Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-07
WILMINGTON, DEL.
Thursday Afternoon, March 2.
SHOULD CITY CoUNCILMEN HOLD CITY
CONTRACTsl

The question involved in the consideration Of
the proposed Contract Ordinance, so long pend
ing in Council, are exceedingly plain and sim
pie. With them alone the people are interested.
If the ordinance is wrong in its character it
ought not to be passed; if right, there has cer-
tainly been enough delay, preceding final vote.
To discussion of these points, we address our
selves, and we assure the authors of the various
subsidized innuendoes directed at us that their
shafts of malice, impeaching ourmotives, are as
perfectly harmless, as they are entirely unwar-
rauted. No question is in order, before the pub
lie, but the question of tho public advantage.
To that we shall confine ourselves.
1t must be plain that the system by which the
members of Council become Contractors with
themselves for city work. is at least a danger
GUS one. An advocate of it cannot deny "that
abuses are possible" while it exists. Let us
look at the mode of proceeding. 1t may be thus
summarized -
l. A. B., and c. vote that certain city work
shall be done.
2. A., B., and O. issue advertisements that
they will receive proposals to do the work.
8. A.. B., and c. address to A., b., and c. such
proposals
4. A., b, and C. open the proposals Of A., b..
and G.
5. A., B., and G., award to A., B., and c., the
contract for the work.
G. The work is performed by A. B., and c..
as contractors under the oversight of A., B..
and O., as members of the City Council
z. Finally and most important-A., b, and
Cs bills for the work are passed upon by A.,
B., and c., and ordered to be paid out of the
public pocket.
This is a simple analysis Of the condition Of
things, existing SO long as it is considered pro-
per and legal for City Councilmen to become
City Contractors. viii any one pretend that it
is a safe system If Councilmen had the virtues
Of angels-Whieh, we think, will hardlybe claim
ed, even by their most interested advocates
they are in great danger, beset by such net
work of temptation and for their own preser
sation, they should certainly establish such rules
as would remove both the danger and the suspi-
cion which attach to the present system.
1t is easy too to see that the more delay, the
more hesitation, the more reluctance exhibited in
adopting the measure proposed, the stronger is
the conviction in the public mind that the OK,
listing method of proceeding is not only in dan
ger OF corruptlOn, Dut Already become ullsOund
For, if the Councilmen find no profit in being
able to contract with themselves for city work
they certainly can have no objection to til,
adoption of an ordinance making it unlawful t,
so contract. If they have nothing at stake. the.
will not hesitate a moment to place their ohicia
characters in this respect, not only beyond sue
cessful attack, but above the breath of reasona
BILE suspicion. Reluctance is damaging. To hes
itate is to convince the public that there is geo
reason, and stiong necessity, not merely t
guard against possible abuse, but to reform al
already existing corruption.
We beg the Council not to so damage thoi
standing before the people, They are Republi
cans, pledged to Reform, and promising pure
honest, and economical city government. l
their private interests are stronger than thei
sense of public duty they are totally out of pac
in their present positions. But if they have bu
one object in view, and that object is the welfar
of the city's interests, they will not hesitate t
adopt Wnanimously measure 30 important i
the protection and preservation Of a pure an
lncorrupted municipal government.