Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-17
NAL-w1IMINGloN, DELAWARE, THURSDAY MARCH AZ 1885,

any and all of the departments, subject
TO the control OF the Council in all ap-
preparations exceeding one Thousand
dollars.
TIE commission has deemed IL adv,s-
able TO continue the management and
operation Of the water works under
separate department, and the substitute
bill, therefore, provides for depart.
ment to bs known as the department Of
water supply, under the control of one
director. The executive business Of thv
corporation will thus be divided among
five departments instead of four as pro
lided in the original bill.
The office of city tFeasursr continued
under the original bill is omitted from
the substitute, and the duties of the
office imposed upon the city receiver,
will he known as city receiver and
treasurer. 1t was found upon further
consideration that this could be reauily
done and an annual savings OF twelve
hundred dollars effected.
The commission desires TO call special
attention to the requirements of the
bill for a systematic, efficient and
economical management of the fiscal
concerns of the city. IL will not be
denied that the present methods OF
assessment, collection of taxes and
disbursement of the public funds are
cumbersome and expensive. 1t has
been freely asserted that for yeurs
there has not been a thorough and
general revaluatiop OF the real estate
of the city, while it is a fact ap-
parent to every well-informed citizen
That the assessment is wholly unreliable
and unequal. The collection OF taxes
and other city charges ia ono of the
most expensive branches OF ths munici
pal service. Few, il any, taxpayers
know how much it costs. The dis
bursementa ars made by each indie
pendent department in its own way and
no Ineligible statement is given to the
people from which they Gan readily as
certain what has become of the money
paid hy them for the support OF the
government.
A radical change in this respect
would be brought about by tho passage
of the bill submitted. A guadrennially
valuation of property with an annual
revision of this valuation would he
made. Tho right of appeal from the
decision OF toe assessors, now i'm
periously disreRardad, would DO re-
spectad, as the bill expressly guar
antees. The collection of all moneys
due the city would be confined to one
Office under tho direction of one officer
who, though paid an annual salary uf
only two thousand dollars, would he
amply compensate for his services, and
who, fully empowered. would be able
10 collect with greater facility than
under the present system A. claims
against the corporation, for whatever
purpose, would pass through one de-
partment only and after examination by
the Council would be accounted for in
that department. An annual statement
embracing all receipts and disburse
ments would be given to the people in
such form as would he both complete
and comprehensive.
Following the advice of prominent
members of the bar the commission, in
the substitute bill. provides for the
appointment of the city solicitor aud
his assistant by the advisory board.
II has been held that the office Of city
solicitor should not be elective and that
il made appointiva lawyers who will
not consent to engage in party con
test would allow their names to be
offered for the position.
The provisions in tho original bin
relating to city elections have been
amplified and changed in the subst-
tute. The new Constitution throws
such safeguards around the registration
of voters that it has not been thought
necessary to retain the requirement in
the original bill for the payment OF an
election fee, and this provision DOES
not appear in the substitute. The
selection of board of election super
visors, consisting Of four members, two
from each of the political parties poll
ing the highest number of votos,
which will have sole charge OF the city
elections, provided for in the original
bill, is also required by the provisions
of the substitute bill True home rule
finds its real basis in the control of
local elections by the people. This can
only be accomplished through officers
chosen by the people. 1t would he, il
possible, less MUST to PLACES the power
of appointment of CITY officers in the
hands OF the Governor Of the State than
to give him the right to name officials
to conduct the city elections. A most
careful investigation of this question
has convinced the commission that
greater fairness in elections can lie oh
tanned by entrusting them to an equal
number of officers from each of the
principal political parties than by any
other method. 1t would be manifestly
unfair to give the majority party full
control and the system of minority
representation in election boards has
long since proved wholly insufficient to
prevent fraud.
The comm ission feels that it should
refer particularly TO the fact that among
the proposed changes submitted to it,
was one providing for the naming of
the heads OF the five executive depart.
ments in the substitute bill. Willis
the commission might have selected
hve citizens who, on account OF their
excellent character anu special fitness
for the positions, would nave been ac-
ceptable To number of citizens, this
action would have been most arbitrary
exercise of power aud an objectionable
violation of the right OF the people as a
whole to voice in the selection Of
those by whom their public alTaira arc
to be administered. This right cannot
be justly taken from the people, not
even by the General Assembly.
Government exists for the benefit Of
all the people, and not for few indi-
viduals; and while this is true of every
branch of government in free land, il
is especially true OF the government OF
municipalities where the blessings of
good government or the evil effects of
bad government are most apparent.
The bill proposed by the commission
has been written in full view of the
great principle of home rule. and if
passed by the General Assembly will
enable the people of Wilmington by
their votes to influence the whole course
of municipal administration. The com