Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-21
NEW CHARTER FOR THE CITY
A Meeting for Its Advocacy
Hold Tuesday Evening.
AN ADDRESS BY JOHN S. ROSOELL
Many Prominent Citizens in
Attendance.


Vote at Thanks for His Able PresentH-
ton of the SnbjeGt--A Revival OF Wli-
fninGtons Civic spirit Urged.
John S. Rossell, secretary Of the
Municipal Commission which drafted
the proposed new charter for tho city of
Wilmington, delivered an address in
advocacy of that instrument at a meet
ing in Builders' Exchange Hall Tues
day night Among those present wero
City Auditor Isaac G. Pyle, City Treas
uror William II. Curry, City Solicitor
Henry G. Conrad, City Councilman
james u. Oberly, State Senator john
Pyle, William l.. bancroft, Joseph Il.
Carpenter, Jr.. J. Newlin Gawthrop,
Alfred Gawthrop. Harold Sndel, Pat
rick Nehry, George Morton. Peter u.
Co0nur, Jr., Registrar Charles II. Ton
Wee9cs Of the Board OF Health, Her.
man First, David Lemon, Daniel ".
Taylor, j. u. Clarkson, DR.. }. l.. ryla,
John q. Gray. Willard a. Speakman
and Alfred u. Warner
state Senator Pylo opened the meet
ing and took vote on motion to
have Mr.. Corral act az chairman. Tho
city solicitor was elected to preside
without opusitiou. and after referring
10 tho town meeting OF the past, he
introduced Mr.. Rusaell, to whom he
gave praise as hning largely Responsible
for the proposed charter.
MIR. Russell gave credit. however, to
tho other members u tho commission,
WIN wero Daniel W. Taylor, Frank
pyln and William u. Mullen, Jr. lie
said that their object was to prepare
such an act as would enable the people
Of Wilmington wisely and economically
to manage their own affairs. Tue COM
mission 'realized that their ancient
privileges of government had benn
GRADUALLY taken from the Citizona and
was unanimously of the opinion that
self government should DO restored.
The speaker dwet for time upon
the reception of the charter by the
state Senate where it had reached thu
stage to como IN for final passage, and
then 10 the surprise Of Senator Pyle.
who bad chHmpiunei it, and OF the
peuple 0f Wilmington, four Senators.
who did not live in Wilmington, de.
clinod to vote on tho most trivial
amendments. The charter did not pass
and Mr. Russell blamed tho lobby at
Dover iur influencing the four Senators
against it. Senator Pyle had tho pro-
posed charter recommtted to rhe com
nittue ytii cities and sa%as Raa u WIS
finally referred back 10 the commission
10 report again To the Legislature which
will meet IN January, 1899
Mr.. Rossel discussed tho difference
hotween d private aud public corpora
tiun. In the former tho franchise is
in the nature of contract; but in u
municipal corporation the charter cnn
tains powers delegated by the supreme
law making body to tho municipal
body, giving it power TO manage its
own local affairs.
In taking MP discussion of condi-
tions in Wilmington Mr.. Rossell said
he would discuss not men but systems
and measures ~ think / can say, -
he went on, "that this city has lost
the character Of democracy, and nearly
every department hears evidence Of cen
trahSation. Tho police department
was created by the General Assembly
aud is dependent for its continuance
upon a State Judge. lilo realized that
the police power was part Of the
power of the Stats, but he dacared
that there was time when the people
had a say, ths power to govern them
selves having been granted when vii.
mington was borough. Tho water
department was also CrBatod by act OF
the Legislature. 1t comes into touch
with tho people only at lung periods
WHEN the mayor appoints members OF
tho hunrd Tho street and sower de-
partment owes it's existence 10 tho
Legislature. 1t has complete power
over the streets and sewers and the
tremendous power to grant franchises
10 usu the Streets BY vote Of two
members of tho board the right TO uBe
any street may bH granted to any pri-
vatc corporation.
The speaker declared that il the
people Of Wilmington are capable of
self government he thought it has
reached that point when they should
Affirm their Independence and he quoted
from section of tho charter cousti-
tuting the citizens body polite,
with power to govern themselves. L"
lie took up then tho provisions Of the
now charter concerning City Council,
which ia to be this solo Legislative body.
This Street and Sewer Department will
no longer have power by simplu resolu.
tion TO regulate the streets and high
ways, and The water department will
no longer ilave pUwer by resolution to
raise or lower the wator tax. hut those
Things shall be decided only by tho
vote of the representatives nf the people.
Council is to baye no political power.
Mr.. RoHsoi referred to the objection
which derlarea that there must be
parties md Council must consist Of an
odd number, instead Of tho IL pro
posed. One of the particular argu.
mrnts was that six Republicans and six
Democrats would cause deadlock ;
whereas Council now has Is members
and there is no deul between Republi-
cans and Democrats, but most pro.
tructen and painful deadlock exists in
tbs majority. CApplnuse. Under the
nav charter tina IL councilmen elected
at large would have met as citizens and
not us partisans. Mr.. Rossell replied
To the objection to tho section giving
Council the power TO judge of the re.
turns and quail tications OF its members
lie upheld this as proper power for
Council to have and road from Dillon
on municipal corporations to show that
the court may take up the case whore
the Council may have acted wrongly.
| Mr.. RosHsll pointed out the posi-
bility OF independent nominations. lie
advocated the systsm of electing cuun
cilmen ut large rather than from wards.
holding that the new system would
nuke the members act more for the
whole city. As to the contention that
il would he possible for the district
below sixth street TO bs without rep
resentation, no thought the political
| parties would look out for that, hut
said that some favor II proportional
system Of representation by which each
prescribed quota of voters would be en-