Evening journal., 1900-04-06
BOARD OF TRADE
OFFICERS NAMED
William LawtOn Was Again
Reelected to the Presidents
Chair.
REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS
SECRETARY TAYLOR's REPORT
INTERESTING AND CONTAINED
MANY SUGGESTIONS AND TELLS
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

MAN oObbh-o lO-No AM, ii-l-so
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
Onicers OF the Board Of Trade were
elected at the annual meeting of the
beard last night. The result was as
follows:
President, William Lawton; first
vice-president, J. Newlin Gawthrop;
second yice-president, A. L. Johnson;
treasurer. J. r. Hudson; auditor, John
S. Rossell; secretary, Daniel W. Tay-
lor
j. Newlin Gawthrop, first vice-presi-
dent, presided in the absence OF Presi-
dent William Lawton.
Harry Hough, chairman Of the COM
mittee presented the resignation of j.
Harper Carver, of this city, and Maui
rice Satterthwaite, who is now located
at Kennett Square. Mr. Satterthwaite
was elected an honorary member. Both
designations were accepted with re-
grets.
Secretary Daniel w. Taylor present
ed his annual report, which was as fol-
lows:
minds us OF the fact to prepare another
annual report Whilst there has been
much of an encouraging nature for us
to feel grateful for in the year that
has just passed and the outlook for
the future Of Wilmington seems bright,
it may be well for us to turn back to
review the mistakes we have made and
perhaps compliment ourselves a little
on the streaks OF wisdom we have ex-
hibited, which no doubt may be more
obvious to ourselves than to many
others We make resolves for the fu-
ture, hoping at least that the facts will
lead us in the proper direction, and
when we fully consider all that has Oc-
CURED during the past year it will no
doubt aid ms to shape our course for
the year TO come.
With such a retrospection we may be
enabled to move in the direction that
will accelerate the progress already
taking place. AS we approach the new
century we should be imbued with the
spirit of advancement OF our city's best
interests alCng all ines. Whatever our
piejudices may be we should be inter
este1 individually, interested collect
lively to move on with the enlighten-
ment of the times and make our city
the home of all that is true and noblest
by dealing with the new problems that
may and will arise in such manner
that the high-water mark of political
conscience may be reached by us. For
it is an acknowledged fact that the cit
les are the source of our great indus
trial strife and contention 1t is there
where new theories arise 1t is there
where new problems are coming to the
front. 1t is there where new social the
ones arise and we should prepare to
meet these problems and deal with
them so there shall be a general up
lifting of the conditions of our citys
population, thereby making the future
what it should be.
Realizing that the source Of every
city's rOwer greatness and influence is
in is proper development, / desire to
call your attention to one subject wor-
thy of our earnest consideration: We
have often considered land now have
a special committee upon) municipal
reform The country at large is very
seriously considering it as applied to
existing conditions. lt is well for us
to clearly understand that municipal
reform means civil service reform and
the abolition of the personal and party
spirit system from our municipal ad-
ministratiOn. InasmuCh as we propose
TO advance rather than retrograde In
this beautiful city of ours it needs nC
argument TO show that we ought tC
avail ourselves of our city's best inter
ests. We have done some things very
we'll indeed in the city, for the reasOr
that energy and efficiency were at tn,
head of some of the departments. FOl
the management Of our city's interes
we should have the benefit of the bes
efforts OF the best trained men. Blu
the average citizen is prone to endOrs
things as they are rather than make
change.
There should be no such thing as
partisan municipal management o
public works. and as we advance, thi
system of partisanship in appoint
ments in municipal government be
comes more and more intolerable. w
need more Colonel Warnings in our cit
administration. Organize a municipa
administration on strict business prin
ciples. Think of Philadelphia aC
knowledging that she was incompeten
to manage the lighting supply of ths
city for no other reason than that tn
party spirit system rather than tn
merit system dominated the power
that be. It seems rational that if a
good citizens, irrespective of part,
and whatever their views be regardin
municipal ownership or that of g,
tending the municipal reform, ought
be able to unite upon an administr;
tion upon business principles; we mu
either progress or retrograde, there
no middle ground. There can be n
more practical issue raised.
SO long as existing political parti
decline to accept this principle of MOI
partisanship in making appointment
there is a field left for independel
action in city election. The underlyi1
portions OF modern civilization a
crowding our cities with a large pop
latiOn and we must meet this issue.
our city government was without d
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