Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-07
CITY CHARTER MEETING
The Joint Committee Held Its
Second Session Last Night
TAE COMMITTEE INCREASED
William p. Bancroft Added to
Board of Trade Delegation
TO 60 OVER THE 1903 DRAFT
And Make Such Changes AS
Are Suggested.
The Fundamental Laws OF Some Other
cities Are to be Consulted In Making the
Changes Whioh are Desired.

The joint committee Of the Board
of Trade and City Council, appointed
TO draft a new city charter bill. which
the Legi stature Of 1907 will be asked
TO pass, held its second meeting last
night In the BOatd Of Trade rooms.
This matter was started by the Board
CT Trade and the committee is to COM
plete the draft and submit It to the
Board of Trade at its May meeting.
To do this it will be necessary 90 hold
meetings weekly until that time.
Those present last night were
Mayor Horace Wilson, Thomns II.
Savefy, president Of the Board OF
Trade; A. Ia. johnson, president OF
the Street and Sewer Department (;
Comptroller philemma Chandler,
Samuel IL. Bsynard, William p. Ban
croft, Alfred Belts and Oouncilmen
Kane, MoCafierty, Cannon and Ross.
MI. SaveTy announced that the
Board of Trade had given him author
ity to increase the membership of the
committee and that he had appointed
William L. Bancroft q member, and
that Mr.. Bancroft had accepted.
Mayor Wilson stated that former
City Solicitor Robert q. Harman, who
is a member OF the committee, had in
formed him that he is required 10 90
on a trip West for several weeks, but
on his return he will be pleased TO
assist in the work.
Samuel II. Baynard, who presided,
informed the members that at the pre-
vioua meeting IL was decided to take
the charter prepared by the Board of
Trade In 1903, and 20 over it page by
page and then make any changes which
ha NIT hta.In I.a Il.
The members were each provided with
a COPY of the 1903 charter. The COM
mittee is obtaining copies Of charters
from a number OF other cities, and
when the members come to anything
in the draft prepared in 1903 which
they think could be improved upon,
the charters from tho other cities will
be consulted, and any good sugRes-
tions taken from them.
Mr.. Savery said he had been told by
several lawyers that IL would be better
20 amend the present city charter than
TO procure an entirely new ore, which
would have to run the gauntlet OF the
courts.
William p. Bancroft said attorneys
have advised him that II auoh radical
changes % the doing away Of commits
sions were contemplated then it would
be necessary to have an entire new
document.
The matter Of a secretary was again
discussed and it is likely that Clerk
Of Council Monaghan will be asked 10
serve in that capacity.
The question of the boundary lines
of the city was discussed. Mayor Will
son stated that in his opinion the
boundary line Of Wilmington o. far as
I the Delaware SiVer was concerned.
should be more flexible In case the
city should extend to the present bulk
head. It was discovered, however.
that the provisions Of the 1908 charter
provids for a line I, 600 yards liz the
river from a stone on the shore. This
would provide nearly a half mile IN
which TO build wharves, and Mayor
Wilson withdrew his objections and
the matter Of boundary lines was fe.
ferTed to the city engineer.
There was also some discussion on
the matter Of wards and a. TO whether
or not it would, kbe admissible 10
change from ~ 20 i've, TO conform TO
the present lines of representative dis
triois. There was some objection TO
such n change and it will be discussed
further at the meeting next week.
Mayor Wilson made an objection to
giving too much power 90 the mayor.
lie said it had occurred to him that a
would be q good thing TO have tho
mayor elected by Council, as this
would keep him in batter touch with
the maiority. This was orpesed by
the majority Of the committee.
The committee adjourned 70 meet
again next Tuesday night.