Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-15
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS.

Robert r. Edwards, the New Commits
sioner, Goes on the City Payroll at Once
An examination of the law governing the
Department. OF Elections reveals the fact
that Robert T. Edwards, who was recently
appointed commissioner to succeed Charles
\, Thomas, whose term expired on July
3lst, goes on the city payroll at once. The
annual salary Of commissioner is $500,
which Is paid by the county In years when
general elections ars held and by the city
when municipal elections are held. or the
$500 for this year MIR. Thomas receives
seyen-twelfths, having served seven months
ct the yenr, and MIR. Edwards will receive
iiye-twelfths. as he will serve live months.
There was an impression that MIR. Thomas
would be paid the entire $500 for the year
and MIR. Edwards salary would not begin
until the first OF next yenr.
The original law governing the Depart
ment of Elections provided that each COM
missioner should receive $500 a year for
every year In which an election is held, As
a matter of fact an election Is held under
thu direction OF the board every year, the
general elections in the even numbered
yenrs and the city elections in the odd num-
bered years. Such being the ~ each OF
the members of the original board, which
now comprises Martin r.. Fairy, president,
and Armon ID. Chaytor, Democrats, and
Robert L. Edwards, Republican,, will be
paid every year, while the additional mem
bers of the enlarged board, Jacob II. Lewis
and Thomas A, ID. Hntson, will receivu
salaries only In tile even numbered years,
when the general elections are held. They
have no jurisdiction in city elections. s,
There is every ieastin to bel eve that the
additional commissioners would have been
given jurisdiction in the city elections, II
the Republicans had had two-thirds ms
jority In the General Assembly. Not having
two-thirds majority, it was impossible TO
get more than n majority vote, and as a
two-thirds majority would have been neces-
sary to give the additional members OF the
Department of Elections Jurisdiction in city
elections, the Legislature could not deliver
the goods. In order to pass a law giving the
new board authority to participate ih the
conduct of city elections, 1t would have
been necessary to amend the City Charter,
and two-thirds vote Is required for the
Legislature to amend q charter.
As a result. there are. practically, two De-
partments of Elections, city board and a
State hoard. The city board IL made up of
Messts. FAIRY and Chaytor, Democrats, aud
Mr.. Edwards, Republican, while the State
board comprises the above named, together
with Messrs. Lewis and Hutson, both Re-
publicans. That being this cuse the City
Department of Elections Is Democratic
body, 2 to l, and the State Department of
Elections is a Republican body, 8 to 2. Each
has Its own officers, Martin u. Fairy, a
Democrat, being president and Frank A.
McCluskey, also a Democrat, secretary of
the city board, add Jacob II. Lewis, Re-
publican, president and Charles f. Thomas,
hepuhlicHn, secretary OF the State board.
Heretofore the two bodies have been one.
That Is, the same Department OF Elections
held the city and general elections. Hence
forth, however, or until the Legislature
makes change, each will be independent
oil the other. The momhers OF the city
h.anHH mill Hal.. .as.t. n
every year, while The additional members of
the State board will serve only every other
year.
after the law creating the enlarged board
was passed by the Legislature az its last
session the board in obedience to the act,
held meeting on April LIST and organized
by electinR Mr.. Lewis president and Mr..
Thomas, then member of the board, to
DO secretary, at an annual salary of $1,000,
after the expiration of his term. That
meeting was held by the State bonrd, and.
such being the case, Mr.. McCloskey, sect 9.
tary OF the city board, continues in that
position until January LIST next, when the
state board begins its year. MIR. Thomas
term begins at the same time. Under the
new law he will serve for year. At the
expiration OF the year, or rather, at the be-
ginning OF the next year. the city board
again assumes command, and, being a
Democratic body, will select its own score
tary, who Will be Democrat, provided
matters are not changed in the meantime
by the General Assembly. The law cannot
be changed so as to give the enlarged board
control of city elections unless the Republi-
cans elect two-thirds of the members of the
Legislature at the election in the fall Of
l5O2, and, unless they do that the board
VIII continue Democratic until August LIST,
l9oS, when Mr. Farry's term will expire.
The city board held a meeting Tuesday
and transacted routine business. Mr.. Ed
wards did not attend. The board will
officially notify City Council of his appoint
ment,, SO mis- name can be placed on the city
payroll Tor the current year. Mr. Edwards
was sworn in before Magistrate Bradley
yesterday and will have his commission re-
corded today.