The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-10

there has not been thorough and genera
retaliation of the real estate of the City
while it is fact APPARENT to every we'll
informed citizen that the assessment is
.fswho.Iy unreliable and unequal. The col
lection of taxes and other city charges is
one of the most expensive branches of the
municipal service. Few, if any, taxpay-
crs know how much it costs. The dis
bulscmonts are made by each Independent
department in its own way and no intel
ligiblc statement is given to the people
from which they can readily ascertain
what has become of the money paid by
them for the support of the government
a radical change in this respect would
be brought about by the passage of the
bill submitted. A quadrennial valuation
OF property, with an annual revision of
this valuation, would he made. The right
oil appeal from the decision of the asses
sors, now imperiously disregarded, would
be respected, as the bill expressly guaran-
tees. The collection of all moneys due to
thee ity would be confined to one Office
under the direction of one officer who,
though paid an annual salary of only
$4,000, would be amply compensated for
his services, and fully empowered, would
he able to collect with greater facility
'hah ''iaer inc present system. All claims
s"i'S' inc corpofatloh' iof whatever puf-
pose wou!d pass through one department.
| only. and after examination by the Coun-
Gil would be accounted fol in that depart
mrnt. An annual statement embra cling
| all receipts and disbursements would be
given TO the people in such form as would
pe noun compete ana comprehensive.
| Following the advice OF prominent
liieliilers OF the Bar, the Commission in
'he SUBSTITUTE I'll, provides for the APP
p"ihtmcnt OF the CITY Solicitor and his
assistant ny the ADVISORY Board. 1t has
peeh neld mat the once OF City Solicitor
shoulh not DC elective and that il made
aPi'oii'l'e lawyers who VIII not consent
10 ehsae I'D purity contest would allow
tnr,r names 10 DC o1lrrcd Tor the position.
'he provisions OF inc orlSllal BIZ relat-
ihs 10 CHy elec'lohs nave been amplihed
anu changed IN the Substitute. The new,
constitution 'tiro"S snch safeguards
,roui''i inc registration OF voters TINT it
mas not been thought necessary to retain
inc requirement IN the original Bill for
'he payment OF an election fee. and this
provision does not appear in the Substi-
t.''c. IN" selection of Board of Elec-
non Supervisors. consisting of four menu
hr!s' TWO from each of the political par
'rs poliils inc highest number of votes,
W"'cn VIII nave sole charge of the city,
c''cllohs, provided for in the original Bill,
Is alSo required by the provisions of the
SUBSTITUTE bill. True home rule finds its
true 'Asis III the control OF local elections
ny inc people. This can only be ACCOM-
pushed through olllcrrs chosen by the peo-
p''' IL Wonlh ne II possible. less unjust
10 ll"ce 'he power OF appointment OF City
"'hcttS ID 'he hands OF the Governor of
'he n'ale IMAM to give MIN the right to
name oliieiais TO conduct the City cleo
IONS. most careful investigation Of
YES Question mas convinced theCommis-
SION lhat greater Harness IN elections can
" obtained ny "htr'lstlng them to an
'l,lhi number OF officers from cacn of the
piiht!nai political parties than by any
o'h'r method. 1t would be mhnifestly
UNFAIR TO eve the majority party full
control ana the system Of minority rep
rescntalion in election boards has Ions
since proved wholly insufficient to pres
vent fraud.
Inc COMMISSION tees that it should re-
Ter particularly to tn" fact that among
Tue proposed changes submitted to it. was
o'' p'oFlulie Tor the naming of the kends
VI tne I'VE executive departments in the
SUBSTITUTE hill. WhiIe the Commission
'"'fn' nave sclected hfe citlzneS who, on
account OF lhe!r excellent characterXund
speclal hthess for the positions, would
nave bccn acceptable to number of citi-
zens, this action would have been a most
"Fpltrary exercise OF power and an un-
Poloohable violation of the right of the
people us whole to voice in the selec-
'ioh vi ,hose ny whom their public affairs
are 10 ne administered. Ihis right can :,
'o' NC justly taken from the people not
even ny the eGneral Assembly. -eu
Government exists for the benefit of all
ne people, ana not for few individuals;
una "hlie inns Is true of every branch Of
government IN free land. it is especially
rue OF inc government of municipalities
Whrre thc blessings of good government
u the cVll effects Of bad government are
most apparent. Ihe Bill proposed by the
'o'lii''sS'oii mas bech written IN full view
VI the great principle of home rule, and
passed by the General Assembly will en- 4
'p!e the people of Wilmington by their
o'"s TO influence the whole course of mu-
llclpai administration. The Commission
'e'lcFes thht no iair-mindcd man. CONVEX
"hl with thc subject of municipal gov
'rlncht, who will examine the Substitute
'iil' can hesitate to say that under its
'fo'iSiohS the evils of bad government
ah Ut readily overcome and better gov
r,"'ohi iof wilmington securely rSnb-