is opposed TO the exploita-
tion of the Federal municipal treasures the
benefit of those private interests IL is opposed City
Council the Federal engineers permitting them
selves TO be used these private water
front spectators hundreds Of land that in the
opinion of prominent and dsinerested lawyers belon
TO the State You, taxpayers, must bear thu
burden of such exploitation If be put through by
Councimen, and you should give them understand
that the proposed agreement not be acted upon
until it has been settled definitely by the whether
The Bukhead law 1901 constitutional unconst-
tuuonal. DO not permit your Councilmen anyone
y representing them the private interests TO deud
you by telling you the land under water belongs 'ne
riparian owners That does is proved conclusivel,
by the Bulkhead law and by Clause in the pro
posed agreement with the city as il originally was mad
public.
Every foot Of that land between low water mark and
the proposed bulkhead line belongs 10 the people of the
State OF Delaware.
The only the private owners can get II is
under the provisions of that Bukhead law.
Several Of the most prominent lawyers in this cit,
have declared that Bulkhead TO be unconstitutional
The on way those private marsh owners can o.