The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-27
TUESDAY. JANUARY ~. 1901.


Committee. The first is prepared in
the interests Of the Democratic party.
In the first place Mr. Williams bill
locates the three commissioners in
districts, but the people of the whole
county vote for them, but al no time
for more than two OF them, allowing |
the third to be elected by the minority
which ever side that might be, The
districts as laid out are natural and !
contiguous. The first is composed of
Wilmington city alone; the second OF
Brandywine, Christiana. Mill Creek, |
White Clay Creek and Pencader, the
third of New Castle Red Lion, SC. |
Georges, Appoquinimink and Black
bird hundreds. Taking the vote ut the
last election, two of these districts are
Republican and ono Democratic, but
under the system of voting for but
two in the county, either party may
get the two. Our Democratic friends
are SO positive that they have Demo-
cratic majority in the county they
would be sure TO have two commits
sioners. II they should miss that
they would at least have one, and the
same might be said of the Republican
party, 1t may have the two or the one,
according to the vote. Under the
Five County Commissioner bill either
mlssioners and the comptroller. 1t
has not been many years since all the
five districts Us laid out did give
Democratic maiorities Even the
strong Republican district above Sixth
street In the city of Wilmington
elected Democratic assessors twice
within few years. We have no doubt
1t would do so again as soon as the
machinery OF the Five County Com
missioner bill would get In good
working condition. Instead OF a
comptroller Mr.. Williams bill pro-
vides for three county auditors, after
the Pennsylvania plan, and they are to
be elected by the same arrangement,
giving sure minority representation
This is better than comptroller with
almost unlimited power. MIR. Williams
Is high in his salaries. The commits
sloners would DO well paid at 1890 a
year with travelling expenses, and the
auditors with 5000 each with expenses
paid. Mr.. Williams bill would lose
none of its force nor Justice by not
going into effect until January LIST,
1893, at which time the commissioners
elected at the preceding election
would take the governing helm. Any
thing short of that reverses the will oi
the people at the last election. The
provisions of his bill permits the
newly-eleeted Levy Court to take theil
Beats, but TO act only two months un
til they would have to step out and lei
the commissioners appointed by thu
Governor take their places.
The new Levy Court at that time viii
hardly have had time to investigat,
the books OF the county. Mr.. WI
Hams bill, even should it go int
effect the first of April does not en-
trench itself behind four years leasi
OF power as does the Five Count,
Commission bill. The voters of IN
county at least have u chance in 1855
Of giving the bill the force of popula
approval. Mr. Williams bill gives n
instructions to the Governor in til
appointment OF the first commits
sioners and auditors under the act bu
leaves him To he governed by his ow
Judgment. II is simply because tn
Legislature would be doing an act {
injustice TO the expressed will of I'll
majority OF New Castle county b
the act should not 20 into effect fd
two years, and what would be wron
for the Legislature to do would !
y wrong for Governor Reynolds.
We have that confidence in the &c
ernor to believe that If left alone
follow the calm, unbiased reasoning
Of his own mind, he would respect Il
will Of the majority In his appoir
ments, but we fully recognize the In
mense pressure that would be brougl
to bear upon him and he would ha'
to be almost more than human
ignore. At any rate, let calm CO
slderations mark the action of q
Legislature upon these bills and to u
well-known but never worn out G
preston: Let justice be done thou
the Heavens fall
80
Or COURSE there may have been sol
Illegal voting in the Twelfth distrl
l. 4.