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

tno Ctty dpuub -uu citiHbHSi EdbueTtu dt
the Builders Exchange Thursday night
and before adjournment adopted the
following resolution:
. Resolved, That it is fundamental
principle of American government that
the law making power of the State
should provide such methods of govern
ment as will enable the people to freely
express themselves; and further
"Resolved, That the inhabitants Of
the city, OF Wilmington are capable of
self-government and Of right should be
vested with the power 10 govern them.
selves in all local affairs: and further
Resolved, That the new charter
proposed for the city of Wilmington
and now pending before the General
Assembly, providing as it does home
rule for the people Of this city, should
be- passed by the Gperal Assembly,"
IT was notable Meeting for the city
OF Wilmington not only 10 the interest
shown bnr in the Importance Of The
business under discussion. 1t was
notable also in the fact that some 20
members of the Legislature attended
and listened with interest to the re.
marks. The Legislators had reached
Wilmington op the afternoon train from
Dover and were met at the station by
"A. S. Reed, President of Council
Jesse X. Baylis and Thomas Tatnall,
the committee appointed by President
William Lawton of the Board of Trade.
Thence accompanied by members of
City Council the visitors were taken
by special street railway car out to
Riveryiew and later to the middle
depot, whence they returned to the
Clayton House for supper. Mayor Q.
r. Jefferis and men. Lers of Council
together with the Board OF Trade com
mittee which acted as the host, suppetl
with the assemblymen. In the party
from the State capital were Speaker
Harrington of the Senate and Speaker
Riegin of the House. Senators Pyle.
Meredith and Moore of the Senate, and
the following members Of the House
Messrs. Taylor, ]. S. Hopkins, i. A.
Hopkins, Adams, Cheairs. Donaldson,
Davis, Eliason, Thompson, Whitney,
Dempsey and Short, Clerks Doherty,
Heeemau and Spicer, and the Rev. Fl.
Q. @. Vincent, chaplain of the House.
After supper the visitors went ia
Council chamber, where the city
fathers had their weekly session, aud
about $50 O'Clock arrived at the
Builders Exchange, No. Cos Market
street to find large crowd waiting for
the town meeting to open. Members Of
City Council arrived with the visitors
and in some cases took part in the
discussion of the new instrument fol
the city.
The meeting was called to order by
Daniel W. Taylor, chairman Of tht
Municipal Commission. On motion o
A. s. Reed. Mayor G. r. Jefferis wal
IL AtAl oh atr,,, - ~,
further motion Josiah Marvel wa
tendance were Mr.. Taylor, William d
Mullen, Jr., and John s. Rossell o
the Municipal Com mission. Charles f
Thomas and Thomas @. Doud OF th
! Department of Elections; Street an,
Saver Director William A. Pratt
President William Lawton of tho Boar,
7.sof Trade; ]. Newlin Gawthorp, William
P. BaHcroft, Dennis j. Mention AM
George W. Bush of the Park Com
mission; President Charles Baird o
the Board Of Public Education; Cit
Councilmen Smith, McNulty, Stats
Meaney, oberly and Watson and Presi
dent OF Council Baylis, Alfred Cav
thorp, Edward Andrews, Alfred d
Warner, A. S. Reed, Alfred Belts
Isaac T. johnson. A. H. Berlin, Henr
F. Dure, Thomas Tatnall, Albert G
Thatcher, William Turner, ]. d. SisleI
James Megary, l.. B. Morrow, Jonatha
Roberts, B. Lundy Kent, John I
Nields. Charles S. Wilson. Dr. E. G
Shortlidge, Patrick Neary, Samuel II
Baynard, William ii. Hill, Deputy A,
torney. General Peter L. Cooper, Jr.
Bernard Donahoe, William F. Kurt
Col. G. M. Leitch, L. NJ. Hopes, job
Bancroft, William p. Taylor, Fran
Taylor, John G. Farra, John S. Crosb,
Samuel Dillon, James r. Mehaffy, d.
B. r. Veasey, j. II. Semple. Theodol
LeiHen, Ohio Rowland, Philip Plur
kett, James Monaghan, Artema
Smith, George ". Remington, WIllia
Horan., A. L. johnson. Peter j. Fort
E. Tatnall Warner, George A. Elliot
Lewis S. Williamson, William E. Hav
kins, L. p. Slocomb, Z. Il. Caub,
Thomas Luke, George W. Sparks. Pro
Frederic Robinson.
The charter being open for discussic
it was desired to hear from the Munic
pal Commission, whereupon Mr.. Tayl
stated that it was the result of ii
best efforts of the commission for "
years. A citizen near the middle of Ii
hall arose and asked, lis this chart
people or for a class?''
To which Commissioner RoEsell T
Piled, 1T is in behalf of the who
city Of Wilmington, and he referr
to the intention that tho citizens
Wilmington shall have power to COVE
themselves. :" This was greeted wi
applause.
Single Taxtr William Koran took d
floor and asked the meaning Of secti
4 requiring freehold qualification I
holding office and was applauded
some OF those present. He declar
that about 50 per cent of the ctize
we're not freeholders. Mr.. Rossell stat
that the qualification of freehold
lated TO elective offices or any Offices
be filled by appointment Of the mayc
and not to minor offices. Freeho
qualification is required now. To {
the sense Of the meeting Mr.. Ross
movec to strike out tho words land
freeholder. Mr.. Horan seconded {
motion. After City Councilman Mean
had spoken IN favor of the motif
declaring that every man should
eligible for any office in the city, a
Mr.. Koran had said that the basis
the United States government was ina
hood and not property, the motion "
carried.
The Rev. II. Ashton Henry, rector
Trinity Church, drew attention
section 81 which says the mayor sb
not be eligible to the Office for the nt
succeeding term. He did rot see |
advisabilitty OF the city shutting its
IL