Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-29
FIVE COMMISSIONERS BILL
Under Discussion at a Public
Meeting In Dover.
BRADFORD AND TURNER SPEAK
The Former Appeals for a
BusineSs-like Measure.
MIR. Turner Goes Into a Detailed Ex-
planation--"rhere Has Been Prodigal
Expenditures, Not to Say Criminal
Mismanagement by the Levy Court.

to discuss the commission bill opened at
$40 p. m, with Senator D0hahoe in the
chair and the floor and lobby pretty
well-filled by those in attendance. The
chair stated that the meeting was called
TO discuss the Five Commissioners bill,
and that II would be in order for any
body who had anything TO say, for or
against the same, to fire away.
For the next ten minutes the meeting
waited for some one to open the dis
cussion. Faint calls were made for
"Turner," who did not respond FL
nally, at the suggestion of Representa-
tive Higgins, the chair called on Ed
ward G. Bradford, ESQ.,, to open, stating
that the bill was Democratic measure,
and it was incumbent upon the Repub-
licans TO begin the attack on it, other
wise the bill stands"
Mr.. Bradford, after an explanation
of the embarrassment he felt in comply
ing with the invitation, stated that he
was in favor of county reform. He con-
ceived that the proposed bill is alto
gether obnoxious. For time immemorial
the people have enjoyed the right TO tax
themselves for county purposes through
their locally chosen officers. The first
and most glaring defect of this bill is
that for four years it wholly disregards
this right and puts into the hands of the
governor the appointment of officers
who shall tax the people. 1t is going
little too far to wrest this right from the
people of New Castle county and TO
vest in the governor the power to create
board who shall continue in power
for four years and shall have the power
~
cordanee with our discretion, whether u
SUITS you or not. ms goes far beyond
the commissions OF the city Of VIII
mlngton, which have been much criti-
clzed.
~ does not follow that the levy court
Of New Castle shall continue in Office
Tor Ionr or even Two years, but the court
should be permitted TO constitute the
taxing body until the people who are TO
be taxed, at an election to be held, II
onl y live days hence, shall say we prefer
TO be taxed by another system.
80 far as the speaker was concerned,
he was and always had been opposed to
the administration Of the levy court for
partisan ACKNOWLEDGMENT. If there be
danger OF this, strike out the power to
dls1ranchlse on the one side and to carry
on the other, Applause Make the
levy court, not political machine, but
purely financial body. SO long as
political parties exist and this power
exists 1t VIII inevitably be misused.
strike out that power and tax all alike.
lie could conceive of no good reason,
therefore, why the choice of New Castle
county should be frustrated; why the
| power OF local self government should
| ha IA. kn Ia. l.,
favor OF the adoption of county com
mission bill which shall be fair and
make the levy court purely financial
body. The principle of minority repre-
sentatlon should be better secured by
voting for two out of three or three out
of five. Personally he preferred three
commissioners, rs in counties Of Penn
| sylvania. Nominate them by districts
but elect them by the county vote; thus
ensuring the rule of the majority.
This bill divides New Castle county
into five districts. This necessarily
begets dissatisfaction for two reasons. 1t
does not crystalline the principle of
minority representation, and the party
which does not divide the county will
naturally consider the division by the
other party an unfair division.
|
levy court commissioners No reason in
the world. The levy court has nothing
to do with the streets and highways Of
Wilmington. A large part of the duty
which falls upon levy courtmen in GEN
eral is herein taken from the shoulders
of the Wilmington member or members.
He or they have no roads 10 look after.
AS to the county controller, upon
what reason should he be elected To con
troll the commissioners. II would be
wellto have an auditor 10 scrutinize and
make public their accounts. Int he conld
not conceive the wisdom of one man
being elected to have the mower To saw
to he whole board; "You shall or shall
NOT do so and ca y Tho snoaLer ouotnd
from the bill the mowers conferred mon
the controller emnbasizing The yetn
mower npon bills of the hoard Under
this bill no bill shall he Maid until HE
controller gives il his annroval' and
there is NOT n word 10 limit The Soma of
His annrovni ar disnnnroyaI ina hill
subordinates the hoard 10 the controller
who NAV refnsn IN annrnve anv Iii
without oseignint an,t roasan tIorof,,r
II il uttarlv indnfensil,la AMI illo,,;cal ~
vest This rirht of veto in one mnn@ enh.
irct onlv Re the ri,rht ~ onnnaI 10 IL,
Sun,r;nr court u,hicb oni,, r,aots -,
time . yn.r Further Il ;3,,nGsns 49,,
No indiri.rv a fI,ncti,, with dnoS ~ ~,
heIo1y m n in viov ~ ma foot ,tot ~ y
annaaI NAV III tnkan rnnr i dac;siar
uLicb Iocs not neaas,.irii,, ;ro,,i,, az, !,
aiin,n,ian If iiogaif,,, 80. Fso, ,,ipiS any
pcs;,las rnJnr tLio XII ~ 49,
c,nrt,oan c" MID t,l,n nm U annoa np iTTE sS
inse diyit ~ tbe rnntrnIIsr Il n,,do