Evening journal., 1910-12-02
SOME IDEAS ON
CITY GOVERNMENT
Council Clerk MCGOvern Ex-
presses Himself in Report
to Board Of Trade


delegates from this city, who attend
ed the annual convention of the NUM-
cipal League in Buffalo, N. Y, last
month, submitted a partial report Of
the deliberations Of the league at the
meeting Of the Wilmington Board OF
Trade last night, but Il was not dis
cussed. II Is likely. however, that it
will come up for discussion at the
next meeting OF the board.
Mr.. McGovern said the people ap-
preciate the fact that II a home rule
charter act can be given Wilmington
by the State Legislature, that civil
service regulations can be applied. the
commission form Of government can
be adopted and the increased super
visory power OF the mayor can be
brought about. Then every effort
should be put forth to discover such
abuses as may be complained of and
corrective measures proposed.
Mr.. McGovern set forth that to the
credit Of the present president Of the
Board of Trade when he was mayor
Of the city Il must be said that he
caused a start whereby this condition
could be brought about.
Speaking OF the Des Moines plan
OF city government. Mr.. McGovern
says the citizens of Des Moines can
find out the exact amount of money
expended by any part of the city gov
ernment. classified under the various
heads Of commodities purchased
Referring to the method in oper-
alton I'm Wilmington. Mr.. McGovern
said the same classification is open 10
the inspection OF the public which
contains the detailed amount of the
expenditures of the city under the
heads as applied to departments. This
is greot Onward step he says.
THE writer, I'm an effort TO appre-
clate what has been done I'm the city
of Wilmington, endeavored 10 make a
comparison with the city OF Des
Moines from statistics compiled by the
United States government This ef-
fort was not successful for the reason
that a report, subsequent to the year
1907, could not be secured At that
time the governmental costs for the
city Of Wilmington were $3.50, 1874, for
the city of Des Moines, S99S,717: for
wages for the city Of Wilmington, /
$40S,531: for the city Of Des Moines,
$699,749; for miscellaneous objects for
the city of Wilmington. 1851 ,672; for
the city Of Des Moines, $299 ,629.
Mr. McGove n says these figures go |
TO show that Wilmington was by far !
more efficiently managed than the city |
of DesMoines. He says that the com |
parison of the tax rate system as ap- |
piled TO DesMoines does not permit of |
an accurate comparison with that OF /
Wilmington for the reason that they I
have mill tax which Is more than /
double that Of Wilmington, but II is
based upon very low assessment val |
uation. He says, however, that since
the commission form Of government
has been In operation In the city of
Des Moines that the tax rate has
been decreased three mills. The writer
states that the city Of Wilmington
compares very favorably in the mat
ter of financial efficiency with that
of the city Of Des Moines Accurate
comparison between the two cities.
however, cannot be made because of a
difference In the manner tax levies
are made. For instance the lighting
of Wilmington Is paid from the gem
q e'al tax levy while I'm Des Moines n
special tax for this purpose is levied
"In the United States reports Des-
Moines is shown to have a personal |
property tax based on % per cent |
valuation. amounting to S4,020.250 |
while Wilmington is shown as collect |
ing nothing by this means. Surely !
taxpayers and citizens prone 10 advo- |
cate Des Moines commission form Of |
government will give this point so
much IN favor Of Wilmington thorough /
thought and consideration.
1T is also shown that the rate OF
tax Of general property per $1,000 for /
all divisions average: Wilmington. |
1898; Des Molnes, TIA. Reported T
true value. Wilmington. 1877; Des
Moines. 1878.
TAX leviss, classified by charter.
show for general property tax: Will
S72O,67S; Des Moines, $780, /
s42.
Mr.. McGovern says Wilmington and /
New Castle county interests could /
mite on their specific wants and 1
could better secure new legislation at (
the various sessions of the General |
Assembly.
1T is urged that they unite upon |
enactment of the modern sinking fund /
act, giving the sinking fund commits !
sioners ample power to save the city /
money at opportune times.
"It is urged that they united upon I
the proposition 10 give the mayor /
= Wilmington az least supervisory !
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