The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1923-01-12
HE WOULD CONSOLIDATE
CAMDEN & PASQU0TANK
Senator P. H. Williams Running True to Form
of Representatives Who Make Laws With
out Consulting Folks Back Home
BY w. o. SAUNDERS


being represented in the North
Carolina General Assembly by
men who are not willing to
take their constituents into
their confidence. This news
paper has information of radi-
cal legislation about to be
sponsored by Senator p. II.
Williams, the nature Of which
legislation has not been made
public by that Senator. Before
the present session Of the Gen
eral Assembly is over Eliza
beth City may have to send
many delegations to Raleigh
to straighten things out.
The biggest legislative measure
that Senator Williams has up his
sleeve is an act TO consolidate the
counties of Pasquotank and Camden.
This may be very good piece OF
legislation, but the people of Paspuo-
tank have not been consulted about it.
IT seems that Mr.. Williams has talk
ed with some of his friends in Cam
den and confded the whole scheme
to his friend Hon. Walter i. CohOon;
but he has not taken his town and
county into his confidence.
Another of Mr.. Williams meas
ures purposes to extend the corpor-
ate limits of the city and take lot
of property outside the present limits
into the city for purposes of taxation.
That may also be good measure.
but he has not made public the ex-
tent of the proposed new boundaries.
Senator Williams also proposes to
create public service commission of
three men, to be appointed by the
present -Roard.- Of Aldermen; and he !
would have the terms of members
of the Board of Aldermen extended
to four years and so arranged that
the terms of four members would
expire every two years. putting only
four new members on the board at n
time. This also may be a very good
measure but the public has been
given no opportunity to think about
it.
Another of Senator Williams pro-
posed measures would reduce the
number of Graded School Trustees in
the city to nine, to be elected by
the people. This probably is good
measure. but the particulars of the
proposed measure have not been
made public. Senator Williams ap-
parently thinks he knows what the
people want and doesn't want public
scrutiny or criticism of his proposed
legislation. 1t is an unfortunate. tho
by no means unprecedented prcdica-
ment that the city and county finds
itself in. Such pussyfoot methods
are surprising however in the case
of Mr.. Williams because Of the pecu-
liar position he occupies in the COM
munity as the head of one Of its most
popular banks. Bank presidents are
supposed to be conservative and re-
spectful toward the public. Mr.. Will
liams methods i'm the General Assem-
bly, will hardly meet with the APPROX
al of his board of bank directors who
are more interested in public good
will for their bank than in Mr.. VIII
liams' private Legislative ideas.
The Two County Consolidation.
The proposed consolidation of Pas
quotank and Camden Counties is GO
mig to meet with vigorous opposition
in this county unless the benefits 20
be derived from such consolidation
are made clearly apparent. Such
consolidation might be distinctly ad-
vantageous to Camden where Mr..
Williams owns valuable farms and
where Hon. Walter l.. COhoon has
an interest in Road Building pro-
jects. 1t would saddle upon Pas
quotank the greater burden of the
cost of building roads and schools for
Camden.
Camden would bring TO PaSquotank
an additional area of 220 square
miles to be added to our present area
of 223 square miles. But il would
bring an increase Of only 1882 in our
present population of 17.76O. and new
farm wealth aggregating only So
2SS.SS1.
One of the arguments for the con
sol.dation is that Camden hasn't the
population, the resources or the
energy within herself to maintain al
efficient county government; that
consolidation would Immediately lop
off the expense of one Of two separ-
ate county governments.
But there is more behind the meas
ure, perhaps, than appears on its
face. That is what the public is in
cl:ned to fear. There are lot Of
people in Pasquotank who think We
have enough Camden politics in tbe
county as it is. The politicians like
+. +. Aydlett, NJ. n. Sawyer and r.
II. Williams who have been the great
est disturbing factors in this county
Concluded on Page Five.)