The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-19


Another stop In Tyranny.
As was expected the new Police
Commission bill has passed both
Houees Of the Legislature. and is q
law to go into effect the first of May.
II IL bill which, II we mistake not
its tenor and the character OF the peo-
pla Of Wilmington, that will return In
abort time to plague It's Inventors.
The people Of Wilmington. and by
this term we do not mean Dickey,
Neary and Callahan. are Jealous Of
their rights and though long suffering
and forbearfng. will by the passage of
this bill be driven into an attitude of
defence to protect what little of local
Enforcement has been left to them,
and they will brook no interference
that will take that little from them.
THE old Police Commission made the
Mayor OF the city a member OF II, and
~ he was elected By the people, there
vas still that small link let between
the people and the city government,t o
remind them that they had a voice In the
selection Of at least one member of
the Commission. But under the new
Commission this link has been ruth
lessly broken, and the last vestige Of
local seltgovernment left 10 the poo.
pie has been ruthlessly assalled and
destroyed. The new Police Commits
sion has been dictated by the Demo.
cratic politicians OF Wilmington and
for most desplcabls partisan pur-
pose. We're 1t not for this, 1t would
not have been permitted to GO into
effect before the first of July, when
the two yenrs OF trial OF the old olIce
mission would expire.
But no. the new Police Commission
IL made to 20 into effect two months
sooner and one month before the
Municipal election takes places In
june. The new police force to DO ap-
pointed BY John W. Lawson and Pat.
rick Monaghan the two Democrats on
the force. are needed and arc to be
used at that city election In prevent
Ing Republicans as far as possible
from voting and In aiding Democrats
as far as possible to vote. This is tho
partisan milk in the cocoa.
The old law not only required the
Mayor elected by the people to he O
member OF the Commission, but put
the power of appointment to ill va.
cancies in the hands of the President
OF Council. the President Of the Street
and Sewer Commission and tho Presi.
dent OF the Water Commission.
This gave 1t such strong semblancc
OF local self government that the peo
pie were SO we'll satisfied with it as tc
offer no serious objection. But the
new law takes every ves,lge OF over
this mild concession OF loo n self-goy
eminent away from the people. The
first intention of the bill was to plcc,
the appointing power entirely In the
hands OF Governor Reynolds, but lie
having made such q miserable failure
In appointing two members Of til,
present Commission, an amendment
was adopted placing that powor in The
hands OF the resident associate iustlc,
OF the Supreme Court OF New Castl,
County. As that judge is Demo
crat and has life term OF office tn,
Commission IL assured for all time I,
come to be thoroughly Democratic
and the police force Is to be OF tn
same political complexion. no matte
how great majority the other way
The liberty loving people OF vii
mington are not particular whethe
Gov. Reynolds OF Judge Grub is Ia
vested with the authority to ill y,ican
cies In the new Commission, IT is tn
taking OF that authority out OF thei
own hands that they object to. The
desire to 10 left In tho possession u
some sembiance of local self-govern
ment, that Will not constitute a tota
abnegation OF their rights But til
Legislature was otherwise disposed.
1t seemed to think that Comini.
sion selected by itself. with vacancic
to be filled by Judge Grubb, NOR
suitable than any the people NIGH
feel disposed to select, and polio
force selected by John w. I.awso
and Patrick Monaghan us far superio
to any that the Mayor OF the city, til
President Of Council, the President {
the Street and Sewer Commission an
the President of the Water Coinrnl
sion might select.
The real people of Wilmington /
this transaction have been treated {
aperfect nonentltY. as II they Wei
not entitled to tho rights OF free me
and as Ii totally incapable of sci
government. How long VIII the pc,
pie stand tL!ss The remedy is in the
hands.