Evening journal., 1907-01-18
The Subjects Of Eloquent
Speakers al TO-day's SeSs-
ions Of Convention
STATE CANNOT
KNOW ClTY'S NEEDS

Shortly after 10 O'Clock 20 day the Mis- ,
niclpal Convention oil the elites and touaa
of Delaware reconyoned for It's second
days work With a much larger atloada co
taan yesterday The out-of-town dele
gates present We're W. s. guron "a 4
George vs.. Emery. Of aford: C. E.
smith. Laurel. r. q. Wailsn. clayton w.
y Smith, Delaware city. Even G. 10 d.
a. NJ. Gallaghcr and Joseph j. f.nyno DIS.
of Now CASTLE James Martin Dover. E.
r. Melvin, Frederica Harry p. Grleves.
Smyrna; Theodore Townsend. Mifo d.
and John h. Cooke, Mlddletown others
who were present were County Comp'r l.
Ter phllcmma Chandler. " G. Click, of
Smyrna Francis C. McNmiy John while,
sr. Frank White Horace G. KNOWLES.
WIN ann T. Bancroft W. s. Indnuu,
Water Commissioner Benjamin p. ahaw.
Thomas ~ ODonncl. James r. Clarizs ~,
Thomas II. Melvin. Councilmal Th m
10. postlos and Tax Collectors George II.
Mccall and Eugene Nj saycrs
The meeting WAS openfd by rrysr hy
tho Rev p. IT, Jester cf D,vor.
The COMMITTEES appointed yc rduv 10
consider the matter Of giving autohr "
Through the Legislature to elites ana
towns 10 incur Indebtedness for public
municipal purposes. offered The follow ng
resolution.
BE &c resolved 10y the Municipal convon-
tion of Cities and Towns of the stafe of
Delaware, IA regular session assembled
this 18th day of January. A. ID 1907. IN
said convention do place itself upon ro,crd
as being In favor OF the General ASSEM-
bly, OF tho state of Delaware. enaciina
laws authorizing cities and towns of this
state. by and through Tho legislative bod
les OF such cities and towns to incur In
debtednessy for public municipal purposes
IN amount not exceeding 10 per ccntum OF
the assessed value of the real estate In
ouch cities and towns
BE lt further resolved. That copies II
this resolution be forwarded to the speak
ers Of the Senate and House Of Represen-
iatives. and that the General Assembly
be urged TO cnaco laws IN conformity with
this resolution
William =. Bancroft and Mr. Smith OF
Delaware City, approved OF the resolution
with the exception that II did not provide
that the question of making loans should
be referred 20 the people % vote upon.
Mr.. Smith suggested that the referendum
clause be inserted In the resolution, and
on motion OF Colonel Townsend the mat
ter was referred back to the committee to
report This afternoon.
Home Rule for Wilmington.
The first matter brought before the con-
ventlon was home rule for Wilmington.
and IN this respect Mayor Wilson had tho
following 70 say:
b "slnce 1872 tho city has been working
under the present charter and in that
3 time many changes have taken place In
the carly days when Wilmington was
much smaller. this charter was sun clent-
In the eighties tho people wanted a
change. and the government Of the cty
was placed In the hands Of commissioners,
and their work for n time was good Now
there seems 10 be feeling that the press
cnt system IS nor up-to-date. that tho
commissioners are not selected by tho
vote OF the people, and are not ALWAYS
voiclng sentiments Of the community de-
: spite the earnest Efforts made 70 do so.
last year the income OF the city was
ss77OOo. exclusive of the Water Deparf-
, ment and OF this amount s6i5 oo) was
raised by taxation on real estate. Tha
city Is handicapped because no money Is
Z raised on licenses of any kind. Lots OF
revenue could be raised II the laws wcre
more elastic and the people could impose
q such taxes The income Of the city, ex-
/, Continued on Second Page.