Evening journal., 1909-09-10
Statement to Council Com
pares Wilmington a.
vorably With the Cana
dian City.

city Councils committee appointed to
attend the annual meeting OF the League
of American municipalities at Montreal
held recently made an elaborate report 10
Council last night The paper contains
much interesting matter and was well pre-
pared wilmington is fsvorably compared
with Montreal. a much larger city and
other interesting data is given.
CLERK Of Council George H. McGovern,
who accompanied tho committee 70 Mon
tfcal prepared the report. II follows:
TO the President and Members of tho
City Council
Gentlemen. Your committee APP
pointed 20 attend the Convention of
The League Of American Municipali-
ties in Montreal, Angus 18th, 26th,
e1th. desire to submit the following
report
In going to a city which has been
able TO secure an organization TO hold
its convention in that city. o dclcga-
lion cannot hut take notice OF tho
general appearance of the city-its
public improvements. and the progres-
siNeness of its citizens. TO secure
these conventions cities have offered
appropriations as high as 100000 for
the purpose of showing the visiting
delegate the entire city and its ad-
Nantaccs our observations while at
the city Of Montreal Ia many respects,
lead us 60 appreciate our own town TO
n FAR greater extent than when we left
VI would sccm that n a city Of 100000
population. as compared TO the city Of
Wilmington with 100000 population,
The improvements would be far more
extensive, but IN many respects we
feel perfectly free 90 state to you that
Wilmington. small as she is, presents
better appearances than many larger
ciilcS Conditions which would not
be tolerated. such as plank sidewalks
DO the business sections of this city.
and the absence of light on streets
leading 10 tho main street. would not
ho tolerated 10y our citizens, but we
observe this condition during our abb
scucc Montreal has 225 miles OF
streets. with only 81 miles paved.
Montreal also gave the inland dele
gate q seaport to visit though they
wore hundreds of miles from the sou.
ln This respect, the-City as an in
dustrial and commercial center, ap-
pcalcd 60 the business mon of the con-
Ncntion. The harhor work has thus
FAR cost S6o0ocoo and the importance
OF Natcrbournc commerce TO the city
can be appreciated by the people Of
Wilmington. whom it Is known that
this port is hundreds OF miles from
tho sea. where vessels have 20 traverse
canals. IN order 10 pass the rapids 20
Tie harbor OF the city
Home Rule.
The league and AN tho city govern
mcnts like Wilmington are now be-
ginning TO cry out for what they have
popularity termed "Homc Rule" Just
what progress is hoped TO be made
with this part of the government of
cities IN having them relieved as FAR
as possible from Legislation by state
LEGISLATURES. controlling their internal
an4ifs, is question which each muni-
tipnlfty must work out as a creature
of tho state government, which in
turn. must recognize the rights and
powers OF control by the general gov
crumcnt of our country. We may
feel however that IN this city some
progress toward home rule has been
made In tho future. az least il an
unwrittcn rule can be established be-
tween the Council Of Wilmington. and
the state Legislature. whereby laws
affecting the city government must
first have the approval of this Coun
eli as the citys real legislative body,
the greatest good viii result there
from. and the city be protected from
special or class legislation.
Direct Taxation.
Throughout the discussions OF the
numerous papers presented, one sub
icct constantly became prominent, and
that was the sources of direct tax
alton. and their effect This subject
AS vital TO tho city of Wilmington. as
81 has bccn presented in one form or
another at the recent sessions Of the
legislature and al our last session,
received its greatest strength i'm tho
form OF "a paving bill. whereby abut-
tine property owners were Go pay for
tho im9roVoments of their streets.
Tho nfst paper presented to the COM
Ncntior hy the mayor OF Kansas City
made lt appear as if Kansas City was
tho ono perfect city In the United
Statcs Your committee saw nt tt
ask questions of the speaker about
thr roiuts advanced. and we feel now
that we have much 20 pride ourselves
nlon in Wilmington. even If compared
with kansas city or any other cits
that mas system &C assessing an pub.
Tic improvements upon the ahutting oi
hencnited property. ln the discussion
uhieh was raised. by the Wilmington
delegation on tho paper from Kansas
CITY. IL WAS brought out that kansa
CITY has. after having had 1000 acres
given 10 the city. built extensive park
WAYS. houlcvafds. park driveways. and
arhvaNs. and hss extended its sys-
tenn until il now comprises 2.1O0 acres
of parkland. and has $50 miles Of
paved streets. To accomplish all this
-thc paving and park improvements.
AVID the building of the boulevards-
tax has been assessed against tho
aentting properties which have been
directly benefited by these improve
ments, and In the face of this addi-
honal or direct tax. they have a citN,
tax upon real estate of 81 20 por 100.
some other cities who have this svs-
teIn or assessing the cost OF public i'm.
provements directly against benehtted
property, have resortcd 20 placins !
tax or license upon every busines,
privilege OF franchise existing In thos,
cities. IL can he seen from this tha
the argument, as often advanced tina
the tax burden Of any city would n
relieved by reason Of assessing an
public Improvement directly arains
benefited property, does not hol
good on the contrary, II was sub
sequently admitted in convorsatio
with the newly elected president ,
The league, that the system OF asses,