Evening journal., 1910-11-22
FOR new CITY
GOVERNMENT
Wilmington Civic Association
Considers Commission Form
for Wilmington
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
WILL WORK FOR GRANGE

Manifesting their enthusiasm in
forceful addresses and earnest dis
cussgons, about seyenty-fve of the
foremost business men of Whining
ton gathered in the rooms of the Board
OF Trade in the Equitable Building
last evening and organized what will
hereafter be known as the Whining
ton Civic Association. The main OBJ
lect OF the newly formed Organiza-
ton Is to secure, through earnest CO.
operation and discussion, the best
and most effective form OF govern
ment for the city of Wilmington, to be
free from the rule Of all political par
ties and political bosses.
BY unanimous choice, Herbert II.
Ward was chosen as temporary chair
man. Arthur l.. Bailey was ap-
pointed TO the secretary's chair
Immediately the chairman proceed
ed to appoint two committees, one
a constitution committee and the 9th
er a nominating committee. Messrs
Walter II. Hayes. George B. Miller
and T Allen Hilles were appointed as
members Of the constitution commit
tee, while Messrs. j. w. Brassington,
W. r. Kurtz and the Rev. r. l.. Jack
son comprised the nominating com
mittee.
William p. Bancroft was requested
to give the assembled men a short
resume of the work of the National
Municipal League, IN session I'm Buff
falo last week, which he with several
other men of this city attended. The
account Of the leagues meetings were
listened TO with much interest as they
proved both instructive and necessary
to the progress Of the meeting of last
night
Mr. Bancroft stated that the last
big discussion held by the league was
given up to commission government
and was really more Of a public de-
bate between the people of the city
than anything else. He was deeply
impressed with the small number Of
those present who expressed them
selves as unfavorable to the plan.
T. Allen Hilles. who also attended
the meeting IN Buffalo, gave an ac-
ceptable talk upon the work done
there by the league. He said that the
plan had been tried ont In a large
number of cities In this country and
that to the best of his knowledge, no
single one had turned back to the old
forms of government after adopting
the new.
Success Elsewhere.
Perhaps the best example Of the sue
cess of the new form Of government
are the cities OF Galveston. Houston
and Des Moines. All OF these cities
have adopted the commission form Of
government In an effort TO clean out
the corruption and corporation con-
troll. And in each one wonderful steps
have been taken ahead with the result
that they are experiencing a general
cleaning up under the new plan.
/ Mr.. Hilles said that a discussion
/ had arisen as to whether the commit
/ tees appointed were vested with both
executive and legislature power, many
believing that such plan would not
be for the general good of the peo-
pie.
AS final fitting closing to,his talk
Mr.. Hilles summed up the whole meet
ing as a general feeling after what
is good for each locality"
George H. McGovern, clerk OF City
Council, another In the party from this
city who attended the session of the
Municipal League, said that if carried
out on the right lines the commission
government should do away with the
ward politicians
After lengthy discussions, entered
into heartily by all present, a consti-
tuition as suggested by the constitu-