The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-12

VIII the People stand Thiss
II Is high time the liberty loving
citizens OF Wilmington would throw
aside all political bias and come to-
gether for the general good of the
city. Little by little have their prlvl
leges and rights been taken from them
until bu t few are left. The passage
QIs few bills now pending before the
34Gislature will about complete tho
dcstruction OF their remaining rights,
\ 0pposition' to these encroachments
upon the right of self-government
66ould be distinctly and positively
vl4de by every good citizen who
loVes his country above party and
prefers liberty to tyranny.
The people OF Wilmington, and by
this term We do not mean politicians
d the Dickey, Neary and Callahan
stripe, have been patient and forebear-
ing under long series Of partisan
acts OF Injustice that have trenched
Z upon their rights ana assni.ed their
manhood. From the days when the
y City Council was the real legislative
I body OF the city and controlled all the
departments, one act after another has
been passed by partisan legislatures
taking out OF tho hands OF Council the
power entrusted to it by the people,
until now scarcely any duty 10 left it
but that Of levying and collecting
such taxes as 1t is compelled by par
tiean laws to collect, for the commits
sions which are riding the people to
oppression and poverty, to spend.
The first eneroachment upon the
prerogatives of Council and the rights
OF the people was the creation OF the
Water Commission. The excuse for
creating 1t was that tho City Council
had become pronigate and exIrara-
giant. The Legislature promised
economy and partisanship In II
Commission, but was careful that the
commission should be composed OF
two Democratic and one Republican IN
Republican city. Nobody, however,
has found any serious objections 10
the Water Commission. Tbs depart
: ment had become about self-sustain-
ing when the Commission was appoint
ed, and though 1t has at times been eX-
travagant. 1t has become growing
feeder to the finances Of the city.
For this commission legislative van
dial hands have not attempted to turn
its Republican majority into Demo
cratic majority. It's turn will come,
= no doubt, after all other departments
Z Of the city are subjected to Demo
cratic partisan rule, and controlled
from the Governors Office at loyer
Then followed the creation OF 0
Municipal Court to degrade the func
tions OF Republican Mayor. In the
interest Of good government, it toe
was to be non-pnrtlsan, but to make
1t SO, it had to have democratic
Judge, who became defauiter and {
fugitive from justice, and Demo
= cratic clerk. There was 10 place for {
Republican in Its composition. 1t /:
but justice however to say that thu
present Judge is honest and consclen
tious, and tho manner in which TN
court is run gives 10 cause for serloui
complaint.
Following this came the creation o
Street and Sewer Commission
farther taking from Council its pre-
negatives. It, too, was to be entirel!
non.partisan and conducted on strie
principles or economy, but it had L
DO organized with two Democrats an,
one Republican. and the Street Com
~ missioner and his assistant are bot.
Democrats. The City Council is givei
the exalted privilege of raising what
ever money the commission wants L
spend. The commission has, by II
own operations, become Republican
and now Hercalean effort is beln;
made by the Democrats to mako
Democratic again by partisan leglsla
ton from Dover that will replae
Joseph l.. Carpenter in the commits
sion.
Then skipping the City ElecLlo
also non.partisan by having twt
Democrats and ono Republican and
Democratic clerk. but which commits
sion is now absolute We come TO tn
Police Commission, created only tw
years ago. 1t was composed OF tt
Mayor OF the city aud two others, on
Republican and ono a Democrat, bl
unfortunately tho Governor W;
named to appoint the Republican an
- Democrat. The shameful story OF Gil
dicker In the appointments by Dicke
need not ugaIn be told. Suffice 1t
say tho commission became nom nall
Republican by the election by tho pc,
pls of q solid, sterling Eep4 lea
Mayor.
The police force appointed Is noar
as non-purtisau as it can be made al
yet Democracy Is not satisfied. Dicl
ey, who has a $1,000 Office; Ncary, wi
: got s9400 from the Street and Sow,
Department for Indifferent sand, ar
Callahan, WHO wants an Office as soc
as one Is made for him. shy ;h,t
now Police Commission must 10 n
pointed, with the Mayor left out OF
hus severing the last link thai boun
he people and tho city to-other.
II this bill passes, which it no dou
will, then farewell TO local sell COVER
ment, It is time thu people We
thinking seriously over this matti