Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-06-11
COUNCILMEN STIRRED
By RAILWAY MERGER
Mr.. McDermott'S Attitude
on the Subject Arouses
Colonel Sparks
INVITES PUBLIC TO
THE BOARD MEETING


Taking offense at insinuations
made by certain Councllmen who.
he declared, we're talking about
subject of which they had no knowl-
edge. Colonel George w. Sparks,
president OF the Street and Sewer
Department, informed City Council
last night that Council had no jur-
isdictlon over the streets, that right
having been vested In the Street and
Sewer Department. This statement
was made during a heated debate In
which Councilman Slower, McDer
mott and McGoldrick figured. The
discussion became so spirited that
President White had to rap for order.
IL started when a letter from the
Street and Sewer Department was
read in which Il was stated that the
Board has no record of any resolu-
tion before it such as spoken Of last
week by Councilman McDermott rel
alive to the consolidation OF street
railway companies, but the Board
would be willing to meet with Coun-
Gil at any time and discuss the rail-
way merger or anything pertaining
to It,
Councilman Slower then moved that
the letter be filed and Councilman Me
Dermott be supplied with certified
copy of the same. This caused MIR. Me
Dermott 20 retort that he did not need
such a copy, but that his object inI
bringing it before Council was TO safe
guard the interests of the public. At the
present time, he said, there is no Utility
Commission, and he thought Council
Il. g.. 49,. 10
people Mr. McDermott stated that he
had been hasty last week in speaking Of
resolution ON the records, as IL had not
been presented. but would be soon. Presi.
dent Sparks asked what kind Of reso-
luton he referred Co., and Mr. McDer-
mott said it would be from the railway
companies. asking for the privilege Of
opening streets to allow crossoyers TO be
installed
Colonel Sparks said that next
Tuesdays session of the street and
Sewer Department would be devoted
10 a hearing on the subject, as the
| first and second readings of such a
resolution would be given on the fol-
lowing Tuesday and the final reading
would be given and the resolution
passed. The public, he said, would
be welcomed
Councilman McDermott said that
every member OF Council should at
/ tend and that he was going 10, and he
would voice his objections to any
! further concessions until the people
/ receive guarantee of better railway
facilities. Councilman Slower asked
what the Councilmen we're to do at
the meeting. II Il was to tell the
traction company how to operate their
lines II would be time wasted, he
added.
Councilman McGoldrick said that II
any requests from the. traction com
pany we're received, they would be for
additional franchises. He thought the
traction company should take care Of
the streets on which it has tracks, and
that money due the city should be paid
before any more franchises are
granted
Colonel Sparks said the traction
company does not owe the city any
money. Mr.. McGOldrick wanted to
know when tn Peoples Line paid and
Mr.. Sparks said II settled before the
merger was brought about. Mr.. Me
sGoldrick said the public did not know
this fac'.
There are many things the public
does not know retorted l-r Sparks.
Mr.. Sparks criticised the council
men for speaking as they had and
for making innuendoes and insinua-
tions without knowing the facts
about the subjects Of which they un-
dertook to speak. He said he did not
think II was courteous to do this
in view of the boards courteous re-
/ ply and the offer TO meet and confer
\ with Council on the subject. He also
/ told the members that the Street and
Sewer Commission and not Council
had jurisdiction over the streets Of
the city.
Mr.. McGoldrick said II the public
knew what the people we're entitled 10
4 know. the Councilmen, the peoples
I representatives, would not have TO do
\ as they did do. At this juncture the
debate was stopped by President
u White