Evening journal., 1917-04-26
FOR AND AGAINST
THE PAVING BILL
Tax Payers League Reiter-
atGS Legal Attack if Gov
ernor Signs the Measure
NEAR FIGHT AFTER
EXCHANGE OF WORDS


The conference held last night by
City Council. as committee of the
whole, City Engineer Edgar M.
Hopes, Jr, Wilmington members OF
the Legislature and members OF Tax
payers League relative TO the abutung
property paving bill, passed by the
Legislature. was featured by verbal
tilts that threatened TO become fist
fights For two hours the bills were
championed. then attacked by the
various bodies present and while
Council took no action. 1t was init
mated at the close OF the conference,
that the next move would depend on
Governor Townsend.
AS It Is expected that Governor
Townsend will sign the bills. Robert
Adair and George H. McGOvern, of
the Taxpayers League, announced
that the bills will be attacked in the
courts on the grounds that they are
unconstitutional, discriminating and
unjust"
Council chamber was fairly we'll
filled when Henry c. Downward. pres
ident of Council, called the session to
order by inviting Mr., Adair to address
the meeting.
Mr. Adair began by reading a reso-
luton adopted by the Taxpayers
League some time ago. favoring an
abutting property paving bill, which
Is known as the Baltimore bill" Mr..
Adair said the bill had been submitted
to the Legislature after Council had
endorsed It but that 1t had laid in the
hands of the committee for several
weeks and in the fading hours OF the
legislative session, in fact on the last
night. the two bills passed we're in
troduced and passed. although they
were not the ones that Council had
endorsed or the city solicitor drawn.
Mr.. Adair then called on George II.
McGovern to explain the leagues OBJ
lection to the two bills.
Mr.. McGovern contended that the
bills penalized poverty and made II
hard for the small man who was
striving TO purchase his own home,
and before he had spoken five min
utes he became engaged in a wordy
battle with Representative ]. Edward
McNabb. When Mr.. McGovern ex-
plained that under tie provisions Of
the acts passed certain members o.
the Legislature who owned properly
now about to be paved would have such
done free OF cost. Representative Nc
Nabb was on his feet in an instant
and interrupted the speaker by ask
ing. ITO whom do you referY'
Mr.. McGovern replied: ANY mem
Der who owns property on Market or
Fourth streets. which streets are now
being paved"
Mr.. McNabb wanted 10 know where
| he got his information and Mr.. McI
Govern replied from the Street and
Sewer Department and City Council.
Mr.. McNabb contended this was not
true. He said he opposed such
bill when he went TO Dover, but after
thinking over the matter. he came to
the conclusion that he had been pay
ing for street improvements for the
mast fourteen years and had never re-
ceived any direct benefits. After
counting the amounts set forth in the
bills presented. he figured that he
would have to pay $50 for the paving
I'm front Of his home in West Fourth
street. He said he was willing TO bear
his share and receive something.
City Engineer Hopes corroborated
Mr.. McNabb in the amount he would
have TO pay for the paving in front OF
his home.
Robert p. Fletcher. member OF the
! league. then demanded that Mr.. Nc
Nabb allow Mr. McGovern to finish
speaking and he and Mr.. McNabb in
dulged in a wordy battle. which was
only silenced by President Downward
calling for order
Mr.. McGovern pointed out what the
league alleges are the discrepancies in
the bill and the points OF discrimini
alton. and he said il the bill Is car
ried TO the courts. which II probably
will he II 4 becomes a law, It would
tie up street paving IN this city. He
said for one thing there is no pro-
vision in either bin requiring the
traction company 10 paw for street
paving and he thought the company
should be bound bv the contracts OF
the old Peoples Railway Company.
which required that company to pave
from curb TO curb.
. He declared that Il was absurd to
assume that the bills as drawn are
going 10 provide for city paving and
he said they penalize the man who
has a little money and wants 10 buy
a home. He said both acts violate
the State constitution and that they
will be fought I'm the courts If they
are signed by the Governor
Mr. McGovern explained that the
! Baltimore bill allowed for n uniform
rate Of assessment for street improve
ments. whereas the laws passed by
the Delaware Legislature provides for
three different assessments. He also
. stated that on the Monday night nre-
vious 90 the adjournment OF the Leg
islature he had been informed at Do
yer that the baltimore billr would
not be considered and he returned
home expecting that sections oppos-
cd 10 would be redrawn.
Represen'ative william NJ. COnneliy
explained that the two hills passed
came before the Legislature at the
: last moment and af'er a large delega-
tion Of property owners and an expert
had been heard. Mr.. Connolly stated
that he had always been opposed 10
such a paving bi'l but he thought the
hest way TO settle tho matter would
y be 10 have referendum vote on the
@ matter az the coming citv election
Z This statement brought forth some
g hand clapDing from the league mem
d bers present.
Robert p Fletcher. a real estate
IS broker said that Chester had built ur
e twice recently while Wilmington had
J.. stood still.
;. william Topkis. a well-knowr
n builder. explaincd that until an abut