Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-05-01
LOCAL POLITICS.

NO Commissioners Nantod but Equal |
Representation and Fair Elections.
The city election Is to be held on the |
lrst Saturday In June this year, as usual. |
md there will still be the samNnumber |
II Councilmen 10 eiect-one from each |
ward, and, besides, two ASSESSORS and col |
ectors of taxes. But this will be the last |
II the annual city elections. Next year |
here will be none, and the following year
(189l) there will be an election for Mayor.
President of City Council, City Treasurer,
City Solicitor, two assessors and collect
RS and one m, mbsr OF 20 lnd FIR IN each
WAri. From the first OF June, 1880, CITY
Council will consist OF only twelve mem
bere, besides the President. These
changes will all be the result OF the ben-
NAL election bill passed by the late Lcgis-
lature. The registration OF voters will be
on the 18th and 18th OF May, and posters
are now up announcing that fact.
The biennial election bill was passed
under considerable pressure No doubt
the members of the Legislature were
made 10 believe that 1t was very popular.
or they would not have passed 1t. That a
reaction has taken place in sentiment
upon the merits Of the bill there can be
no doubt. 1t is rendered very certain
now that before 1t passed 1t underwent
the careful pruning aud manipulation of
Wilmington's two Democratic leaders.
Messrs. Eeary and Dickey, as those gen
tlemen are pleased with the bill, and
under 1t they and all othor Knowing
Democratic wiseacres are sure that they
haze "holed" the Republicans this time
and that they will keep them "holed."
They say that with no election In view,
but the State election yet eighteen months
of, the Republicans will not care about
paying the taxes of the immense horde of
Republicans that have been assessed, and
they will be returned as deliDuuents next
spring and dlsiranchisei, as usual, for
two years thereafter.
The indications look very much that
way, and II Republicans are indifferent TO
the payment Of their taxes the present
year that will be the result. With Demo
cratic collectors, the Democratic leaders
expect still to vote their meu whether
they pay taxes or not, az they have al
ways done before. But It is not believed
that Messre. Mckee and Dougherty, the
new collectors, W Il lend themselves to
such scheme. II they do, they Will want
the cash down for the receipts they Issue,
In Place of Democratic promises TO pay,
that have caused no little yexstion to the
old collectors. Anyhow, the Democratic
leaders are jubilant over the present BIZ
ennial election bill, as they fully expect
TO make more out OF 1t than the Republi-
cans do.
The only thlrg to checkmate them is
for Republicans, every man of them, to
pay their taxes as soon as the duplicates
are issued, and this at least will assure
them OF their votes at the State election
In November, 1890. Republicans who
have money to spend for campaign ex-
pei ses cannot spend It for better pur-
pose than by contributing It as soon as
lhe duplicates are issued Tor the payment
Of paying taxes for those who cannot well
afforl to pay their own taxes. One dollar
now will be worth two on the eve Of an
exciting campaign.
Talking with an intelligent Democrat
yesterday, he said he did not like the bi.
ennial election bill, and he was sure he
aid that the masses of the Democrats
did not like 1t. The owe great reason fol
opposition Is that ii takes power AWAY
from the people. The citizen voters o
| Whining on, said he, have very littl,
voice In the government of this city
TLey have no concern about the Watel
They have nothing 10 say either abou
who shall be their election officers, ant
this biennial election bill cuts down the
City Council also to a mere Commission
Ii things go on IN this way, 1t will bt
| found that a commission of five council
iuen can as well raise the money for tn
other commissioners to spend q
thirteen. The Mayor of the city coul
rs we'll be appointed by the governor a
all the other important ofilctrB he APP
POINTS. The people are drifting away
he said, away from popular government
an | in the direction OF a central despot
| ism. IN all the States around us, sale
he, the people elect nearly every thing =
.:Pennsylynnia the people!elect every
thing, from governor down to townsh'I
constables and squires. But here ii
Delaware the few liberties we have, ar,
being taken away from us.
1t is true, he continued, that the right
kind of men are not always elected to The
City Council, but that is the people'l
lookout. and in time they will remedy
the evil themselves. They do 1t In othei
places. Are the people less intelligent
and less responsible in Wilmington Sc
talked Democrat.
Soon afterwards lesding Republican
not of the Mugwump order, was met
aud be had about the same view of the
matter. There will never be honesty IN
city government, said he, until the people
are gwen full sway. The first thing re,
quislte, said he, is to see that the people
are equitably represented N the city gov
eminent. No such a system as $4,000
population electing seven Counciimen
while "a 600 elect but five will do. No
such system as DISTINGUISHING one-third
of one party will do while one-thiri Of
the other party votes Illegally.
Let all vote who have right to vote
and count their votes, and give the peo-
pie equal representation in the CRY
Council and then there will be no need OF
biennial election bills and cutting Coun-
ell down to twelve members. | am a
Republican, said he but with fair and
honest elections, and equal representa-
ton in Council l would rather have
the Democrats in power in Council, than
to submit to local despotism OF twelve
members elected every two years, and Il
number of commissioners riding the city
10 death the President OF one of
them smuggling bill through the Legis-
lature, TO enable him to deposit his share
of city's money in the bank OF which he
is also president "How does that looki"
said the Republican, who by this time
had become irate; but" said he, con-
tlnuing, ''this is nail In the collin OF the
Street and Sewer Commission. Let the
nails come thick and fast" said he,
"until these commission riders are buried
and the people, loosed from the letters
that bind them, can once more enjoy the
liberties OF free citizens as they are en-
joyed in other cities and States"
Win Trade or Sell
A nearly new carriage, built BY First &
Allmon. used but little; IN trst-claes