Evening journal., 1898-04-12
ITS BASIC PRINCIPLES.
Home Rule and Equal Repre-
sentation Assured.
THE SCIENCE OF GOVERNMENT"


BRYAN'S GREAT SPEECH AT DO
YER SERVED AS AN INSPIRA-
TION AND GUIDE TO THE MEM
BERS OF THE MUNICIPAL COM
MISSION IN DRAFTING THE NEW
CHARTER BILL.
The trainers and friends Of the pro-
posed new charter for the city OF VIII
mington feel that if it Is defeated it
will not be because of any demerits IN
its provisions, but rather because 1t
does not suit the purposes OF certain
politicians to permit it to pass and dis
turb their friends in office and plans
for the future.
This morning an Evening Journal re-
porter called on John S. ROssell, the
secretary Of the Municipal Commission,
and asked him for his ideas concerning
The prospect Of the passage Of the bill
at this session Of the General Assem-
bly,.
1.-THE charter bill prepared by the
commission was introduced in the
House yesterday, and / have every rea-
son to believe that it will receive fair
consideration, he said: Il have
|
the bill will not be passed by both
the House and the Senate. AS a matter
Of fact, the bill is the property of the
General Assembly, having been pre-
pared by a commission appointed by
that body for the purpose CT revising
and re-establisbing the charter OF the
city"
what do you consider the strongest
feature CT the charter" inquired the
reporter.
"The provisions made fcr the control
= Of the city government by the people,
) was the response. 1T is unnecessary to
refer to the imperfections of cur pres
/ ent system. They are we'll known, and
no one will deny that the people are
anxious for a change. Stated plainly,
? our present system of city government
: is unjust. You no doubt recOllect the
e admirable address made by MI Bryan,
at Dover, on March 3, 1897, on The
q Science CT Government fully reported
in the Evening Journal. l was particu-
larly struck by the high principles
> enunciated by Mr.. Bryan, and | was not
' surprised that his remarks were most
favcrably received by Republicans and
Democrats alike who heard him, and
: who read his utteranCes. Mr.. Bryan
said many striking and pointed things
My idea of government, Mr.. Bryan
/ said, is that it approach as nearly as
5. possible to perfection; and the nearer il
approaches toabsOlute justice, thenearel
does it approach to perfection This
is just what the Municipal Commission
n | sought to accomplish in the preparation
IS Of the charter bill. The locating Of re
e sponsibility upon public officers ant
70 rigid requirements as to the perform
ance OF their duties, render it next u
= impossible for any injustic
to be done the peopl
- under it's operations. It is very clea
e. that the opponents OF the new charte
= proceed upon the hypothesis that tn
people are incapable Of sef-gOvern
ment. and that they now enjoy all tn
T. blessings Of government to which the.
l. are entitled. Their reasoning is yer.
A. similar to that of the supporters Of tn
o. ancient borough system Of England.
- government is to be brought home Il
the people they must be intimately as
sociated with it. Every public office
IN must be within easy reach Of the peO
pie so> that he may at any time b.
= | brought to a strict accounting. MI
Bryan states it very forcibly in tn
- following lines: If you ask me whicl
N is the best government, l say, withou
hesitation, that that government
- best which most nearly fulflls tina
y. | definition of government which per
to mits neither affirmative injustice b.
legislation or injustice among its peo
- pie Now, can anyone deny that tn
lg people CT Wilmington have suffered in
ttbb justice at the hands OF previous Legis
latures that have taken away frOT
ns them gradually the right to COVER
Al. .-I-I.~ 4 4
time, authorized an increase Of tn
= bonded Indebtedness Of the city with
out allowing the people any right I
=, pass upon the question and in variou
Isl ether ways increased their burdens?"
ck ,What seems to be the objection
It, urged against the immediate passae
70 Of the bill?" inquired the reporter
nd Il really believe that il blanks ha
ed been left in the draft CT the charter bi
in in which the names OF the heads Of tn
departments could have been insertet
re- that the bill would stand substantial
without objection" said Mr. ROssel
- 1T has been urged as an objection I
tho bill that the mayor is given TO
great power, but anyone who will eN
anime the bill will find that he
only given sudh powers as are essentis
to the performance Of his duties. II
Is restricted as closely as any othe
officer Of the corporation. l have nS
been able to understand why some {
the opponents Of the measure object
the election of councilmen from tn
five representative districts Of the cit.
J as provided in the new Constitution. /
| a representative government the il
habitants must, II the government
just, be allowed equal representation
. Under the present ward system this
entirely lost sight Of. One ward hay
ng. in mind, with less than 1000 qualitie
md voters, elects councilman who ha
MT. equal power with one elected from
yer ward containing over 1000 qualife
3pey voters. The division OF the city
Eighth street places more than 900
voters south of Eighth street. The.
voters would be allowed nine coul
q: cilmen. By accurate calculation the
: would be entitled to eight and aha
: councilmen. North OF Eighth sire
1000 voters would be endtled to s.
~ i