Evening journal., 1897-06-23
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 23. 1897.
sETTLE-DON'T QUIBBLE.

SETTLE-DONT QU1BBLE.
Two years ago the General Assem-
bly, appointed four responsible men,
two Democrats and two Republicans.
a commission to draft a new charter
for the city OF Wilmington. The bill
creating that commission was intro
duced by Senator Pyle, Democrat, the
regularly elected representative of the
people OF Wilmington in the upper
chamber, and was not antagonized By
Representative Pyle, Republican, the
regularly elected representative OF the
people OF Wilmington in the lower
chamber. It was stated by the rep
resentatives in both chambers that
Wilmington had outgrown its cid char
ter and that the people wanted and de-
mandCd something better and moro
modern as the organic law OF their
growing and enterprlsing municipal
ity. On the strength OF the representa-
tions made by the senator and repre-
sentative from this city the senators
and representatives from the other sec
tions OF the state, considering 1t local
matter and relying upon the Whining
ton members TO properly voice the
wishes of their constituency, cheerfully
voted to create such commission.
For two years the members of that
commission worked intelligent,y, hon
estly and indefatigably in the interest
OF the people. They procured the char
ter Of nearly every enterprisng and
wide-awake city in the country, and
examined il closely for the purpose Of
ascertaining what OF its provisions. If
any, could be applied to advantage in
our own charter. After most exhaust
i've work and mature deliberation. the
commission formulated one of the most
complete charters that was ever framed
for q city OF this size. It guaranteed
to the people the right Of self-govern-
ment along representative and eco
nomical lines, and showed in every
section the high sense Of patriotism
and unselhshness which actuated its
trainers.
That charter was taken to Dover last
February, together with report Of the
commission. The report was adopt-
ed and the charter was introduced by
Senator Pyle It passed through the
several stages and was referred to the
Committee on Cities and Towns. Every
effort was made to reconcile differences
OF opinion which arose as to It's pro-
Visions and amendment after amend-
ment was made until it was believed
that It's most captious critic could no
longer find fault with it.
Then came the favorable report and
the vote. Kent and Sussex county
members, actuated in some instances
by spite and in others by private and
selfish interests, refused to vote for the
charter, and to this day they have
never been bold enough to state why
they sat in silence and permitted an
act Of such vast importance TO be los
because It could not get the requisite
two-thirds vote.
Following it's defeat bill was intro
duced providing for the compensation
of the commissioners who drew the de
feated measure. It directed City Coun
Gil to provide for their compensation
the sum stipulated being $4,000. Thil
bill passed without any serious objec
ton, although it was held up in tn,
House for a short time at the instanc
OF some of the councilmen.
Now that it is law there are thos
who would have City Council refuse Il
pass an ordinance providing for tn
payment Of the $1,000 and thus set it
self in defiance Of the General Assem-
bly,. Our City Councilmen ought not t
listen to such advisers. 1t was the in
tention of the General Assembly tina
the $4,000 should be paid out of the cit
funds, and that there be no unneces
sary delay in the discharge Of the obi
cation. These commissioners earne
their money, and they might just a
well be paid without senseless gull
bling on the part of people who seem
know but little about the Constitute
and less about the simple rules of hoI
est dealing between man and man.