The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-05

sioner Bili-The Republican Majority
is to be Ignored-The Commissioner
Bill to be Composed of Three Demo-
Gratis and Two RepubIicans-Goyer
nor Reynolds to Appoint the Com
missioners- -Gerrymandering the Dis
tricts.
Upon the eve Of the meeting Of the
Legislature the Democratic plans for
keeping New Castle County under
Democratic control despite the result
of the election last November are
cropping out, and even Democrats will
stand aghast at the boldness of the
schemes set forth by men who profess
| to he non-partisan county feformerS.
The New Castle County Democratic
/ County Committee met in this city last
! Friday and to that committee was sub
/ nitted the Five County Commissioner
bill, formulated by some young Demo-
cratic lawyers, and 1t Is said the com
mittee endorsed the bill. Ex-City Soli-
citor Turner Is credited by some with
| furnishing the brain-work OF the bill
, but others exonerate the genial Ex-
| City Solicitor and aecredit the work to
Judge of The Municipal Court J. Frank
Ball, Frank ID. Carpenter, ESD, a late
luminous tail to the Democratic reform
comet, and x-Represeiitative George
Lodge, Esq.
| No matter, however, about tho au-
thorship of the bill, Il is an accom-
plished fact; the bill has been formu-
lated and has been placed in the hands
OF Senator Donahoe to present to the
Legislature. The bill is called a reform
bill, but it Is u curiosity under that
eognomen.
| At tho meeting of the Democratic
/ County Committee last Friday the fol-
lowing gentlemen We're present: VIII
lard Hall Porter, Esq, chairman of the
committee, placed in that position be-
cause his name had not so much of the
| "Mulhooly" twang As Patrick Neafy,
who was first intended for the posi-
| ton; Patrick Neary, secretary; William
L. Wier, treasurer; Il. L. Kane, plumb
ing inspector of Wilmington; ID. Peach
of Mill Creek, Humphrey Lynch of
Chrlstiana, Christopher c. Fighter, de-
| feated candidate for the Legislature of
Brandywine and w. L. Scott, defeated
candidate for the Levy Court of Apo
quinimink. This eminent reform com
mlttee compares favorably with the
bill itself
The bill as endorsed divides tho
county into five districts, as follows;
District No. l, Brandywine, Christiana
and Mill Creek; district No. 2, North
Wilmington (north of Sixth street);
district No. $, South Wilmington(south
OF Sixth street,; district No. a, New
Castle, Red Lion and Pencader; dis
tlict No. 5, White Clay, st. Georges,
Blaekbrl and Appointments.
Anybody who will take the trouble
| to examine and compare the districts
how they are gerrymandered, will
laugh at the idea of reform being the
object of tho bill. 1t might very prop
erly be endorsed, "An act to keep the
Republican county OF New Castle
under Democratic control" The gem
tlsmsn who dr?w tie I'LL called it Q
fefofm nleastii5 afid nGh-partlsan IN
its operations but they were careful
TO gerrymander the county into three
Democratic and two Republican dis
tricts in the face OF Republican ma
jority of over 800 in the county.
Tho fine work of the intriguer will
be seen In the manner in which White
Clay Creek Is cut OF from all contigu-
GUS territory. Though not definitely
decided upon II is thought that the
snlaIies of the commissioners will be
fixed at $500 which will he an expense
to the county ut first sight OF 1000.
The bill also provides for a county
controller. whose salary is to be
5l50o. It is reported that William Fl.
Lee, secretary of the Wilmington
Board OF Health has given out that he
Is slated for controller. The com
missioners must be frceholders and
must give bonds IN 5000 each. The
controller is To give bonds in $4,000.
The duties of the &C II roller as out
lined makes him tic political boss Of
the county He audfts all accounts, APP
proves all contracts, and II his decision
il not acquiesced in resort to litiga-
tion is the only resource left for a
dissatisfied and ileeced creditor.
The controller issues the duplicates
to tho tax collectors, the duplicates
themselves being prepared by the
clerk OF the peace, as at present.
1t isa question whether the interests
of reform would be better promul.
gated hy change from the clerk OF
the peace, to William III. Lee as con.
troller
The county tax collectors for this
city are required to make deposits
once every week. and the tax collectors
In the outlying hundreds once i'll two
weeks. Cash settlements are to BIC
made once every month. The tnx col
leetors are to receive per eentum OF
the total COLLECTIONS. On taxes paid
before July OF each year relate of
per centum will be allowed the tax
payer, and after that time an additional
per ecntum will be added.
This Is about the only rpdeeminl