Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-16
MASSMEETiNo NEXT
MONDAY NIGHT TO
DISCUSS SCHOOLS
Continued from Dage /

$ObsAHooS As~>>~ As>oo
and DR.. Victor d. WaAhburn, men,
bers. Mr.. Ward presided this morning
at the meeting which was held in
the Board OF Education room In City
Hall. 81.
KIND to Fight Bond Issue.
After tho meeting Elmer II. Klund
collector OF city taxes for tho Nor
thern District announced he has been
called upon by lawyers. real estate NOR
property owners and tax payers ir
general to lead fight against the
bond issue and that he In going tc
attend the meeting Monday night
and try. by the presentation OF facts
and figures TO prove that no further
financial obligations should be placed
upon the property owners OF the city
at this time.
Mr.. Klund made 1t clear that he 4.
not opposed to new schools. but, II
fact, Is strongly In favor of them and
IN willing to do anything within hi
power to have tho city supplied will
them, but he does not think this Il
the time to undertake a building pro
gram on such an extensive seal
as has been proposed. He says he vii
show at the meeting that the tal
rate I'm this city has been increased
1875 per cent in the last four years
that living expenses have not been re
duced, but that wages have been Gu
down: that there has been no reduc
ton In the tax rate and that there l!
not likely to be any for some time
and that some property owners nov
are unable to pay their taxes be
cause of the stress of the times nn'
consequently they could not be ex
pected to undertake TO shoulder ad
ditional financial burdens.
Souder Urges Project
At the meeting this morning o
the ioint committee Mr.. Ward ex
planned the purposes for which II ha'
been called and then Mr.. Souder ex
planned that no believed public sen
timent was strongly In favor OF tn
new school project and that ther
would be no serious objection to- tn
bond issue and the consequent In
crease in the tax rate. He oNere
the suggestion that Il might be we
20 go ahead without loss of furthe
time and not to have the massmeetint
for he thought the people understoo
the whole subject, including the nee
essery increase In the tax rate. an
that n majority OF them would b
willing to pay their proportional
share in order 10 make the new schoo
a reality in Wilmington. He said h
1 ntgn \,
mistake In going ahead with the
, plans.
Councilman McNabb eaid he Is a
ready on record as being ready
vote for It and he is confident h
. people are with him In this stand. b'
he believed they should have the mas
meeting. However, he suggested
meeting in each ward. so the Coui
! Gilman from that ward COULD be al
solutely sure of the sentiment OF h
! constituents.
Councilman Abrahams expressed n
belief that the majority OF the peop
:, in his ward. the Fifth. are IN rave
: Of new schools, but he thought pre-
: test might develop later II their sent
= ment was not sounded to certaint
and for this reason and in order
make absolutely sure he favored
meeting of the taxpayers: He "a
also such "A meeting wherein the who
proposition could be clearly explain'
by those who understand 1t wou
II clear away much opposition that mig
exist because OF ignoran nee OF the su
e iect, He said a meeting wou
e strengthen their ground.
= II developed at this point that q
y officials have been and are still hea
S ing much public criticism and opp
sitIonsto the new harbor project. Th
d said some of the taxpayers are clair
IS ing Il is too much of a gamble al
}. that the city is risking too mu'
l. money on It.
T.: DIR. Washburn explained that VIII
e they feel that the people want Il
/. rev school, he believed one big mas
A.: meeting should be held as their fir
move. II was on his motion that
+; was decided TO have the one big nee
d Ing IN the High School auditorium.
: Mr.. Ward. in speaking of bond
S, sues that have been made, said he w
impressed with statements made la
Monday, that after ell the city h.
much to show for the money that n
been spent. He said he had nothing
fear from any protests. for he is co
J. fident they are making an effort in {
right direction.
Mr.. Souder explained the dlffere
l. positions OF the Councilmen and [
r. members OF the School Board as tn
relate to the city government and
/; sympa thized with the Councilmen /
W cause the responsibility Cor the G
penditure Of the citys moneys res
D. upon them and they must be care1
S. how the expenditures are made.
said while he felt they would be SO
[ in proceeding he did not think OF ur
c. ing the Council TO go ahead witho
giving the whole thing very carei
pr thought and consideration
10 Mr.. Chandler. who has all alo
expressed himself as willing TO W
,d for the new school program and
a. favor of the bond Issue, repeated
assertions this morning, for he =,
8 the people who put him there wa
new schools and some OF them ha
-A' told him: Build new schools a
build them quick" lie said he p
oi sonally is ready and willing to +
III whatever additional taxes would
- assessed against him for the n
school program. He thought they
IN all men enough 10 shoulder the
Is, sponsibNity for the undertaking.