Evening journal., 1905-03-13
MUNICIPAL REFORM NOT
WANTED.

II HE government Of Wilmington is
Il cumbersome. expensive. 1t is
costing the taxpayers too much for the
results they get In part it is repre-
sentative and in part autocratic. We
have a Mayor and a Council. but we
have taken out of their hands most
Of the power and given it over to COM
missions.
Now twelve men can do no better
work while representing four commits
sions than they could do were they
combined into one body and called
council" Perhaps the answer to this
Is that we are unable to elect as good
men to Council as can be appointed
on commissions. Well, II this is the
truth, then we admit our incapacity for
self government
Our present system is expensive, in
that there are too many departments
and too many officers. For instance,
we have three Water Commissioners
and three Street and Sewer Commits
sioners. Each Of these departments
has it's chief engineer and other sub
ordinate officers. Now suppose the
work Of both commissions were placed
in charge OF a Director Of Public
Safety directly responsible to the
Mayor one man would then take the
place Of SIX. We should have one city
engineer with subordlnates. We could
afford to pay good salaries because the
number would be greatly reduced, and
II we had intelligence enough to elect
a good Mayor every time we should
have at the head Of each department a
capable man. or a resignation would be
demanded. This ia but one illustration
showing why at present our tax rate is
all out OF proportion to the benefits de-
rived from our government.
There isn't an intelligent, honest man
in Wilmington but who recognizes the
need OF reform. There isn't a man OF
sense but who realizes that a part Of
the money he pays for taxes is wasted.
The Legislature is in session and has
given evidence Of a disposition to do
something for Wilmington in the mat
ter Of reforming her government; yet
we get into a pretty snarl and cannot
agree on anything.
And to be frank about It. 1t seems
that we have just about the kind OF
government we deserve. We shall not
be able to cast the blame for inaction
on the Legislature. because no two
OF our citizens are able TO agree on any
reform. Our Board OF Trade has a
meeting and after much discussion adj
journs without any specific recommen-
dation. much to the delight Of the
small politicians.
What is the matter? Wei. what is
the matter in Philadelphia? The poll
tlcian OF the genus peanut will tell us
that nothing is the matter; that both
cities are governed honestly and eco
nomically. But we know better. And
we think that we know the reason. Il
is that we have decided that this mu-
nicipality must be run by the small
politicians OF one party or the other
III is because in municipal affairs poll.
tics weighs as heavily as in a nationa
! campaign. We will vote for any mar
for any office providing he bears our
| party label; and the machines ar,
t aware OF this
So we are forced to conclude that 4
{ lever the time comes when we want bet
r ter government we shall have it. ani
that it is impossible now because Ger
|, tain small politicians are divided as L
the proper distribution Of the spons
, Yes, we are prepared TO go down int
our pockets yet deeper to pay taxes {
D keep up this somewhat farcical govern
4 ment.