Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-22

and laid plans for the formation OF Il
citizens league, which Is to work for
better county and municipal govern
ment, and, incidentally. a committee
Twas appointed to inquire into the
legality OF the acts of County Comp.
tr0ller George ID. Kelley, in administer
Wing the affairs OF his office, with in
Estructions to report at massmeeting OF
,Icitizens, Mt the same place, next Tues
fday evening, for which call was
FORMALLY issued. The committee com.
f.prises Henry o. English. Thomas H.
4D'Donnell and Peter j. Ford. Mr.
\ ord was not at the meeting, but was
Selected by Messrs. English and O'Don-
Nell, the meeting having appointed
them and empowered them to name the
Kthird man.
After an informal discussion of the
objects of a reform movement Mr..
English was requested to preside d
former State Senator John Pyle was
selected as secretary. In taking the
chair, Mr.. English Inade q brief cd
dress, In which he outlined the an
parent detects in the affairs OF local
government and pointed oct the great
Burden to which taxation haa grown.
TRadical reform ia demanded at once,n
be said. The shady practices OF eoule
OF tho politicians who are now In
authority have aroused great deal OF
suspioion. He suggested the forma-
tion of citizens league, to be com
posed OF two thoroughly honorable men
from each ward in the CITY, 10 outline
plan for more economical govern
ment. He demonstrated where every
body should take an interest in the
movement, as all are affected, either
directly or indirectly. He said he knew
] it to be fact that nearly everybody is
suspicious. Continuing, he said elf
the system of local government and the
&methods OF some OF those in authority
.hre not reformed soon, the conditions
fRill go from bad to worse They are
Utmost rs bad now AS they can be, hut
fhey can be worse and lie ia imperative
fhat the people should call halt. The
9leople are almost robbed In taxation Of
swhat they have. The system and
.methods can be reformed, but in order
ito accomplish reform determined people
5pnust take the matter In hand and must
fact with will. - He advocated the
Formation Of league and issuing d
kcsll for massmeeting with that end
Bin view.
a Mr.. Pyle, upon being asked to act as
#'ecretary, said he would prefer that
'lsome other person perform that duty,
Gas he was II member of the Democratic
4 League and he thought the subject
under consideration should not SAVIOR
of politics. However, he explained, the
league ia willing to cooperate in any
movement for reform and Is ready at all
times to make war on bad government.
II the people generally don't take
&c ,atS ,.K. ~ ha nd AL 4
will, but we think it lie matter that
concerns the whole people," He con
asnted to act as secretary.
Former City Councilman William II,
Quinn said that while the increase In
taxes now, apparently, affects only the
property ow 1ers, 1t will aftsr the 25th
of next December affect everybody, as
the rents will pe raised. at is my
opinion" he snid, with emphasis,
that the comptroller of this county
holds the key to the situation. The
law creating the office was passed by
the Legislature as check upon the
Levy Court Men ia public life are as
rule very careful with their own
money, hut many Of them are not so
careful with the public funds. The
bonded debt OF the city is now about
80. 600. goo. 10 1892 il was within
II $500, 200. We are making history fast,
A The great trouble has been that the
Z people are not taking the interest In
municipal affairs that they did prior to
the establishment OF commissions. The
72tirst movement for reform that this
nssociation should take is the abolition
of commissions, and no man who Is not
sin favor OF such policy should be
Nominated for the General Assembly 10
4 be voted for ut the next election.
'Where members of City Council
Y abuse the power conferred upon them
. the people have a remedy; they can
keep the oouncilmen at home at the
y ensuing election. The proper place for
local legislation is 10 the hands Of City
Il Council.
a The rights OF the people we're never
taken from them all at onoe they were
taken away piecemeal. The people are
Y lepient in the matter of government
and they let the government slip away
i. From them gradually"
NV Mr.. Quinn said be was In favor of a
call for a massmeeting of citizens next
p Tuesday night, for the purpose OF
4 erfecting permanent organization and
placing the reform movement on firm
"A foundation.
George @. Morton favored the plan,
4 and on his motion a call was issued for
& meeting to be held at the Leas ue
n rooms at s o'clock next Tuesday night
.tThere ought to be an organization OF
z citizens. :" he said, in support of his
n motion, Ito ferret out these charges
a against officials, and it is proper for
the citizens to assemble and discuss
those things" lie made the request
h that tine newspapers do all they could
4 TO urge full attendance at the meet
II ing, 10 order that the sentiment of the
4 people can be obtained and definite
start made.
IA John Pyle made speech in which
he took up the matter OF county affairs,
~ have been considering who 10 re.
uponsible for this had government" he
said. II have made little investiea,
tion and looked into the law and have
come to the conclusion that one man
sis responsible, and he is George Kelley,
the county comptroller. The Levy
F Court Is subject to his pleasure and
the members of that body cannot move
"A officially without his sanction. He
NJ holds the key to the situation. - Mr..
+ Pyle quoted the law governing the dffiot
of comptroller. after which he made {
motion ipstruoting the chairman Il
appoint committee of three to inauir,
into the official acts of the count,
comptroller and report by resolution a
the massmeeting which had been called
The motion was carried and on biz
further motion Messrs. English anS
O'Donnell we're named and they weri
instructed to select the third man. MIR
aRd ma ~, 4,l H.