Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-04


lecied almost entirely from the owners
OF real estate, will not be exArted from
any one IL the proposed bill should tie,
come law. The anciont, unjust ana
wholly imperative rrovlsiun Tor the
arrest and imprisonment OF delinquent
tax PAYERS. found in the present CHAR
ter, Is rot embraced 10 this Dill.
an uninterrupted administration by
the came officials for four years is con-
templatei. 1t has been deemed best 10
allow this limit. SO thst well inaturen
plans Of government may not fail OF iuii
execution because Of frequent changes.
The Mayor is ineligible 70 reelection
aud the expiration Of bis Term VIII
carry with it tie retirement Ut the
heads of departments. 50 that long
continuRpce 10 the chief Offices OF the
same persons is not likely TO occur.
The municipal court 10 continued as
established by lag, but only because
The commission was unable, under tile
existing judicial system, 10 proeiue for
any enlargement Of the jurisdiction oil
this court The commission is con-
WINGED, however, that large sums
would be saved annually to the tax
payers, if the final disposition OF petty
cases, which now burden the State
courts, could be lief. With the munich
pal court.
The hoard OF Public Education In
Wilmington is continued and its char.
/ ter extended for 20 yeara, co as to be
cn.extensiye with the proposed new
city charter The commission dill
gently inquired into the question OF
public education in ita relation TO the
public schools of Wilmington and found
that. With limited means at its cnm
| mand, this board bad improved in a
! marked degree tho management OF the
schools ana brought them 10 greater
| proficiency than has been attained 10
! the schools OF larger cities where moro
! liberal allowances arc male for tho pro-
| motion of public education. AS now
constituted tho management is entirely
| within the control of the Taxpayers. who
| elect the members of the board, al q
separats election. where no other oues.
ton is submitted, and party politics is
not obtrnaed.
Tho bill submitiel changes tine
method o. holding city elections in
| such wise as 10 retain, on the ono hand,
| everything in the present system that il
esteemed 10 he needful for free ex
preston Of the popular will, and on thu
other, 10 place the election machiner,
absolutely beyond the control of an,
political organization. A bipartisan
hoard of election supervisors In estab
lisbed and the appointment at insnec
tore and clerks OF elaciion from al par
ties proyidad for. The voters assistant
who has developed into an unhlushinl
agent OF debauchery, fraud and decep
ton. is dispensed With.
The commission has not regarded th
payment Of tax as essential to the ex
arcise OF the elective franchise aud has
therefore, discontinued the payment q
county tax as prerequisite to yot
ing, and substituted, as means O
Identification and contribution to th
election expenses. tho payment to tn
city of foe of % cents ny every voter
If self government, the cherished
heritage of free people, now too Ion
lost to the citizens of Wilmington
, shall be restored 10 their midst, tn
, commission believes that the accom-
panying bill indicates the way j
which this can lie most easily and sue
! cessfu!ly accomplished.
Reserviug, as it doas, to the peopl
aud their representatives in CnuIc
full control over all matters eXcsI
a thoss purely administrative reducin
!. the expenses OF government by col
a suiidation of departments; harmoni;
!. ing the various administrati,
:, branches by combining them arour
= one common and controlling centre, Il
~ Mayor; and removing all incentive
personal and political perferment;
promises not only better government
n but the best government Wilmingtc
). has ever known
We most earnestly unite in recon
ii nending its passage by your honorab
n body. Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel W. Taylur,
y William u. Mullen, Jr.,
- Frank Pyle,
John S. Rossell.
>. Commissioners.
=, February Goth, 1897,