Evening journal., 1898-03-26
srNAToR PYLE's POSITION.


Rumors OF a most alarming character
come from Dover, and it is evident that
they have some foundation in fact.
They are, in effect, that practical poll
ticians have decided that the draft OF
the charter submitted by the Municipal
Commission is to be passed, but In such
n mutilated condition as to be rendered
almost unacceptable by It's trainers.
In connection with this it Is stated that
a deal is in contemplation whereby the
heads Of the several departments OF
city government will be selected by GER
tain men and named in the bill.
For many years there has been
CRYING demand In this city for home
rule. The people have declared that
they were fully capable OF attending
to their own business in businesslike
manner and without officious interfer-
ence from Dover The cry became so
universal that It had to be needed and
Democratic General Assembly app0int-
ed a commission to- draft a new char
principles After working diligently
and intelligently for two years the
commission made its report to the
General Assembly last Spring. For
several weeks that body held OF final
consideration and when. finally, a vote
was taken, the bill was referred back
10 the commissioner for amendment
No reason was assigned for this action
because none could be given. It was
merely a political dodge to stave OF.
for the time being, what must inevi-
tably come.
During the past year the Municipal
Commission has revised the bill, taken
the public fully into It's confidence, ex-
planned at length the provisions OF the
measure, invited criticism, availed IT.
self OF all suggestions containing mat
ter OF value, and now 1t has at Dover
q bill which is invulnerable to fair at
tack. II can only meet death or mutt
latlon by treachery, and the people OF
Wilmington will know how to deal
with men who conspire 10 give It foul
treatment.
The suggestion to name the heads OF
departments in the bill is a blow at the
very keystone OF the arch OF business
principles upon which the new charter
rests. The people Of our city are ths
ones to exercise that function, and moi
any two OF three men who have theli
own ends and their own friends tC
serve
We have had enough Of that kind o.
business In the past. 1t has brought
both leaders and the party into disre
pute, and has aroused a public indigna
tion in the hearts and minds OF the peo
PIE, who are tired Of having their pock
cts robbed to keep certain men in th'
public service.
We want no Dickey charter. and NJ
Bach charter. We want no Democrati
machine charter and no Republicai
machine charter. We want a charte
which will be a peoples charter an
which will command public confdenc
and respect.
Senator Pyle and Senator Stewart ar
credited with having entered into
combination to name the heads Of tn
departments. The participation OF Sen
ator Pyle in such a disgraceful transaC
ton Is scarcely to be credited. TIL
Municipal Commission is a creature {
his. He introduced the bill creating II
he presented its first report and fathei
ed its first bin. He made an earnel
appeal 10 the senators for the passaE
OF the bill last Spring and laid speci
stress and cOmmendation on its hon
rule provisions. He has the new bi
in hand to-day and it is wrong to cred
him with such disgraceful double-dea
ing. He cannot blow hot and cold {
matter OF this kind. We do not b
lieve that he has any desire to do So
would be unnatural and ruinOus +
him to traffic, in such a shameful ma
ner, with the official trust reposed
him. He knows what a political m
chine is. He has been the victim
one; and now to ask him to help crea
another to override the will OF the pc
pie and to make our city departmer
the headquarters for political spoi
men is little too much. Not until
see his vote recorded against a me'
ure for which he Is personally respC
sible, and the drafting Of which has
fiected such credit upon him, will
believe that he has given his frier
and neighbors in this city such d
and disgraceful return for the ma
favors they have lavished upon him
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