The Wilmingtonian., 1883-09-22
CITY COUNCIL AND THE MU-
NICIPAL COURT,

The skcin of argument in the Municipal
Colrt question has become SO much tangled
by tue etl1rts of political partisans to turn
this OF that fact to their own advantage
that it seems an extremely desirable matter
and lifting opportunity to present the case
clear Of all side issues to the people Of Will
mIngton.
On the one hand it is contended that the
| Legislature, at the express instance of the
Democratic party added to the city charter
aud Incorporated with it, a section provid-
ing for the establishment of court of first
| appeal in criminal and minor civil causes,
to replace the Mayors Court in which such
cases had hitherto been adjudicated on,
thereby dcpriving the Republican party of
| the chief source of emolument in the May
or's Office, entrusted to them, Gin the person
Of Dr. j. p. Wales) by tho voice of our cit
izens. 1t is distinctly claimed, in this con
nection, that such change was not in any
way necessitated by then existing Irregular
tiles in the administration of justice, and
that the action of the Legislature was Who'll
| ly and solely directed to thwart the Repub-
licaD party of the spoils of office.
On the other hand it is contended that the
Legislature was melted to adopt the meas
ure of establishing the Municipal Court by
the gross abuse of entrusted power evidenc-
ed in the decisions Of Mayor Wales; that
such step was absolutely necessary in the
interests of good order and the security of
personal rights of citizens; lastly that the
new Court, though Democratic in constitu-
tion, is nom partisan in administration.
| 1t is the natural outcome of such widely
varying views to find the contest a.bitter
one, and the real issue, whether the Munich
pal Court is cheaper and more reliable
source of justice, entirely merged in the
quarrel over the spoils.
|
| by this question now holds the matter un-
der advisement, through its Police commit
tee. The Republican party, regarding the
change as an act of spoliation, have sought
to defeat the action ofthe Legislature (view-
as the Democratic parity by depriving the
new Court of it's income derived from fees,
ahd Mayor Wales has gone the lengGh Of
openly avowing that he has instructed his
policemen to take their cases before Squire
O'Neill for settlement.
How vitally City Council is Affected by
this course will become Immediately appar-
ent from the following considerations
The Mayor had been accustomed to derive
an income of between 5000 and $4,000 a
year by fines an fees paid by Offenders. The
charter took these fees away; fixed salai y
of 81, 900 year for the Mayor and establish
ed Municipal Court, with a Judge at a
salary of s125 per month; City Solicitor to
prosecute and Clerk at $50 per month
1t was naturally anticipated that the reye
nue. derived from fees would cover these ex.
penses and give Council balance of be
tween 81, 900 and $4,000 year, out Of thu
fees paid into the new Court.
The action of Mayor Wales has, however
, diverted the greater portion of the fees int
the pockets of the Squires, so that the re
ceipts from fees at the Municipal Court las
month, amounted to $50 only.
Nor is this all. The same Charter which