Evening journal., 1897-03-19
THE new CITY CHARTE
The Report Adopted After
Being Thoroughly Discussed.
LEGISLATIVE :MEMBBRs PRESENT.

SINGLE TAKERS ATTEND THE
MEETING AND RAISE OBJEC-
TIONS TO SEVERAL CLAUSES.
MR.. THATCHER's RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED.
Greater Wilmington, improved ad-
vantages and modern laws have re-
ceived a boost" One OF the most en-
thusiastic mass meetings ever held in
Wilmington was that Of last night, in
which the proposed new city charter
was the topic of discussion.
The meeting was held in the Build
ers' Exchange rooms, and drew to-
gether nearly all of Wilmingtons fore
most business and industrious laboring
men.
For several years past Wilmington
has gradually forged ahead in all en-
terprises until her fame as a business
centre has grown. In municipal af-
fairs the city has been greatly handicap
ped by the present city charter, and the
new one now introduced at Dover, if
passed, will place Wilmington on a
footing with the most enterprising
cities having local self-government
The commission to review the pros
perity of other cities and their organic
law and then frame a new charter was
appointed by an act passed by the Gen
eral Assembly on April "a, 1895. and it
has submitted to the present Legisla-
ture its report.
When the commission was first
named it consisted of Daniel w. Tay-
| lor, Alfred ID. Warner, w. ID. Mullen.
Jr., and John S. Rossell Mr.. Warner
| resigned from the commission and
Frank Pyle was chosen to fill the va
cancy. Permanent organization of the
commission was effected by the election
of Daniel w. Taylor as chairman, and
| John S. Rossell as secretary.
In order that the citizens of Will
mington could have the charter ex-
planned to them a mass-meeting was
arranged for last night, and to increase
public interest the members of the Leg
islature were invited to come to Will
mingtOn and attend the meeting. The
invitation was accepted and arrange.
ments perfected for the visit. The
members arrived here yesterday after.
noon at 3.45 o'clock, and were met by
committee from the Board of Trade
and given a trolley ride over the city
At ShellpOt Park a lunch was served
The second deputation did not arrive
owing to a pressure of divorce matter
The members were quartered at tn,
Clayton House, and after supper pro
ceeded to the meeting in a body.
MAYOR JEFFERIS CHAIRMAN.
President William Lawton, of tn
Board of Trade, called the meeting d
= order, and on motion of A. S. Rec
. Mayor Jefferis was elected chairman
4 and Josiah Marvel secretary. Mr.. Rec
= moved that Mr.. Taylor read and ex
e plain the most particular point in tn
: charter
Mr.. Taylor objected saying that
! would take up too much time, and be
sides he was not capable of giving
satisfactory explanation. "This is on
report" he said, holding up a book O
the charter
S John G. Doyle asked if the propose
new charter was gotten up to henef
all Wilmington. Mr.. Rcssell replie
that IL was
: SINGLE TAKERS PRESENT.
/ Then came the Single Takers. wi
liam Koran objected to section 4. whic
states that no person shall be oligibl
to any elective office created by tn
act, TO be filed by appointment OF I'll
mayor, who shall not be at the time
I ! his election or appointment over
years Of age, a citizen of the state an
freehOlder.' Mr.. HOran objected to tl
word "froeholder' saying that about
per cent Of the people of Wilmingto
were freeholders Philadelphia, wit
all her commissions, shows up with s
per cent. Baltimore so, and Chicag
Sc. 1T seems that the basis Of tn
! government is property first and maj
hood next. he said, land you must m
: vote away the rights of individual ma
as this is a free country and all me
that have a right to vote, should haI
- a right to hold office"
Mr.. R0ssell said if the word "fre
holder" was Objectionable he would
in favor of striking it out
Councilman Meaney said he was n
in favor of the word. as every ms
should have access to office, and the
are in this city men who pay taxes. d
rect or indirect, and this should not
overlooked.
Mr.. Horan moved to strike out Il
word. The motion was put and carrie
but not announced by the chair.
Rev. II. Ashton Henry, rector
Trinity Church, asked why the may
at any time, should suspend or reno
from office any incumbent by notifyil
him to that effect, and sending a me
sage to City Council, stating in writi
his reasons for such suspension or !
moval Mr.. Henry said the clause ga
reason, but no redress.
Mr. Rossell, who was speaker
the commission, said that the comm
sioners thought that the mayor had
right TO remove from office such p'
sons who did not cooperate with h
in municipal affairs.
= MIR. THATCHER'S RESOLUTION:
). A. c. Thatcher arose and offered the
hit resolutions, which were afterwaI
j. adopted:
ll- Resolved, That it is a fundamen
e. principle of the American governmS
k; that the law-making power Of the ST;
k; should provide such methods of govel
NJ ment as will enable the people to fre'
express themselves; and. further,
Resolved. That the inhabitants
the CITY of Wilun uoton are papablp