Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-16
4 chnnge rhnt MAy WORT wrll.

While there is no doubt that political
considerations are the real motive back
Of the bill now pending in The Legisla.
turo to regulate the time and manner of
clecting the officers OF Wilminetan's
City Council, il can be truly said that
the bill is more correct in principle
than any similar measure that has been
before tic Legislature for lnnc time.
For years the selection of these offices
has been made II political football, and
terms have been shortened or engthcnel
and the time OF election changed about
to suit various cxigencies, always, how
ever, with the idea Of keeping the
official plums in the possession of the
party that controlled the Legislature.
The undisguised object of the present
bill is undoubtedly to prevent the pres.
ent City Council, which is Republican
body, from electing clerk, bailifl and
other officials who would serve under
the succeeding Council, to be chosen at
the city election next June. Tho pend
ing bill does not distinctly provide for a
Democratic succession, but it authorizes
the next City Council to elect these
offices, and the Democratic sentiment
back of the measure Is actuated by a
hopeful belief that the next municipal
contest will result in a Democratic vic
tory.
Aside from its undoubted partisan in.
tent and purpose, the new bill has much
to recommend It. The city election now
occurs hiennially, and at each election
complete City Council of twelve mem.
hers and president is chosen. There
can be nothing more fair and just than
to empower each City Council to elect
its own officers, whose official terms
shall be cocxtensive with that of the
Council that elects them. II there were
any guarantee that this system will be
permitted to remain for any material
length Of time, there could be no rea-
sonable ground for opposition to the
proposed change, but the sure indiaa-
lions are that should the next city cleo
ton result in Republican victory,
Democratic contingent would surely
besicge the next General Assembly with
a demand for some change that would
install Democrats in these offices, despite
the expression Of popular win at the
polls, And in the event Of Democratic
victory in the city and an accidental
Republican majority in the next Cen
cral Assembly, the same tactics would
be resorted to by the local politicians of
the Republican persuasion.
But the proposition 10 permit each
City Council to elect its own officers is
20 manifestly fair and Just, as matter
Of principle, that it would doubtless be
vel! to inangurate the system and then
make determined effort to keep II in
force, despite tie changes that NAV
occur from time to time in the political
complexion Of the City Council. No
man can with certainty predict that TIE
next Council will be Democratic body;
that i matter for the people to deter
mine by their votes. Ii the Republicans
should carry the election, Republican
officials would enjoy the fruits Of the
victory. At any rate, there would be
no foisting upon the City Council Of
officers obnoxious in political sentiment
to the majority OF the members Of that
body. The experiment is one well
worth trying, with a view of making
the change permanent.