Evening journal., 1898-05-31
CHAR TER BILL DEFEAT.
John S. Rossell Discusses the
State Senate's Action.
ATTRIBUTED To OFF1OE-HoLDERs


sIsTBNCY OF CERTAIN MEM
BEERS, THE LAUNDERING OF
SENATOR PYLE, AND THE IN
SINCERITY or SENATOR STEW
ART.
What do You think OF The defeat of
the new city Charter?" asked am Even
ing Journal reporter of John S. Rosssll,
Secretary OF the Municipal Commission
this morning.
1T is only temporary" he replied.
$50 long as present municipal cOndi-
tions continue there can be NO cessa-
tiOn of the agitation for nsw char !
ter Nothing Ehort OF absolute home |
rule will satisfy the demand Of the tax
payers"
"Was the action Of the Senate a sur
prise to yOu?" he was asked.
81 must confess dhat it was some
what Of a surprise he said Tie
charter bill was presented az the re-
quest Of the Senate after that body had
fully considered the prOpriety of taking
up the measure at the adjourned ses-
sion On january 25 THE Senate by a
vote Cf ; to 8. reconsideued its action
at the session of 1897. referring the
charter bin back to the commission
with Instructions to report ft ait the ses-
sion OF 1899. The senators voting in
the Affirmative were Messrs. John Pyle,
1 w. II. Moore. Samuel Meredith, Robert
J. Handy and Hezesiah Harrin9 ton.
The speaker ruled. after this vote mad
been taken, that The charter bill was
unfinished business, and nothing re-
MANNED for the commission to DO eN-
cept to send the bin back In its crigi-
nal shape, or to prepare substitute
emb0dying the changes wh.ch III had
lbeen found. after considering the va
riOus criticisms of THE original bill.
should be made. IL was only reason
to expect THAT SENATOR'S Moore. Mere
dith and Harrington would yota
against the motion of Senator Pierc,
to indefinitely postpone, and wou.d al
least allow the bin to be placed on il:
final passage and a vote taken on ite
merits"
"But Senator Pierce took the grount
b. that the commission had acted agains
o the order OF the Senate" said tine re
: porter.
I but THAT lis not borne cut by TN
proceedings of the Senate ais ! hav
lust related them" responded Mr.. ROs
charter had every reas0nl to hopc fc
the approval Of their work by the Sen
: ate. Senators William r. Moore, Mere
r dWh AMID Harrington were I'M a sens
committed to it. SENATOR'S Pyle an
FennfmOre recorded themselves as ia
p vorable to ft. Five votes i'm the al
!, hrmative would have prevented indet
~ Mite postpOnement, and upon The cue
tion ais to whether the bin should pas
~ it is fair to IbclieYe that SENATOR A
n riChs would have voted in tlhe aitirms
10 tive and tIhe bill would have paEsod.
"When with the Municipal Commii
= siCn take up again THE question OF ful
~ ther revisl0n?" inquired the reporter
y There will be no further aclicn %
4 The part Of the commission" he SAT-
~ I'm fact. dts duties ceased with the II
% pcrt Of The origiral bill at the sessio
lasE year. and the preparing Of i.he eni
" etitute blll was more an act OF cou.
'd t5sv to the Senate which does not seel
b gO have been appreciated ais il deserve
to be by majority Of the senators. An
tfurther agitation Cf THE question, or IL
formulation Of a new charter bill, mu
ly come from some OF the established G
Nd ganizau.onB of the city such as ii
g, lmayor and Council or the Board
st Trade. 1t may be said that the que
err ton win be am issue I'M The cOmiI
ar campaign and Legislative candidat
IN who are opposed to a new charter W.
- be embarrassed in their canvas and n
"a. considerable risk OF defeat
g, 'DO you think that a majority CT q
al taxpayers are favorable TO q new chs
in ter, Mr.. ROsseil?"
as Il believe without doubt that th'
"a rfrrar cot -
Iii thai. the advCcates OF better city go
he ernment under a new charter are
confined to one party. Aside from {
contention Of practical politicians th
the sp0i.s system is a belder Cne (
M city administration and who THERETO
ter wanted the present charter. promine
ry Democrats and Republicans express
Ier gthemse,ves in favor CT the bill plep2T
lg- by the cOmml ssion."
ne "In what hight do you regard Ser
Id tcr Pyles action i'm This matter2'
i,y "Tlhe senator. IL he realty desired {
ich paes2ga of he bin made blunder
not entering inro an arrangemen- w
lhs Senntcr Stewart to so change ihe
I'D ais to revolutiOnize the city aiminist
tn tion on the first of NEXT July. and ma
ion the heads Of departments, and prat
IN cally Through fhem THE Subcrain
ted city officers. IL lis am open secret q
1873. such an arrangement was made,
that a lsi.l emlbcdyinIg the views OF $
AT atcrs Pyle and Stewart was pIep@
by a wsli-lnOwn ATTORNEY cl this c
wn, Whatever may have been The real
OF sire of Senator Pyle with respect
A the commissions bill. he proved i'
his self in THE end, mnCh shrewdeT q.
hop | Senator Stewart. He voted against
OF definite pOstpOnemen5, and thereby
Jew feoted the sentiment OF vast
en- jouty OF THE taxpayers OF Wilmnei
eto- Senator Stewards objection that
to- bia was prepared i'm the interest Of
office-holders Of Wilmington was
borne ohft by the facts. In view or
senator's prolonged effort TO name
nue heads OF departments under the biz
,hes must be tal1en cum grano sirius.
rtv- think it may be safely said that The
rav- was defeated in the interest Of the
r4b fice-hOldsrs and other persons who
on5 interested in a continuance of the p
,.9, ent system Of city government.
and