Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-29

gentlemen interested in this reform to
draft this bill He spoke of the labor
and study involved in the production of
the measure. The first consideration
was as 10 the number of the governing
body. Three were considered too small;
the power would be too much concen-
trated. Eleven were considered too
large; there would he lack of account
ability and dispersion of management.
Five were settled on as proper medium.
How should they be apportioned? We
had heard great deal of the feasibility
and advantage of district represen-
tation. New Castle differs radi-
cally from the other counties. II
contains city of $4,000 people, which
pays at least two-thirds of the taxes.
Another consideration was the non
fixity of a considerable element of the
city population; city which, within 20
years, will probably have more than
100000 inhabitants. Other great differ
ences between urban and suburban popu
lations must be taken into consideration
in apportioning the districts. Conse-
quently we gave Wilmington two mem
bers, while, to protect the rural inter-
ests, we gave them three members. We
divided the outside hundreds therefore
into three districts; Wilmington we di-
vided by the obvious line.
Now the county was undoubtedly
carried by the Republicans Mt the last
election. No matter how il was car
ried, it was certainly carried. To trust
the county as a unit therefore would
entitle the Republicans to majority of
the board. If the principle of respecting
oil DritiDs ic ~. ho fnlran into nnneiA
ton, how is the principle to be carried
out in districts At the general election
in 1894 there is fighting chance for
both parties in the three rural districts.
Mr.. Bradford must have forgotten the
action of the Legislature with regard
to the city Of Wilmington, when he
spoke Of violence to the principles of
local government. There is nothing
new in the Legislature authorizing
these commissioners for four years at
first. If subject to change at the next
election the commission would have
only Is months; too short period for
a fair trial Of new system that revolu
tonnes the county government. The
principle is the same as that exercised
by the Legislature in taking from the
municipality of Wilmington the cleo
ton of its water and street departments.
As to the controller system, the
speaker said, there has been prodigal
| expenditure, not to say criminal mis-
management, in county affairs. 1t is
time to put the brakes down, we thought
Of an auditor, but we looked at the city
and then at the auditor who had merely
clerical powers. Had he the powers of
a controller the city would have been
spared the commissions. Then we
looked at the Bullitt system of Philadel-
phia and modelled the controllershIp
after tho system which has worked so
we'll there. Applause. This control
Ter can hurt no honest man. He would
conccdc, however, that il might be well
for the veto of the controller to be over
ruled by the board of water commits
sioners. AS TO the omission Of speciti-
cations of illegality or fraud, its inser-
ton would be supertluous, because to
stop bill for any other reason would
subject the controllers decision to re-
versal by the superior court.
Under this bill the great evil of issuing
blank tax receipts in bulk is impossible,
without detection All will agree that
this will be great public benefit. Like
wise the provisions that make it impos-
sible for any tax collector to retain large
sums of public money for use in private
| speculation. Likewise the publication
of statements Of the county funds, &c.
make the controller system effective
and he could be perfectly willing that
the appeal from his decision should lie
to the whole board or to the resident
judge.
II this bill becomes law it will save
| the county thousands of dollars. II is
not the salaries of the II men of which
the county complains; il is the looseness
and mismanagement of county funds.
This bill was drawn honestly. The
speaker admitted that he looked to his
party while drawing 1t; could il he ex-
pected that, after substantial reform
had been formulated, he could take a
district and wrest it out of shape to
accommodate friends of the opposite
political persuasion The system Of vot-
ing for two out of three opens pOssibili-
ties for deals all the time and leopard
ICES minority representation. This bill
was formed for no man or set of men,
The power to appoint was vested in the
governor, because he was elected by the
people and legitimately entitled to rep
resent them. lie had confidence the
governor would appoint proper men. 1t
is unfortunate that the right of suffrage
should be intermixed with taxes. This
could not be changed without 3onstitu-
tional revision; but the sooner this was
done the better. Clean men should be
appointed; men divorced from any con-
nection with the levy court for the past
six years. Applause. Unless this were
dpnn Ouhlip ron fidnnpa in tbn n1aasli RI,