Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-25


went along. lie referred to paragraph
IA 90 page II of the charter which re-
lates to the granting OF franchises.
and Sewer Directors and the city de-
rlves little or no revenue from them.
The power to grant them 10 put into the
hands of City Council, which is elected
by the people rather than the Street
and Sewer Directors who are appointed
by the mayor and are not responsible to
Council.
Ex.Squire Monaghan asked il the
new charter took away all the com
mission and was answered in the at.
firmatiye.
Cnder the provision In paragraph %
of page 20, Mr.. Rossell said that the
bonded Indebtedness would never ex-
ceei 81, 600, 600, and the matter of as
Stunning bonded Indebtedness would be
voted upon by the people.
Mr.. Rossell said that sections to IL
relate to restrictions of officers and
provide for the punishment for the
abuse of their privileges. His reference
to section ~. which provides fine and
Imprisonment for bribery, was ap-
plauded. Section IA aud following
.H
said that Council now has very littlo
power. the chief power being appoint.
ments for few officers. 1t is proposed
to take away the appointing power, ex
copt for its own organization and
council will have no patronage to dis,
pense. hut will be clothed with full
legislative power, which is now divided
among several OF the com missions
The members of Council will be
elected ut large. This system was
tried some so years ago ami al that
time some OF the most prominent men
of the city were 10 Council. The
charter provides that the minority
party will have representation in Courf.
Gill; This matter has aroused more dis.
cussiun than any other portion OF the
new instrument. Mr.. Monaghan in
qu'red il all the couueilmen could he
elected from one district, and Mr..
Roseell replied that although members
of the. State House of Representatives
are elected at large, yet they are
| equally divided ana this is done
through the arrangement OF the po.
litical parties. And it is expected that
| similar arrangement would bs followed
in the election of city councilman at
large. Mr.. Rossell said that he had
consulted with one of the ablest Demo.
cratic lawyers lie the city who said
that If there is one section better than
another or all the others in the new
charter it was that section relating to
the election of councilmen at large
for he held that il elected by divisions
there would be all the annoyances OF
ward politics.
| IN sf 4 4
intention to have non partisan Coun.
Gil. There will BIO no political work
for Council to do" replied Mr.. Ros.
sell. 1--WE aim by this method tc
secure the best men who would serve. -
He believed that 1t would divorce
politics from the city.
Mr.. Warner said that in the frs
election six Republicans. and six Demo
Gratis would be elected and if the si,
Democrats had the highest number q
votes they would serve for four year.
and the six Republicans would serv,
for two years; then at tho secont
election, of the six men to be elected
three would be Democrats and tire,
Republicans, which would make Cpun
Gil consist of nine Democrats ana tire,
Republicans. He suggested that il
order to keep an equal division 7,
might be we'll to have the thre,
highest Democrats and the thre,
highest Republicans at that frs
election to serve for four years.
Mr.. Rossell thought that it nigh
do good in the method as laid down il
the charter by causing rivalry in tn
parties 10 bring out their best men Il
order to get the majority; and Mr.
Warner was of the opinion that j
would stimulate the politicians,
Park Engineer Theodore Leise mad
the point that if there were only tw
tickets, nomination would be tauta
mount to an election.
! James Alexander brought up burn
ing question when he inquired no,
Council would elect a president, an
j Mr. Rossell replied thar Council wa
expected to raise itself high enoug
above party to DO so. Mr. Alexande
said that history did not bear this GU
. and Mr.. Rossel asserted that Their
, would BIO no party advantage o
electing the president.
q Mr.. Alexander also spoke aGainst th
( councilmen at large system and held
to ne in the line of pairing off a littl
of American freedom not to allow eac
Q section to be represented in Council
: Single Taxer Harlod Sudell of Ne
8 Castle thought it was poor policy I
o throw the stress upon the primar
!, elections and thought Tint lett,
system would be that OF proportion
= representation. lie said that
!, Switzerland even the small party BIT
1 representation. Later he asked loa,
TO explain that system, but Mayt
n Jefferis announced that the meetir
i was TO discuss the system before it.
IF Franl; WoolIey favored the nom
e nation of IL men on each ticket il
o stoad of six, so as to give an oppo
10 tunity Of selection, the six highest {
" each ticket to be elected.
le Mr.. Rossell stated that they did n,
look forward TO political parties takit
3 charge of the city. a that the parti
10 need do ia 10 provide gond men for ii
ID various Offices. There is no differep
ot whether the Council is Dep.ocratic
n Republican for it will have no politic
h power as far as is seen.
The powers of the mayor we're ne
10 discussed by Mr.. Rossell. In respon
~ TO a question from +. 4. Candy be So
lr that the election officers shall be nam
" by the Board of Election Supervise
ID and shall be equally diyiaed as
10 politics. The mayor has veto powt
vi and appoints the hoads Of departmer
e and has the power of removal and m
to be impeached ny Council after fl
r. bearing. With tho advisory board
d makes appointments, hut matters
OF compensation and bonding of office
III rest with Council.