Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-28

Rapid progress is being made by the
Joint committee of the Board of Trade
and City Council in formulating p City
Charter bill, to be taken before the next
Legislature. Although the committee Is
taking the draft of 1908, which failed of
passage, and going over it, page by page,
numerous changes are being made TO im-
portant sections. The members of the
committee are taking great interest in the
work and giving considerable thought to
any matters over which there seems to
be any doubt as to their advisability.
The committee has TO make it's report to
the Board of Trade at the May meeting
OF that body.
The meeting held last night was the
largest the committee has had and much
was accomplished. Those present were
Chairman Samuel H. Baynard. Thomas
H. Savery, president of the Board Of
Trade; Mayor Horace Wilson, former
Mayor Charles ID. Bird, A. l.. Johnson
president of the Board OF Street and Sewer
Directors; County Comptroller Philemma
| Chandler, William p. Bancroft, Alfred
Belts and Councilmen McCatierty, Kane,
Cannon. Ross, and Taylor. The only
absentees were former City Solicitor
Robert G.. Harman, who is out Of the city,
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The work was started at section go Of
the 1908 draft, which provides for a De
partment Of Public Works, to have direc-
rection and control Of all matters pertain
ing to public works, except the water
works
During the discussion It was brought out
that in another section there is a clause
which provides for the city lighting the
| streets, supplying the inhabitants with
/ light and also providing for the erection
and maintenance OF electric light works.
/ Mr.. Bancroft said he was not sure but
/ that it would be best TO leave that section
out, as it may be a hindrance TO the
charter being passed. The other mem
bers thought it should remeain, as they
considered it a good thing.
The 1903 draft provides for the De
partment OF Public Works to be under
the charge Of a director, who shall receive
an annual salary OF $1,000. The COM
mittee made no change in this section.
The committee changed the number
Of park commissioners from eight TO ten,
at the suggestion of Mr.. Bancroft. The
present board has ten members.
The section also provides for q Depart
ment Of Water Supply, to be under the
control Of a director, who shall receive a
salary Of $1,000 annually and bond in
the sum Of $50 600. The matter OF water
rents, rebates to be allowed and how
long notice should be given persons
who have failed to pay their water rent
before shutting of the water was held
over for a week, TO give the members an
opportunity to think the matter over.
Section 6S provides for q Department
OF Public Safety, TO be under the charge
Of q director, whose salary shall be s., ,00C
annually.
Under this department there will be q
Board Of Health, composed Of four mem
bers, the same as the present board, two
physicians, a practical plumber and a
business man. There was some discussion
as to whether OF not the charter should
provide for a port physician. Mr.. Bird
thought it would be a useless expense
as the port physician never has any.
thing to do. Some Of the other member.
were Of the opinion that there should be
such a provision, as there is no telling
when one would be needed, with foreign
vessels constantly coming into port. II
was decided to allow the section to re.
main.
In addition to the Board Of Health. the
Police Department and the Fire Depart.
ment will also be under the direction anc
control OF the Department Of Public
Safety.
The 1908 draft gives the police the sam,
powers within the county as constablei
have, which power they do not have al
this time. The committee thought thil
a good section and it remained.
Section rs provides that the Fire De
partment shall continue as now consti
tuted, until changed by ordinance O
Council. Section so provides that thert
may be created and established a pension
fund, to be maintained as Council may
, by ordinance, direct, for by public ans
( private bequests, for such members o
the fire OF police departments as shal
receive honorable discharges therefron
4, by reason Of age or disability. and 70
the families Of such as may be injured o
killed in the service of the corporation.
The Department of Claims and As
sessments was next taken up. 1t will b
under the control of the city comptroller
who is to receive a salary Of $1,000 an
nually.
It was decided to change the sectio
4 so as to have the city comptroller electe
/ instead Of appointed.