Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-18

At the meeting of the city charter
committee last night, there was
general discussion as to the best way
70 proceed in regard TO a new city
charter draft. Until the last two
meetings the committee had simply
been going over the 1903 draft, which
failed to be passed by the Legislature,
and making what changes the commit
Tee thought would be best
At the last meeting former City
Solicitor Robert G.. Harman, who is a I
member of the committee, expressed
his views on the matter. He stated
that it was his opinion that it would
be much more satisfactory to simply
amend the present charter than to get
up an entirely new one. The present
charter, he said, was much better than
many persons believe. Mr.. harman
poined out that if a new charter was
PASSED by the Legislature the hun
dreds Of city ordinances would practi-
cally be void, and other ordinances
would have to be prepared TO conform
81 the new charter. He stated that
being the only attorney on the com
mitjee any flaws in a new charter
would ne blamed on him, and for that
r. son and because ne would not be i'm
sympathy with Il, ne would not serve
ou the committee li an en rely new
charter is 20 be prepared. but 81 the
committee decided TO amend he pres
eut tchurler he would bee glad to assist.
The committee seemed 20 Doe divided
on ,he subject and for that reason 10
was aecioeu J0 hold a meeting and
come TO some definite decis ION as to
the best way 90 pr c.ed. numDer
ID.
OF City charter considerable uOusAt
and workel on previous drafts, we're
m,i od to attend tne DID, citing, 50 tuat
the clmmitte, wOull uave Ire benefit
of thlr views. Those nv ten VII
attended We're j. harvey hi eman,
A. D. hag u John o DOsseI anu
" NlAam u. Mullen Pe.er >. FORD,
Thomas K. Dayard, Mular4 Sauls-
bury aid sew raj others we're also
invited, but were unable to attend.
TLose invited, VINO attended the
meeting were informed as TO what me
comm Otee has done so far and Mr.
Harman's opinion on the matter was
explained to them. They were called
on to give their views on the subject.
Mr.. Nhiteman stated that Mr.. Har-
man is recognized by the members of
the bar OF this county as authority on
the city charter and all municipal law
He said that the reason new city
Ct arter has never been passed by the
Legislature, is that there is always
objection by some of the members of
that body to clauses in the craft. One
member, he said, will say that he
favors the charter, except one clause,
and that objection is strong enough
for him to vote against it. Another
member will object to some other
clause.
Mr.. Rossell, who has given the sub
ject a great deal of thought, was called
on for his views. He said that the
work of the committee is valuable only
along educational lines. Mr.. Rossell
said he would be perfectly frank and
state that he did not believe the poll
ticians Of the State, of both parties,
who control the Legislature would
ever allow the new charter to pass as
long as they can prevent it because
they are opposed to allowing the people
of Wilmington liberties which the bill
guarantees. The greatest defect, he
said, in the present charter is that the
responsibility of the government OF
the city does not focus on the head OF
the government. The mayor at this
time, he said, has not as much re-
sponsibility as the president of a large
manufacturing concern. Mr. Rossell
explained that his opinion on the sub.
lect has not changed since he assisted
in preparing several new drafts. II il
would be risk in adopting an entirely
new charter here, Mr.. Rossell said
then any city takes great risk in reor
ganizing its government and the saml
applies TO any corporation.
Mr.. Rossell contended that undei
the 1903 draft, the city government
could be run for 800, 600 year les
than it is at the present time. HI
also claimed that the draft of 1903 wa
prepared to conform to all the presen
city ordinances.
A letter was read from Willard Sauls
bury, in which he stated that he wa
sorry it was impossible for him t.
attend the meeting, but that his view
on the matter we're about the same a
expressed by Mr.. Harman.
Mr.. Rossell said that what is neede
Is self government, which is offered il
the 1903 draft and which the city doe
not have at this time
Mayor Wilson, following out this ex
preston of Mr.. Rossell's. read tn
budget Of the appropriations of Coun
Gil, last year and said that out of tn
$40, 900 in the budget the people G
llmluBlOu nave bue COubrOl OF Onl
$50, 900, while the Legislature control
the remainder.
Both W. d. Mullen and A. S. Rec
favored an entirely new charter /
preference to amending the presen
one.
Mayor Wilson moved that sub-com
mittee be appointed to take up tn
question of amending the present cit
charter. This motion was lost and o
motion of A. L. johnson, the commit
tee decided to continue with the wor
of preparing new charter draft.