Evening journal., 1901-02-21
!
HEARING ON NEW
CITY CHARTER
Mr.. ROSSeII Explains Amend
mentS to the Bill
THINK 1T WILL PASS SENATE
But None Of lis Friends Believes II
Will be Successful in Getting
Through The House
THINK IT WILL PASS SENATE

John S. Rossell, of the Board of Trad
lCf Wilmington, were given an opei
lhealgng in the Hall OF Representative
last evaning by the House COmmitte
on Municipal CorpCrat ons on the ney
charter bill for the city of Whining
ton Nearly all the members in tow
were present and many who are no
msmbers.
The principal address was made b,
ME. Resell. He explained that il wa
proposed to amend the charter bill 81
as to provide that its acceptance or re
ljectiOn should be submitted TO a vOt
OF the citizens of Wilmington, thu
throwing upon them full responsible
lity for whatever the outcome might be
He declared that the people OF vii
mington were intelligent and patriotic
land could deal with the question. III
asseuted that the legislature had TN.
constitutional power to refer the ques
( ition to them.
Municipal reform in Wilmington.
lie said, is urgently needed, as every
one knows Bills are pending in tn,
General Assembly providing for an in.
crease in the bonded debt and to in
cnsase the expenses of the city gov
lernment. In my opinion the tendency
/ Is 30 drift towards bankruptcy instead
Of towards solvency If this General
Assembly fails to act upon this bill
| it will return again two years henca
Municipal reform is a living issue
Throughout the United States. and the
demand everywhere is increasing fol
Letter and more economical methods
lCf administering public affairs"
lie then submitted these amend
ments:
Amend the bill by adding thereto
the following sections:
Section 127. This act shall take ef-
feet from and after the
date of its acceptance by
the qualified voters of said city. II
shall be the duty of the officer or Of
iiocrs who shall have charge of the
printing of the official ballots TO b,
used at the city election TO ba held on
The first Saturday of June. in the
year nineteen hundred and one, Il
cause to be printed at thu bottom OF
the ticket Of each political parry. IN
clear and bOld-faced type separated by
Ia black line from th5 names cf the
candidates on said ticket, the words
Fer the new city charter in one line
md Immediately hereunder, in an
ether line. the words Against the new
city charter Either or both of said
ines. on the ticket selected by the
vo.ef, shall be marked out by him
with an indelible black pencil on
erayon, but if neither Of said lines be
marked out, the entire ballot shall be
1eemed defective and shall not be
counted as to any part thereof The
loft ola
J ltion in each election dis
ltrict shall. in canvassing the votes
cast, ascertain the number of votes
For the new city charter and the
number of votes Against the new city
charter, and shall make return there
Of in the same manner as the returns
shall be made Of votes cast for can
iidates for the various offices voted
iOr at said election. The officer.
INwhose duty it shall be to canvass, de
clare and certify the result of said
city election. shall, Immediately after
ascertaining the result of the whole
vote cast For the new city charter
and the whole vote cast Against the
new city charter, make two certificates
in writing. signed by them, or a ma
ljOrity of them, setting forth said result
said certificates to the mayor anC
the other of said certificates to the presi
dent Of Council of said city. Th'
mayor shall proclaim the result of sa.S
lvote by causing the certificate deliver
ed 10 him to be published in not les.
than two newspapers published in sal,
city and the president of Council, a
the next succeeding meeting of Coun
! delivered to him before tina
body, and the Council shal
cause the same to be entered in full Ol
its journal If it shall appear that
i greater number of votes were cast a
said election For the new city char
ter than Against the new city char
tier, this act shall be deemed and takel
to have been accepted by the qualities
voters of said city and shall take ef
feet from the date of said election.
Section 12S. If this act shall b
accepted and take effect, as provide.
in the preceding section. the mayo
elected at the said city election, TO b
held on the first Saturday of June, il
the year nineteen hundred and one
shall hold office during four years, be
ginning on the first day of July sue
ceeding said election, or until his sue
cessor shall be duly elected and quail
fed. He shall exercise the powers
, perform the duties. be subject to th
! Limitations and restrictions, and rs
: ceEve the salary. defined and prescribe
in this act with respect to the mayo
J The president and members of Cour
Gil elected at said election shall cor
! stitute the Council Of said city unit
] the first day of July, in the year n'n'
4 teen hundred and three. They sha
1 exercise the powers, perform Ii
: duties, and be subject to the limit;
tions and restrictions defined and PR
scribed in this act with respect to ii
Council. They shall receive the san
salaries now allowed by law to Il
president and members of the Counc
d Of said city. The city solicitor elec
II ed at said election shall hold OFF,
II during four years, beginning on Il
y first day Of July succeeding said ele
8 ton. or until his successor shall
II appointed and qualified. He shall e;
4 ercise the powers, perform the dutie
and be subject to the limitations an