Evening journal., 1900-09-07
NR. WOODRUFF
TALKS ON CHARTER
Philadelphia Nan Discussed
the Matter Of Elect
ing COnncilmen

After the meeting Of the Board OF
Trade last night at which no busi-
hess was transacted Clinton Rogers
|Voodruff, OF Philadelphia, addressed
lhe Board Of Trade City Charter Com
|nittee on the matter Of electing coun-
|ilmen.
Members of the committee present
|yere: William p. Bancroft, chairman;
ohm S. Rossell Patrick Neary, A. S.
Reed and ]. Harvey Whiteman attor-
ey for the committee. William 8.
Iexander, president Of City Council
lso was present
n After the address, the committee held
meeting and decided to incorporate in
. ne proposed charter that City Council
+ hall be composed Of fifteen members
( which two shall be elected from
ach legislative district and five from
4 be city at large. Under the bill there
I'LL be no longer twelve wards, but FIVE
Elards Each councilman will be elect
for a term Of four years, therefore
ne councilman will be elected every
8o years from each Of the five wards
nd one will hold over. With the
Nouncilmen-at-large two will be elected
very second year and three every
ourth year. BY this system every sec
on of the city will be represented
continually and there will be five men
s Tho Will look after or represent the
ltire city.
Some members Of the committee have
Neen working with the idea of provid-
y lg a minority representation in Coun-
i, but Mr.. Woodruff explained this
Van was In opposition to the most
* improved method, which is to place
+ le responsibility Of the successful ad-
+ Illustration OF city's affairs on the
Molitical party which is successful on
eetion day.
Mr.. Woodruff said minority represen-
ttion is no good. In each district one
arty or the other knows 1t will get a
srtaln number Of representatives and
le consequence is that 1t will as O
lie put up men only for political
\ reference. The result is that a very
oor class Of representatives are
amed. Mr.. Woodruff illustrated this
2 speaking Of the magistrates elected
Philadelphia
1t is best, he said, to let the political
rties make a straight-out contest and
icy Will then nominate the best men
the wards OF districts, because they
now If they do not nominate the best
en-, OF q better class of men, they
'uld not get the support Of the inde-
sndent voters.
In city like Wilmington, where Do
,ical lines are closely drawn and
lrty managers know they have to de.
nd on the Independent voter for q
cto-ys they will nominate better mer
an they would If they knew that M
after how the election went they were
re of a certain number being elected
Continuing, Mr.. Woodruff said it II
ways well to have a certain number
members Of Council elected at large
the city. Men chosen merely from
ards know they have to look to that
+ ard for future support and will cater
that particular ward, while men
ected from the city-at-large know
ey nave to depend on the citizens in
neral and will work for the general
terests OF the city. This method will
sure a better class Of representa-.
res and both parties will put forth
better class Of candidates. Ii viii
ovent ward interests tramplins on
general interests Of the city.
A city needs home rule. In New
'rk city If the administration doe,
ything wrong the opposing sid,
shes to Albany. to the state iegisla.
re for relief instead Of doing Il
emselves. The whole idea Of i'm.
owed municipal government is to put
power into the people themselves
d not have a legislature or state gov.
nment running q city. This idea 4:
inc carried out now by people clam.
ng for the election Of United state,
nator by direct vote Of the people in.
ad of by the legislature.