Evening journal., 1912-05-23
THURSDAY, MAY %, 1912
CONGRATULATIONS no corNCnLMEN.
FOUNDED 1888.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMEN.
AT EMBERs of City Council sitting a committee
III of the whole decided last night to refer the
Delaware river waterfront development plan of the
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates 70
Daniel Hastings. City Solicitor, for opinion on
the important legal questions involved in the con-
troversy Wilmington taxpayers and voters. who have
been contending for that very thing and who think
that II necessary, those questions should be taken
into court for final adjudication to be congratu-
lated upon the decision reached by the Councilmen Il
is a sensible and happy outcome Of the contro-
versy and that never will be regretted by those
who have the interests of the city and the State at
heart Unquestonably the taxpayers and the voters
had perfect right TO the exercise Of such precau-
tons by the Councilmen whom they had elected 10
ONCE It speaks wen for the councilmen that at
last they broke away from the Establishments Of the
Wilmington Terminal Company and it's associates
and did the right thing for their constituents.
II had been asserted by certain men that the wa
terfront plan would be put through tonight
because the Wilmington Terminal Company and its
associates had leading strings certain of the Coun-
cilmen If It had those leading strings they we're
broken last night and the Counclmen should take
good care permit those ties to be renewed They
should remember that they accountable only TO the
taxpayers and the voters and not to the who are
behind the waterfront development plan If they
will bear that important fact in mind they will not
go FAR wrong
Since decision was reached last night It has been
said with every semblance OF seriousness that the
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates are
satisfied with reference Of the legal questions to the
City Solicitor II doesn't make any difference to the
taxpayers and the voters whether the Wilmington Ter
minal Company and associates are satisfied dis.
satisfied. From this time they will occupy their
proper place in this controversy The old theory that
the waterfront running the city has
been exploded The new and proper theory is that
the city is running the waterfront and that n the
wa nf he rifv mi at
ask for it and permit the city to dictate terms and not
put the city In the position Of being suppcant to
them for small pieces Of land under water which it is
asserted, owned by the State and not by the
who profess with great show of magnanmity to he
willing to give them the city.
One Of the nice features of the action by the City
councilmen last night that it unanimous
Previously only three Councmen had urged reference
of the questions to the City Solicitor They were
Jacob Zimmerman, Of the First ward; Edward A.
Higgins Of the Third ward, and John Haney. of the
Tenth ward THE EVENING JOURNAL is Repub-
can newspaper and those three Councmen are Dem
ocrsts. II is big enough, and fair enough comp-
ment those three Democrats the good stand they
took and to express satisfaction finally the other
Democratic members and the Republican members
came 10 their wise way Of thinking
Let be borne in mind At all times that this river
front question is in party question It ia
situation in which there is imperative demand for
every patriotic Delawsrean and wimingtonan re-
ssrdless Of party. to stand shoulder to shoulder in
defense Of the property the rights the interests
Of the city and state The questions involved in tho
effort Of private interests to get that great
waterfront and to develop II with Federal and city
funds and then 70 It for private profit affect
the pockets Of all taxpayers. and they have rgh.
to demand protection for their pockets from all OIL
cial sources
The great question be decided by City Solicitor
the courts. is whether the State marsh owners
that land under between low water mark and
the line Of the proposed bulkhead Until that has been
decided there should be action binding upon the city
Ii it be decided that the marsh own that land
under water. then it, will time for the city 10 treat
with them for part OF IT,