Evening journal., 1913-02-04
FIGHT OPENS
TO SAVE The
CITY AS PORT
Business Men Will Strenuous
ly Object to Consolidation
With Philadelphia
WILL ASK PRESIDENT
TO BALK THE PLAN

AT mcctlng or the Board OF Dl-
rectors of the Chamber Of Commerce
at noon today immediate action was
taken TO sidetrack any move to con-
solidate the Customs Hougc here with
that of Philadelhia The meeting was
held In the DUPONT Building and was
largely attended A motion was
unanimously passed calling upon all
the business and manufacturing in
terests here that use Wilmington as
port of entry. 10 name represon
tative TO go to Washington to see the
President and Secretary of Treasury
and use his influence to prevent a
consolidation such as is conteni-
plated
There was much enthusiasm at to.
days meeting. Among those who on.
posed the consolidation were James
Fl. Wright George w. Sparks John
y Raskoh
Opposition viii he General
The movement to consolidate the
Wilmington Customs House with
Philadelphia in the reirenchment
scheme to reduce the expense Of the
customs house service all over the
country, first brought to the atten-
tion Of the citizens of this city and
State By THE EVENING JOURNAL.
has caused much talk and judging
from the remarks heard on all sides
there win be a strong light made to
prevent the consolidation The in
tcrests behind Philadelphia. particu-
larly Congressman j. Hampton
Moore, of Chat city, who, wants that
port made one of the biggest in the
~ ftIr
by taking in hundreds of miles around
Philadelphia viii find strong dele
cation fighting their every move.
Some years ago Wilmington was an
independent revenue district but
some one conceived the idea Of max
ing the local Office a branch ofIic, and
taking Wilmington, the entire State
and Peninsula into the Baltimore
district This was done and Will
mington with its 100000 receipts in
internal revenue is still playing Sec
ond fiddle to Baltimore. Now Phila-
delphia wants the receipts of the
States only Customs House That
every effort will be made to prevent
this is apparent
There is already sufficient going
to Philadelphia from this city with
out moving the port there" remark
ed one business man today II be-
lieve in buying at home and keeping
what we have right here
There is limit to everything and
this latest scheme TO consolidate this
port with that of Philadelphia giving
to that city what little we are enjoy
ing in prestige at Washington should
be nipped right I'm the bud After a
bit there is a possibility OF running
across a farmer who will tell YOU
down around Lewes digging in his
potato patch he is living in Philadel-
puhia"
The act under which Il is proposed
70 combine this port with that OF
Philadelphia was passed by the last
Congress. Ii provides for a reorgan-
ization of the Customs House service
and the President is authorized 10 re-
organize the customs service and
cause estimates to be submitted for
the fiscal year beginning next July l,
not to exceed a total cost of S10,150,-
000 instead of S10.500000, for the fs
cal year OF 1912, thus saving $3.50. 900.
To 60 so the President is authorized
10 abolish or consolidate collection
districts. ports of entry. etc. as he
may deem fit, such new organization
to be presented to Congress .at its
present session.
II is under this act that the move
to consolidate the customs house here
with Philadelphia is being made. The
latter city not only wants to take in
Wilmington but the entire State down
TO and including Lewes. a big portion
Of New Jersey, and about half OF
Pennsylvania. II is hoped that witt
all these customs receipts from this
extensive territory. to put Philadel-
phis on the map and i'm the same class
with some other places its size Will
larger customs receipts.