Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-29

NJ Permanent Organization which Is to
xnvestigate the Affairs of Local Govern
lRent and Work for Reform. IN
Ef4n response to q coll for mass
m6eting Of citizens to protest against
nlI4ped Encouragement aud profiRacy
,idscounty and city government, more
thar 200 substantial citizens, represent
tng oil walks OF life, assembled at tho
MONS OF theDemVcrRtie Leag Tuesday
tfening and effected temporary orgafli.
Gtion by electipg the following officers !:
President--Alfred GaFthrop, of the
Wiawthrop e. Bro. Co.
III Vico President-Jerope r. Bell, edi.
Tor OF the Sunday Star, as
Secretary William Il. Kurtz, at.
'brney.
Treasurer-Howell S. EuRlanl. at.
aprney.
The meeting was enthusiastic from
ftart- to finish, and 10 WAS evident,
from the Representative ard business.
Nike gatheriny, that it was no triiling
fancy. Several OF the most prominent
ritizens were pre- AIRED TO present their
views and some mndo pertinent nd.
QFesses, which showed Enthusiastically
&bht the santimebt Vas in favor Of
varying GUS fully the objert OF the
naovemenT, tho purifying Of the affairs
~ local gosernment All OF the ad.
|fresses ware listenod to with marked
|otiention and there were frequent cries
|'pf approval 1t was also very apr aren't
khat the u3ugcment was entire devoid
|3f politics, men of all parties being
theree, aud equal interest being takon
X hi all.
Henry q English. the chairman
|11fo ten OF the tirHt meeting, called the
9sFsmbl3 10 order at about u'cloclS,
Mad statad tho object of the call, as
vi Iowa.
|Nf Fellow citizens: We would say that
1e object of this meeting is to promote
better administration If county and
IPunieiFal aGare, diyoroing the same
fom all political interests ana con
5iucting Them on business principles
nd further VS. PROPOSE TO Inquire into
pe acts Of some of the officials Of tho
,Hpunty and city and 10 see tho legal
!Npect Of what they havo done. .
Al David Lemon inquired why County
1Homptrollpr Kelley had boon picked
l6st for investigation first, He thought
4 <be Street and Sewer DEPARTMENT
Hhould be Investigated first. Chairman
&nglieh said the answer would come
+ hter.
HN The COMMITTEES on resolutions, an.
1apinted at the preliminary meeting a
4 Meek ago, reported the following: VIA
Il Wilmington, Dell, Aug. "a. 19Ol.-Mr.
4Efesident: Your committee appointed to
$0ratt resolutions IN respect to the official
*4pnduet and actions of the comptroller of
New Castle county, bels leave to make the
following Ieport: Be II
L.I Roco1vad That 81, r.
Hkelley, the county comptroller, Is guilty of
3&foss negligence, yes, we may say. criminal,
}Hegligsnce, 10 the discharge of his official
dnties. Pc 1t
vi Resolved, That he has placed bis official
I FpnroYal upon warrants plainly IN violation
3ef law, aud IN the opinion of your COM
fhittee he has betrayed his trust und tisre
iFnrded the best interest Of the people of this
lfonnty, which leads up TO wa5tefulness and
3tstraragnnre. We believe he has made him
felf party 10 the schemes which result in tue
/. waste Of the peoples substance; and be itl
Resolved, That bis official conduct and
dctiubs, should be Investigated by the at
tprney- general OF this State, ana the conn
mittee will assist the attorney. general in
, hny and every way possible.
Resolved, That he has violated his oath
and violated the law governing his official
lctions. See act OF 2Sth of May, 1897, Vol.
TX, chanter 3s9, Laws of Dolawdre; and
Ifbe 1t further
III Resolved, Thai we commend the actions
\ nnd courage OF MIR. Merritt N. Willis and
Ahis associate. Mr.. lsnnc s. Elliott, who
Dave 80 iuanfully stood up for an honest
fHnd economical administration on county
pnanees III the fAcs of an interruptions and
upprihciplsd combination. -@,
A motion being made by Thomas y,
lQ' Donnell that the resolutions be read
ngain, William Eastwood thought thare
y Should be some discussion first, similar
y 10 that at the Meeting last week, where.
Upon John Pyle, the temporary secre.
Iljary of the last meeting, explaIned
Chat it had been decided to look into
fthe acts of tho county comptroller first,
'Iecause no bills could he passed by the
| Ngy Court without the sanction Of
\ ne comptroller and he was virtually
Y master of the situation.
1 X The law on the SUBJECT being called
|. for, Mr.. Pyle quoted the law govern
ing the office of comptroller, to show
30 what extent his powef goes
HI On motion of William ii. Quinn,
|1Nmended by Thomas Kelley, the reso.
sIlutions were adopted Unanimously, and
}Dhe COMMITTEES wes discharged with
5thanks, after which Mr.. Quinn moved
aEthat those, present proceed to the per
.t,nanert organization Of citizons
II League had no part in the matter, liz
khad simply offered the free use OF its
as no other quarters had heen
ipllered. There should be no politics in
|Nthe movement; 1t should be non
/ CartIsan. The motion to effect por-
fnanent organization prevailed unani-
mously but it was sfterward decided
| 10 make the organization temporary,
pm account of the line of action agreed
upon.
III Goldsmith Q. Naylor nominated MIR.
English for permanent chairman, but
he stated that it was nsxt to impossible
4 for him to serve. Alfred Gawthrop wa.
flthen placed in nomination by Simon
1iP. Doherty. Mr., Gawthrop at first
\ Ibesitated, saying he was merely present
JOS an obseryant citizen, being interested
In RI prm IN local government. ~ am
no politician, he said, which brought
[ North cries of you are Just the man
1--we want. - I'VE don't want poli.
\ sticians. T" 1--WE want business men
land taSpayers. Peter j.. Ford and
I aeveral other well.known citizens pre-
5lbvailed upon MIR. Gawthrop. He replied
1Athat it WAS rather sudden. y but that
" put nc fgure and he was unanimously
|teiected, alter which he was escorted ,tC
n The chair by the retiring chairman,
iMr. English.
Mr.. Gawthrop, as chairman, re-
''tiuested the meeting to proceed with
business, and George O. Morton nomi
William Il. Kurtz for secretary.
IA Mr.. kurtz was loath to accept the
" office, having come to the meeting L
Ri learn something Ha sLRtad hia war