Evening journal., 1911-01-03
CITIZENS TALK
OF CITY CHARTER
CONTINUED from First Page.l

kCOnlluQcu from flr5l FdBe.J
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said that Mr.. Monck's idea Of popular
election Of the charter commissioners
was less democratic than the appoint
i've way because some politician was
likely to name the ticket on which they
voted. The speaker criticised the meth
cd of assessment and of collection by
which thousands of dollars We're lost
every year TO the city, and also the
fact that thousands we're lost by non
collection OF poll-taxes. He said, IL
you can cure the problem OF taxation,
you can go to sleep and let the chatter
stay where it is" With thousands Of
dollars in uncollected taxes, the City
Council were grasping for money and
going to the bank to borrow He scme-
times agreed with his former partner,
who once said in At of evaporation,
Delaware is TOO small to be a state. F."
The Rev. George H. Dole spoke Of
the increasing of tax rate and assess
ment by each'party in turn as it came
into power, leaving the taxpayers
verse off each election. Mr. Dole
moved that the Civic Associate N ap-
point charter commission themselves
10 report a new or amended charter to
that body Ia q short time which they
might then submit to the Legislature.
Mr.. Dole withdrew the motion after
A. ID. Warner stated that the execu-
tive committee had considered such an
idea, but thought It inadvisable since
the Civic Association had neither SUI
dcient authority or money TO make
such a move success. Mr.. Ward also
said that such commission ought
to have its expenses paid by the people
whom It benefited, and that the asso-
citation is without authority to submit
a charter 10 the people. Mr. Ward said
It was the idea OF the committee to put
the charter commission under moral
obligation to submit its propositions
from time to time to the Civic Associ-
alton for public discussion.
William S. Morris thought the sug-
gestion of getting experts, etc, was
unfortunate. as the public would think
the association would simply mean a
lot more expense for the city. He said
he felt suspicious of experts since
they had already got the city into a
muddle."
Norwood L. Rearick spoke in favor
of popular election Of the charter
commissioners.
Mr.. Bancroft for Amendments.
William p Bancroft said;
"For many years / have been desir-
ing, / think l may properly say pray
ing, that we might have in Whining
ton Civic Association such as | hope
this will be. l rejoice In this hope.
mot less than ten years since, af-
ted / believe a commission appointed
by the Legislature to propose a city
charter for Wilmington had worked
on the matter for three years, COM
mittee of the Board of Trade was ap-
pointed to assist in revision OF the
draft that had been made.
"As a member of committees Of the
Board OF Trade l worked on revisions
various times during nearly seven
years. ! endeavored to assist In get
ting it into good shape. OF course
In many respects could not get what
| thought would be best; and ! never
felt sure that It would be advantage
Gus for it to be adopted.
q always doubted whether 1t would
not be better to proceed, l may say
piecemeal, by amendments to the
charter, and ] gradually grew to be
more Of the opinion that that is the
more practicable course. The NUM-
cipal Committee of the Board of
Trade this year was Of that opinion,
and so reported to the Board, and
suggested several things respecting
which It might be well for us to
formulate propositions.
'The Board accepted our report and
authorized us 10 employ counsel and
have bills prepared on the subjects
we had mentioned; and respecting
other points If we should see our way
TO do so.
"The active members of the commit
tee are T. Chalkley Hatton, Josiah
Marvel, Howell S. England, and my
self. Il has engaged Robert G. Har-
man and S. ID. Townsend to advice
with II. and put proposals for legis-
lation in shape. The ideas of the
committee in regard to several points
are pretty definite. It expects within
day or two 10 go over them with
the executive committee of the Board
OF Trade. It's proposals are likely to
be in the form Of a number Of separate
bills.
Il hope some good results may come
from its work. feel sure that MEM
bers Of this association generally
would agree with almost everything
It is likely to propose Anything that
It succeeds I'm doing will be likely to
promote the objects Of the association.
hope this association will be able
to assist the Board of Trade, and
would suggest that It should try to
arrange that action by the Legislature
on bill It may propose respecting
the appointment Of a Charter Commits
sion shall be deferred to near the
close of the session of the Legislature.
The success or nonsuccess Of the work
of the Board of Trade may throw some
| light on what will be desirable re-
specting a Charter Commission, etc. 4"
The motion of Mr.. Kurtz to post
pone the adoption Of the proposed
charter program until meeting can
be held at which the Wilmington
members Of the Legislature will be
present was passed.
Mr.. Ward asked for new members,
but said that discussions at the as
ISOLATION meetings would not be con-
fined to members, anyone was well
come to express his ideas on the idea
of government
DEATH OF SAMUEL PEACHY.
Samuel ppaphV q prnmfnanf farunar