The sun., 1900-02-28
Wednesday, February 2S, 1900.

THE new city charter discussion is still
on. Committees of City Council and the
Board Of Trade have the matterin hand,
and from last accounts had progressed in
the discussion as far as the bribery pro-
visions which, nowadays, appear to be
essen,i ial in all Delaware legislation.
TIE need of a new charter for this city
is evidant-is urgent. Out of this urgent
ners ssity the new charter, a good one,
will be evolved when the business has
me to the right time, place, and the
hands Of the parties authorized to make
it. Until then chatter tinkering seems
to be just little ont of place. It is an
ticipating and, perhaps, complicating
the real work Of charter making. Politi-
cally it appears to us to be an attempt to
remove the main question, anert this
charter business, out of politics, when,
in fact, it is simply refinement of
machine politics. The proposition is, if
we understand ii, to present chatter
ready made to the next General ASSEM-
bly,, and railroad it through that body
up,n the plea that it represents what
the people want This plea might be
true and it might not, with the chances
in favor Of the latter proposition.
Another thought about this method of
charter making is that it anticipates the
election of General Assembly incom-
petent to deal with municipal affairs.
This, on the surface, appears to be q
wisa precautioD; but there is an assump-
tion about this that is not ALWAYS borne
out by the facts, and that lie, that the
ready-made charter is the product of the
highest wisdom and best public spirit.
If that could be assured, probably the
results would all be good; and, yet, there
is an objection. The theory of American
law making is that it is made-not ap.
proved nor concurred in-by the repre-
sentatives of the people who have been
properly elected, and to whom has beer,
committed the duty and authority to do
this work, they being responsible to the
people for what they do. This theory,
OF course, supposes what ought to be
true; all portions of the State, rural and
urban, ought to be properly represented
in the Assembly. This was not possible
for the city under the old constitution,
and it may not be probable now; but
the chances are far better than they
We're, and we believe thai with a proper
regard for the character and ability OF
the men chosen to represent this city in
the General Assembly. there is no dan
ger of adverse legislation. This is Just
where this charter business comes in.
The nee5ed new charter Tor this city
ought TO be made in and by the General
Assembly. The representatives Of this
CITY in that body ought to be chosen
with view of the imposition of that
duty upon them. If that was done,
there would be no use for ready made
charters.
Again, the public spirit and capacity
for public service, which expends itself
in the prelegislative discussions oushl to
be available in legislative halls; too fire.
quently, however, the men who assume
in private way to determine leei. a.
I'll n, who think highly enough of The M
selves to attempt to dictate to Iegis-
la ures what should and what should
not be done, are not willing to accept the
responsibilities of public service; hey
shirk it upon the plea that they cannot
afford to neglect their busint SIS in ord r
to serve the State and city; or, perhaps,
they cannot afford to incur the criti
cisms, the communications and ostracisms
incident to politics. This, we regard as
posi- lively the most injurious of all
phases Of our politics. The men who
can and wont do, are not nearly as good
citizens as those who can't, but who try ;
upon this ground we hold that the very
best place for city charter making is in
tie General Assembly.
There can be no objection to proper
discussion of this very inportanC ques-
tion. Tnat discussion ought to be
general. 1t ought to be in the interest of
the people and it ought to outline char
ter. simple and effective, in which power
is derived directly from the people; in
which the executives are made as nearly
as possible directly responsible TO the
pc pie. There should be no stint about
this. The trust of the people should be
generous and contiding. Government
is the peoples business; executives onght
to be their servants-in nc case their
masters-and servants ought to be easily
disposed OF when they fail of good ser
vice
Commit the new city charter business
to the representatives of the people in
the General Assembly and in doing that
see hat those representatives are capable
of the duty imposed upon them.
Recital at Friends School.