Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-03
CHANGES IN THE NEW CHARTER.
They Have Been Summarized by the Mu
nicipai CominsAsiOn.

summarized by the Municipal Commits
sian and are published at the commits
aion g request They are as follows:
!. To strike out tho provision author.
izing the city TO charge the boundaries
of wa-ds and establish nav wards.
2, 10 strike out the provision en-
powering the city to authorize private
parties to ersGt works for supplying the
city and its inhabitants with lights.
3. To strike out the provision sm-
pnwering the city TO authorize or pro-
hihit tha locating, constructing and
operating of railroads and street rail
ways within the city limits, and pro-.
hibiting street railways from crossing
the tracks Of eteam reiiroads at grade.
4. To alter the provision relating to
granting franchises to use the publiu
streets so that the grant OF such fran
chises shall not be made for longer
period than. 30 years and may bs re.
v0ked at any time for abuse or misuse
8. To change the prescribed qualitica-
tions OF officers 30 as to require that the
mayor shall he over 30 years OF age at
the time of his election and a reaident
of the State for six years, this being
tine Qualification prescribed by the new
Constitution for the Governor of the
State.
G. To insert provision from the new
Constitution that all elective officers
ehall before entering upon the duties Of
their respective Offices make oath or
affirmation that they have not directly
paid, offsred or promised to pay, con-
tributed or otfered or promised to con
tributr, any money, or other valuahle
thing as a consideration or reward for
the giving or withholding vote at the
election at which they were chosen,
Z. To require the election of II Coun-
cilmen at large by the methods known
as proportional representation that ia,
by dividing the entire vote cast for
Councilmen by the humber to be
elected and allowing each party as
many representatives at it has quotas
in the whole vote pnlled.
8. To divide the city into five wards,
each ward to comprise the territory
contained in each of the fivs represen-
tative diatricts described ir the nsw
State Constitution, and to require the
eleetion Of three members OF Council
from each ward, making 10 members in
all, no voter to he allowed TO cast his
ballot for more than two candldates
thus insuring the election of one mem
her by the minority party; the official
ballot OF each party to contain the
names of at least two candidates for
Council; the Department of Elections
| to supply names when omitted by the
party organization.
0. To increase the salaries of Coun-
cilmen from $3.50 to $500 per annum.
| TO- To require the mayor 10 submit
nominations for heads OF departments
| to Council for confirmation by two
thirds vots of that body.
IL. To continue the Water Depart
nent as separate department and pro-
| vide for director or head thereof, to
be appointed by the mayor thus max.
| ing fisesexecutive departments in all,
| viz: "Claims and A assessments. F" Re,
| ceipts aud Disbursements, Public
Works. water" and "Pujlic
| Safety"
-. To provide that the mayor shall
select three of the five heads of depart
ments from the opposite political party
| and only two from his own party, the
five officials so selectsd. with the mayor,
to constitute the executive or advisory
board, and to have the power to appoint
| all subordinate officers of the city; no
removals to be made by the mayor OF
officers appointed by him except with
the consent of two-thirds Of Council.
13. To create an executive board OF
six members, to be named in the bill.
said board to have full charge and con-
troll over all the executive business of
the city; vacancies in the board TO he
filled by appointments of the mayor.
subject to'tbe approval of a majority OF
the Judges of the Superior Court of the
State, and all existing commissions to
be abolished and their powers vested in
the executive boarli; the mayor to BIS a
member ex-otfcio Of this board, but
without ths right to vote.
IA. 10 combine the Water Commis-
zion, Police Commission and Street and
Sewer Board, as now constituted, in an
executive council, the terms of the
members to be extended or shortened
SO that three will retire on June 30th,
1899, and three every two years there
after, the Successors of the retiring
menlhers to he elected ut the city cleo
tions; this executive council to have
both executive and legislative powers
and to approve or reject all ordinances
passed by the City Council, which
shall hereafter be known as the Com
mon Council.
10. 10 increase the Sinking Fund
Commission to four members to be
nominsted by the mayor and confirmed
by Council, the mayor to he ex-ofiicie
memher at ths commission.
1G. To abolish the separate Office a
city treasurer and combine the duties
of treasurer with those of the city re-
ceiyer. giving that Official the title o.
city receiver and treasurer.
II. 10 change tina provisions for thu
election of the city solicitor and require
either that he and his deputy shall bt
nominated by the mayor and confirmst
by Council or that both shall he mp
| pointed by tina mayor ana hestlH Of de
partments acting as an executive o.
, advisory board.
Is. 10 insert clause providing tina
the appointments by the executive o.
, advisory board shall ba SO mads tina
not more than one-half the number o
. persona In offics at the same time shall
have bsen appointed from the SAINT
political party.
. 10. 10 strike out the requirement.
for the payment of an election fee b,
voters and all provisions for the hold
ing of city electiuns by supervisor
chosen by the people, leaving the con
duct OF elections to the Department o
/ Elections for Wilmington under tn
{ Limitations and restrictions prescribed
by the new Constitution.
. 20. To provide that the frat election
: under the new charter shall be held Of
a the first Saturday in June, 1899, ant
that the terms of the ofiicerB electeI
: shall begin on July 1st, 1899; the term
OF all the present oificsrs of the city
! that expire before or after that date t