The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-13

Lei Rcrunin nj Three.

|
Let IL Rcmain ut Three,
A very great injury will be done to
II the bill now pending
before the Legislature to Increase the
of street and Sewer Directors
to five. Three have been quite sulli-
cient to perform all the duties per-
tanning to the Office in a business like
while i've can do IL no better.
mot as well. and Will feel that they
We're appointed to carry out partisan
purpose. There is no reason in the
world that the number should be in
creased to five, but to make the Board
Democratic. That it is now Republi. I
can Is the result Of the changes of |
politics in the city. which was we'll |
Known, would occur when the Com
mission was created. 1t was started |
off on the usual Democratic line OF
non-partisanship, two Democratic and
one Republican member, but in tho
course of time the Mayor elected was
Republican, and he appointed Re-
publican to take the place OF james
Murray, thus making the Board stand
two Republicans and one Democrat.
Had the Democrats been successful
in eiecting their Mayor, the Board
would have been continued with two
Democrats and one Republican, and
nothing would have been heard OF in
creasing the number to five, to give
the Democrats prepouderance. But
the worst feature of the bill Is. that it
removes the appointing power from
the Mayor elected by the people of the
city mostinterested, anu gives 1t to the
Governor, with headquarters at Dover,
and elected by the people Of tho State.
more than one.half of whom have IA o
interest in Wilmington in the line of
paying taxes and making the neces.
sary improvements.
The term of Joseph l., Carpenter, Jr.,
president OF the Board OF Street and
Sewer Directors, will expire In April.
He has made a very efficient official,
though there are many who blame
him for being aetuated BY self.interest
and looking out for number one in the
paving and repairing OF streets and
the construction OF sewers. This may
or may not be SO TO certain extent
but it cannot be denied that we are
Just emerging into an era OF good
streets and proper drainage OF the
city which 1t never had before. For
some reason Mayor Wiley does not
feel inclined to re-appolnt Mr. Carpen-
ter, and this may have given some
reason TO the Legislature to re-appoint
him by statute and at the Same time
add two Democratic members to the
: Board.
Ii the only object was 10 re.appoln,
Mr. Carpenter, that could easily be
done Without the appointment of two
more Democratic members, and II the
Legislature has any regard to public
sentiment in Wilmington, this is tbs
course it will pursue. The three Com
missioners who have already spent tn,
most OF the money for paving and re-
paving streets, and have something
to show for the outlay. should be con
tinued In their office until the balance
is expended. The people, except the
politicians. are perfectly satisfied
with the working of the Street ant
Sewer Commission with three mem
bers. They have no desire for tn
Commission to BIO turned oveEXo I'M
Democrats. at least not Ntll sucI
time as the people signify by thei
election of DemoeIesfe Mayor tina
change is desirable,
An adastf6n of two members to til,
boasdwould entail an additional ex
p6hse upon the city OF one thousant
dollars, which the city in its crampe
financial condition is poorly able t
pay. Nobody has any objections t
Mr.. Enoch Moore, nor Mr.. WilliQr
MCCARTHY being members OF the Con
mission as they are both excellent ger
tlemen and would make efficient men
bers, but there is no need for then
The Department would not be a part
Gle strengthened nor made more eff
eient by the addition of these gentl
mon. than itnow is with its three men
bers. In the interest of economy an
good government the Legislatu
would be justified in keeping the Con
mission in tact just as 1t Is.