The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-10
THE CITY'S
NEW CHARTER.
It Will Not Change the Poll
tics of Police De-
partment.
GIVES REPUBLICANS MUCH.
Union Republicans Will
Control the Street and
Sewer Department
! and MIR. AddickS
will Lay His
Gas Pipes.

The city of Wilmington will be con-
ducting business under new city charter
after June /. The measure is com
bination of the Rosscll Dickey charter
and made its debut into the Legislature
several days ago. 1t will be introduced
in the House today and will go through
that department of the General Assent
bly, in a jiify. 1t will reach the Senate by
tomorrow Or Saturday and will have as
lively IL passage there as it will have in
the House. This mode of procedure has
been mapped out and there will be no de-
lay.
While the bill is an excellent one in
many particulars, it has many features
which are not favorable to the Republic
can party in Wilmington at this time.
The most important department, that Of
the police is retained in its present con-
dition, while the Water Department and
Street and Sewer Departments are placed
under the control of Republicans John
L. Dolan is named as the head Of police.
ex-senator Daniel Il. Stewart as the
head of the Water Department. and Col.
ID. L. Bernard as chief of The Street and
Sewer Department.. This means that
John Edward Addicks will lay his gas
pipes along the streets of Wilmington be-
fore the year is out This is the only
feature of the charter which has been
referred to before The Republican an
n0lEced the fact one month ago.
The measure is voluminOus, and as it
has been guarded with great secrecy
while at Dover. it has been almost i'm
possible to ascertain what its most sa-
Iint, Enp h1S nlI
however. in addition to the above mem
toned facts that each Of the six depart
nicnts Police. Park, Water, Street and
Sewer, Health and Surveying, are to he
placed under new management, and will
conduct their affairs without the assist
ancr OF the council or any of the exist
ing departments. The police department
will he styled the Department of Safety.
while the other bodies will be depart
mcntS of water, streets. etc. The charter
il designed to save much Of the expense
which the city is now under.
It's passage 1T this late day will come
l. like II thunder clap out of clear Sky.
Several weeks ago Il committee of the
General Assembly waited on the Board
Of Trade committee having the charter
in hand and although the committee WAS
not favorahly impressed with the pro-
greSs made on the Assrmblymcn. ii was
believed that with Il few alterations the
bill could be passed. The alterations
have accordingly been made by represent
tatve Democrats of the city, and as
there is nothing IN the bill to prevent the
Republican party from obtaining control
in the city, the Union Republicans of the
General Assembly have concluded to as
sist the Democrats in passing the meas
ure. 1t is understood that the Regulars
will oppose the act as it places two i'm
portant departments under the control of
the Union Republicans and furthermore
allows Mr.. Ad,iicks TO lay gas pipes in the
city. But with the united support Of the
Union men and Democrats in both
Houses, which has already been assured,
the act cannot fail of passage. 1t is also
ri.l that Immediately after the charter
!; passes the House. the Union l:epub-
i'""ns there will pass the act mthoriz-
i'll, the Street and Sewer Department to
issue 100000 in bonds, the money to be
spent in improving the city streets, clim-
mating grade crossings ant establishing
better sewer facilities here.