The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-14
ruEsDAr. APRIL "a. 1891.
rlae a1Iaaletewn Rerornlers.


On tho eth OF September last. soon
nfter the Democratic State Convention
was held, nothing being in the piat-
form oil that convention In favor Of
county reform whatever, q number OF
reform Democrats about Middletown,
unlier the lsad Of Nathaniel Williams,
called q meeting of Democrats on
the day mentioned, to express their
opinions upon the question OF county
reform. Tnis was the second meeting
Of tho kind called, there being SO few
at the first that it was deemed proper
and expedient to call another meeting
which would be more largely attended,
and which would bett,r represent the
people. The meeting was tolerably
we'll attended. Among those present
We're the we'll known county rcformers
Patrick NearY Billy Lee, William L.
Wier and John I. Dickey. At that
meeting, amongst other resolutions,
was the following. which was passed:
WHEREAS, In the opinion of the Dem
ocrats Of New Castle county, incounty
meeting assembled. the time has come
70 make certain changes in the mode
OF county government and for the
passifg Of such laws as will throw
greater restrictions around the expend-
itare Of public funds;
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Resolved, That the laws controlling
the election of tho Levy Court should
be revised at the next session OF the
Legislature so as to have said court
composed Of five members, instead of
eleven IS Is now the case. who shall lie
paid iixed salary and so elected as to
always insure minority representation;
that there be also incorporated in this
revision uf the laws pertaining to the
Levy Court q provision for a comp
trolier, similar to tho provisions in the
bill presented to this Legislature,
known as the Five Commissioners bill,
dc.
In no other place and at no other
meeting in New Castle county were
other resolutions passed in favor Of
county reform more explicitly express
oil than at this Middletown meeting.
In no other part of the county were
tho Democrats more earnestly in favor
OF county reform and what do we find
in the resolution quoted? Simply that
the Levy Court shall DO composed OF
five members, instead OF eleven as Is
now the case"
That Is alright; nobody can find
many objections TO that, though we
have always thought that three mem
bers would do the work fu ly az well
az either five or eleven. What next2
"Who shall be paid a fixed salary"
Well who can object to that people
cannot work for nothing and board
themselves, the old chestnut runs
But mark thu next 'And so
elected" What's that? Is there not
some mistake about thIs2 Does it not
read Appointed" by thu Governor ?
No, not bit OF 1t. bnt it says "elect.
ed" That meeting OF Democrats ex-
eluslvely, who mot at Middletown on
the 9th of September last never had
any other idea than that commission
ers regularly elected" by the people
should succeed tho Levy Court, but at
that tine there was never any other
idea than that the Democrats would
elect the Levy Court.
1t WIS not until after the Republi
cans had carried the county that suct
patriot Democrats as Patrick Neary,
Billy Lea, William L. Wier, John Il.
Dickey, and H. c. Turner, Esq, con
eeived the idea of drafting a commits
sion bill that would prevent the regu
larly elected Levy Court, by the people,
from taking their seats.
But here Is another point, adopted
ct that MiddletoNn meeting. Besides
favorilg n commission elected b,
the pc 5nlc, it was to DO elected as tC
always insure minority representa-
ton indicating farther that whethel
eFive Commission bill. tho people
should vote for but three, or whethe
hThree Commission bill, the peopls
should vote for but two, thus leaving
to tho minority two out OF 1--WE or on
9ub VI tNp COMMISSIONER
But how Is it with the present pend
Ing bill? No Commissioners are to b
elected until November, 1899, and tn
Commissioners regularly elected by
the people, and to this time have beer
performing the duties OF their offic,
In regular, lawful manner, are to b,
sAt aAide tn mako room far Com m Il
eioners appointed by tho Governor, t
serve until others elected take thel
places. Can anybody SEQ in the pend
ing bill how minority representation
is assured? What is to hinder til
whole five distrietsof the county froi
all going at the same election eitht
Democratic or Republican?
Where then would be minority rel
sesentation2 What miserable shal
the pending bill is, compared t
what was intended at the Middleton
meeting. 1t is surprisingsthat an,
body OF common intelligence shoul
attempt TO claim that there was any r
lationship whatever between the Fl,
Commissioners bill now pending b
fore the State Senate, and the spirit
the resolutions adopted at the Dem,
cratic meeting at Middletown.
Though Schooner Long IL at Il
present enjoying and enforced absent
from the Statei it is understood tn!
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