Evening journal., 1896-03-14
ABSOLUTE HOME RULE.
That is What the Municips!
Commission Will Recommend
RESTORATION OF AUTONOMY

Make the Mayor the True Executive Head
Create Select aud Common Council.
Reduce the Number OF wards-vsst
Councils with Full Legislative Powers.
Create a Police Reserve.
The last General Assembly appointed a
bi-psrtiean commission to draft a new
charter for Wilmington. This action
originated with Senator Pyle, a Demo-
crat, who was anxious to give the City
home rule In a business sense and to lift
the municipal government from the
slime OF partisan politics
Since their appointments the commits
sIoners have been devotlug considerable
time to the study Of the problem, and
they will soon be In a position to make
their meetings more public and to call
upon representative citizens to appear
before them and give expires sion to their
opinions on the subject
It is understood that the following
general outlines based upon the principle
OF home rule, hnd favor with one OF two
Of the commissioners, and for augbt that
can be ascsrtalned, with all four '.s-'s
First-Vest In the mayor bis proper
executive functions.
Second-Give him g cabinet such as
exists In other cities, or place under his
direction aud control the several execu-
tive branches Of our government as they
now exist, thereby making him and his
party responsible for the honesty and
efficiency OF his administration.
Thlrd-Prsserve the volunteer fire
service as It now exists, but inaugurate.
Ia connection with 10 a police reserve
composed Of volunteer fremen, and
subject to the call and orders OF the
chief Of police at any time when the
extraordinary character OF q disturbance
renders Il impossible for the regular
police force to successfully cope with It.
Fourtb--Reduoe the number OF wards
from twelve to ten. Lay them out In
such manner that four will be assuredly
Democratic and four sssnredly Republic
can. Let the other two be so nicely
balanced IN point Of political power that
they will be doubtful at all times, and
serve ~ menaclng monitors to both
parties.
Fifth-Have Select aud Oommon
Council. Limit the membership OF the
former TO six four to be elected by dis
trictg, evenly divided betwoen the
parties and two at large. Fix prop
erty qualification for membership sufi
clently high to insure the election OF 9
body which will serve as check upon
hRsty and pernicious legislation. and
stand between the taxpayer and Common
Council which 90 often becomes the prey
Of corrupting influences which make
sinister use OF the necessity and cupid
ity OF poor men. Restrict the member
ship OF Common Council to ten men
giving TO Zach ward one representative.
Slxth-Vest all legislative powers In
City Council. Give TO It the power of
extending the city limits and doing other
matters which solely concern the city.
but which now have to be authorized by
the General Assembly from session to
ssesslOn.
Ia short, TO make the members Of City
Council, os the direct representatives of
the people Of Wilmington, the supreme
Legislative authority and not have the
Legislative powers divided up among the
General Assembly, City Council and
several commissions which are appointed
BY the governor OF mayor, and who only
In an indirect sense. represent the tax
payers who supply the money for carry
lug on the city government.