The Wilmington morning star., 1946-07-04
MonF ABOUT
MANAGER
FROM PAGE ONE

ment last night, Benson sald ne
would have accepted the position
when it Was offered to him AFTER
A. C. Nichols resignation late last
April i the council had been I'M
animous.
Appreciate Confidence
81 appreciated then, and l ap-
preciate now. the confidence the
majority of the council has ex-
pressed in me-" Benson said.
"But I think it advisable that
1 do not accept the permanent
position unless the full councll
wishes it.
eff all seven men vote unanlm-
ously, I shall he happy and CRATE
full to carry cut their wish
The two undecided councllmen'
Harriss Newman and J. =. l..
Wade, could not be reached for a
statement last night. 1t is expect
ed however, that they will join
their fellow representatives in Civ
ing Benson the unanimous vote OF
confidence.
Newman and Wade. the only two
councilmen who voted against Ben
son last April. said they die so at
the time because they thought it
unfair" to give Benson the perm
anent post 'on such short notice"
Both said that the council and
Benson should be allowed to give
further consideration to the mat
ter in lieu Of making a "hasty deci-
SION
Canvas Of Council
A canvass of the other four
councilnen last night revealed that
their original vote for Benson still
stands strongly.
"We think he's doing a swell
job" Councilman Garland S. Cur
rim said, land we're right behind
him all the way"
Councilman Robert S. LeGwin,
the man who introduced the motion
to make Benson permanent man.
ager in April. said, 'He suited me
fine then and he suits ME even
better now"
Councilman Walter E. Yopp, who
seconded the original motion, de-
clared, "I'm still 100 per cent for
Benson and I'll vote for him again
as soon as the matter comes up
Il believe he is the hest choice
we could make" Councilman R. L.
Burnett said. Burnett, the newest
member of the board, succeeded
the late Ray Pollock about two
months ago. Pollock also voted
for Benson at the April meeting.
All four councilmen and Mayor
Lane pointed out the important
city business Benson has done al
ready in the two months since he
assumed the post on May l.
Accomplishments
Among his accomplishments are:
Cd The successful conclusion OF
the Sunset Park water deal which
hung fire so long under Nichols.
The transaction was closed for
$45, 900, exactly $40, 900 less thar
the proposed price, and Sunset
Park residents have been getting
city water at regular city rates
since July l.
az The completion of prelimin-
airy plans Tor a 500, 900 million
gallon reserve water tank, a pro
posal of several years standing
Benson will advertise for bids for
the project Immediately in order
to get the tank under construction
as soon as possible.
(5) The strong renewal of nego-
tiations with the State Highway
commission for a through truck
route and other highway improve.
ments in the city.
Initiates Survey
az The initiation of a sweeping
survey of Wilmington's waterfront
with a view to elimination of fire
hazards.
IS The ley pursuit Of negotia.
tions for an adequate fire-boat.
(G The resurfacing of streets
in newly-annexed Sunset Park anc
East Wilmington.
Cd The imitation of negotiations
with the Tide Water Power com,
pany for street-lights in the new
city areas.
Aided Bond Election
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