Evening journal., 1910-07-13
Governor PenneWiH Will
Not Put State TO Expense
if There is Any Other
Method TO Validate
WiImingfon's Gov
ernmenf
COUNCIL TONIGHT TO
CALL FOR LEGISLATURE

AuAA AA' AaAkAhAAiMAR AuAN hH'AAhA A'o"
sion to try to bring order out of the
muddled condition of Wilmingtons
city government until he is convinced
that there is no other method by
which the city can be given a valid
government The Governor said he
would not put the State TO the eX-
pense of 4 special session unless Il
is absolutely necessary, and even If
he should be convinced that II Is nee
essary he would not call a special
session unless assured that the Leg
islature would have everything map
ped out I'm advance so that II could
/ finish the business within one day.
/ Governor Pennowill was Will
minRton visitor this morning and /
/ talked over the city government sit 1
uation informally with few friends |
who broached It TO him He said /
he had received no request to call |
special session, and he would not |
act of his own initiative In that man
ner
81 would not call the legislature
together into special session unless
there was no other alternative 10
straighten out the conditions I'm VIII
mington," said the Governor. "Un-
4 derstand. ! am much interested In
Wilmington and would like to see
all doubt about the validity of It's
government removed. but l do not
think there should be a special ses-
sion of the Legislature with the eX-
pense il means to the State unless
IL is absolutely necessary | would
have 10 be satisfied that there was no
other method TO give Wilmington
legal administration before I would
convene the Legislature. OF course
/ don't want 20 see Wilmington suf-
fer i'm any way because of the pres
ent conditions, and I would like to
see Wilmington treat the State as
= fairly I'm this matter as the State
would treat Wilmington From what
sec az present there viii be no
L special session except sa last re-
Sort
The Governor was asked how he
would determine whether there was
any other method than calling the
Legislature together II he were for
mally requested to convene the Leg
islature and he replied that II re-
q quest for a special session came 10
him from Council or the Whining
\ ton government he would then con-
a suit competent legal authorities to
h learn whether there was any other
method that could be pursued to give
\ Wilmington a valid government Gov
j ern0r Pennewill said he had not con-
: suited any lawyers regarding the
4 matter and would not until the matter
J. OF a special session OF the Legislature
= came to him formally.
: Council 10 Request Session.
A special meeting OF City Council
was called to-day by President Ban
ming for tonight to discuss the situ-
= alton, and it was said that a resolu-
tion will be adopted requesting Gov
!, ernor pepnewill to call a special ses-
Z sion Of the Legislature to validate the
= city administration.
The special meeting was called af-
u ter a conference was held of some of
the Democratic "usurpers" I'm city of
y y fees and some Of the party's lawyers
y and leaders.
James Kane. the Democratic leader
. I'm Council and chairman of the
. finance committee, was In a long con-
:, ference with City Solicitor Brady this
u morning over the situation, and they
mapped on action TO be taken by
Council tonight.
The Democratic officials have come
i, to the conclusion that an act by the
y Legislature giving the Wilmington
9 government legal standing is the only
u remedy for the situation. resolu-
3 tion formally requesting the Gov
l. ernor TO convene a special session
was drawn to-day to be considered by
u Council tonight.
e. Other Method Proposed.
That there is a method. other than
q a special session of the Legislature,
Is to remedy the situation and make
legal officials Of the present "usurp-
rs aIsu.H haIafntr fhn rtf rfI from
ID mayor down, is a belief of many. The
Republicans Of the outgoing admin
istartion who retired in June of last
year and were not reelected pro
posed a plan TO City Council early in
u June TO straighten out the situation
- II was that the members of the old
Council meet, accept formally the
,e designations of former Mayor Horace
3 Wilson. former President of Council
20 William G.. Taylor and all others ol
l. the previous administration one by
g. one, and in their places elect Mayor
d Spruance, President OF Council Ban.
4 ming and all the others returned as
Il elected at the election i'm June Of last
le year, which election the superior
Court has held invalid Some OF tho
Democratic officials now serving IN
the role of "usurpers" since th'
court , util6iDN Ol Jult ANOkfu Will
favor upon the method proposed by
the Republicans, and il was advo
a Gated by Robert G. Harman, formei
u city solicitor. one of the foremos
Democratic lawyers OF the city. VIII,
In statement yesterday outlined thu
rs same method as one that wogls
I'd clarity the situation.
nd On the Monday night following th'
10 proposition from the Republicans pre-
~ sented in City Council, the Demo
Gratis of the city administration. alonl
s. with some of their lawyer-leaders
Ir. held a conference in the office of ]
ry Harvey Whiteman, who has been on
n, of the chief legal advisers of thu
Ir. Democratic administration AT thh
conference the situation was talkes
over and was favored by some o
those present Mr.. Whiteman, how
I'd ever, advised against pursuing thu
ty method outlined, and the Democrats
lg in Council have taken no action OF
the Republican proposition. AS re