Evening journal., 1897-02-26
MAYORS POWER RESTORED.


members OF the executive boards in
said departments, who in turn. are re-
sponsible to him.
The Council alone is authorized to fix
the number and compensation of the
subordinate officers, clerks and en-
ployes to be engaged in each depart
ment. The appointment of such Off
GERS, clerks and employees is left to an
| advisory board, under a modified civil
service. The creation of useless Offices
and the payment of excessive salaries
are thus rendered impracticable. while
the selection Of the most competent
persons for the various subordinate po-
sitions Is reasonably assured.
MUST ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS
The heads of departments are re-
quired to attend sessions of the Council
and are entitled to seats i'm that body.
but without the right to vote The ex-
ecutive and legislative branches Of the
city government will, in this way. be
! brought into close communication with
the result, it is to be hoped. that the
business of the corporation will be con-
Quoted with greater harmony.
AN ASSESSMENT BOARD.
I
piete and equitable assessment of real
estate by placing it under the control
of special board having no other duty
to perform and not identified except in
/ this particular work with the admins
tration of the city government Those
who may feel aggrieved by the valua-
ton placed on their property have the
right of final appeal to Council
] The FapifafiQm taW hprffofnln fo1-
lected almost entirely from the
owners of real estate, will not be ex-
acted from anyone if the proposed bin
should become a law The ancient. un-
just and wholly imperative provision
for the arrest and Imprisonment of de
linquent taxpayers, found in the pres
ent charter, is not embraced in this
bill.
TIMELY CHANGES IN OFFICE.
An uninterrupted administration by
the same officials for four years is con-
oemplated 1t has been deemed best tc
allow this limit, so that well matured
plans OF government may not fail OF
full execution because of frequent
changes. The mayor is ineligible to re
election, and the expiration OF his tern
{ will carry with it the retirement of thu
] heads Of departments. so that lonl
continuance in the chief offices Of tn
same persons is not likely to occur
A GREAT SAVING OF MONEY.
The Municipal Court is continued a.
established by law, but only becaus'
The commission was unable, under tn,
existing judicial system. to provide fol
any enlargement of the jurisdiction o.
this court. The commission is con
/ vinced however, that large sums wOulC
be saved annually to the taxpayers. /
the final disposition Of petty cases
which now burden the state courts
could be left with the Municipal Court
FINE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The Board CT Education in Whining
ton is continued and its charter extend
I ed for twenty years, so as to be cock
,ensivewlth thepr0pcsed new city char
ter. The commission diligently inquire
! into the question of public education
z in its relation TO the public schools o
q Wilmington and found that, with linn
tied means at its command, this boar
p had improved in q marked degree tn
4 management Of the schools and brough
4 them to greater proficiency than ha
= been attained in the schools of large
= cities where more liberal allowance
d are made for the promotion of publ
p education. AS now constituted tn
b management is entirely within tn
control of the taxpayers, who elect tn
n members CT the tcard. ct a separat
s election. where no ether question
= submitted, and party politics is net Oh
l. ruded.
BIPARTISAN ELECTION BOARD
The bill submitted changes tn
e method Of holding city elections
J. such wise as to retain, on the one han'
e everything in the present system tha
l. esteemed to be needful for a free el
u preston of the popular WILL and o
II The other. to place the election ms
e chinery absolutely beyond the contr'
l. CT eny political organization. A b
partisan beard OF election supervisor
e is established and the appointment {
-e inspectors and clerks Of election frol
l ali parties provided for The voter
Ie assistant, who has developed into a
N unblushing agent OF debauchery, frau
1t and deception is dispensed with
!, VOTERS FEE or 25 CENTS.
The commission has not regarded q
D. payment of a tax as essential to the e.
" 7rcisc of the elective franchise and ha
h therefore. discontinued the payment
Is 4 county tax as a prerequisite to votin
il and substituted. as a means Of identi
a. cation and contribution to the eiectiC
id expenses, the payment to the city of
K foe Of 25 cents by every voter.
a, LOCAL sELF-GovERNMENT.
q If self-government, the cherish'
r heritage of free. people, Shall be r
ID stored in their midst, the cOmmissiC
believes that the accompanying bill i
dicstes the way in which this can
most easily and successfully accOT
Of plished.
er Reserving. as IT. does. 20 the peop
I'd and their representatives in Coun'
ne full control over all matters exec
ed those purely administrative: reducil
he the expenses Of government by conso
Sc dation of departments: harmonizii
the various administrative branches
It's combining them around one comm'
he and controlling centre. the mayor; al
ch ron, oviuo all incentive to DprSOnal al