Evening journal., 1911-01-03
CITIZENS TALK
OFCITYCHARTER
Different Views Presented,
but All Agree That Action
Should Not be HaSty
MR.. HIGGINS OPPOSES
COMMISSION AS DICTATOR

{
ing as the president of the associa-
ton Herbert II. Wa-d, hoped il would
be in his opening remarks. Mr..
Ward said that they were there be-
cause they did not agree In opinions,
and thought a public discussion the
best way to arrive at the best thing
to do for Wilmington. Mr.. Wa-d |
thought that such an organization |
should number its members by the /
thousands if people were really inter- |
ested in their city Only forty people !
were present last night, though as the /
chairman said. with social events and !
opening of the General Assembly at /
Dover today, It was a particularly bad
night for the meeting.
John Hamilton opened the topic for
discussion, whether or not TO ask the
Legislature to authorize the Governor,
a Republican, and the Mayor, Demo-
crat, to appoint a charter commission
Ito amend or frame an entirely new
charter. and submit such new or
amended charter to the Legislature OF
1913 If accepted by popular vote by
the city.
Mr.. Hamilton thought the associa-
ltion should study the present charter,
to see if the civic troubles were due
to the charter or to other influences.
He also thought the suggested char
ter program, too complicated Tor un-
derstanding by every day citizens.
! Couldn't See Mystery.
William r. Kurtz declared that he
did not see anything mysterious about
=. 1.-The proposed charter commission. as
far as complexity went the previous
? sneaker would find study of the pres
ent charter about as puzzling a thing
as he could undertake Mr.. kust1
! doubted if there was lawyer In the
N city. with the exception of Robert g.
n Harman, who understood the present
4 charter which was made up OF hum
& dreds of acts passed at different times
with different motives in view. Some
X thing simplo was just what they we're
a after with as large a share of SELF
& government in It IS possible Nf
is Rnfz said the hanonll ef neopif
4 lpresent showed that the people ol
l- Wilmington we're not interested, as
they should be I'm civic affairs.
re Caleb =. Burohenal. q member o
r. the executive committee. explained
i that it was a source of regret TO ths
lcommittee to put the passage OF th'
al charter as late as 1913, but with th'
TX expense of special elections, and laci
al of time for consideration by thN
ID chatter commission and the public
le nothing would be gained by an oarlie
date.
. The Rev. r. L. Jackson desired tina
the report Of the charter commission
should be made in May rather thai
August. to put it. further from IA
November election and leave mo"
IT time for public consideration.
M Richard Monck strenuously oppos
the appointments of the commission
ers being made by the Governor an
n Mayor. saying it should be by ballo
If the association were to live up
its democratic principles.
Mr.. Higgins FavOrs Amendment.
Former Senator Anthony Higgin
addressed the association az som
length in an eloquent speech that wa
heartily applauded.
Ie' Mr.. Higgins said that the people
an Wilmington owed debt OF srdI,lu'
ere to the men who had FORMED su, sucu
'ed association. He believed in amenoh
wO the old rather than in making ne
1ed charter. for the general reason IN
arn since the Declaration of lndependen
to- Tho American people have been L
proue to seek a remedy for ever
lily thing I'm something new. He ala n
of feel willing TO trust any commlssl
of tn make the charter under Wnlch
hey had to live; he didn't want tn'
ing euesses and experiments. The sena'
ms thought the thing to do was 70 plch
!. the evils the city now has, and see
on an amendment to the charter will cu
tbem He thought the present char
has the merit of simplicity Mr.. n
aims compared the NJ -ent city chi
ter. which difuses Responsibility W
fhe Philadelphia charter Whlch c'
tralizes il in the mayor. What terr'
hae public opinion for the pres'
~ mavor of Philadelphia? asked
senator. He thought the condition
philadelnhia proved that one M
ipd couldn't be forced to do right by
inc made responsible. and be preterl
, to trust in a divided resnonsibil
i AFR Higgins approved of ttfe comm
qion form of governmepnt PROVIDED
commissioners could be Kept pu'
servants and not grow into masters
High Taxes Retard Improvement
'urt Mr.. Higgins wanted to know v
ung Wilmington did not nave s'i.
am naved. beautiful parks, ana
NOV, beautiful? During the past year,
said. there Nhu UNtA a. aNiNN'
cop pilgrimages to Dover. to get the L.
stature to allow the city to bond It's
ears The city was heavily in bonded q
ings and did not "pay as IL Went Mr. /
Mr. Gins said that no city could grow
med the high tax rate. S2.15 per $1,000;
VIII terurise was stified. industry s.
mated. and it was growing worse.
we're mington has never received ouu
q TO help. said the speaker and It has
idge unparalleled location, and yet
had census returns show the
work Is going backwards. The idea. he
r. is ali wrong in the incidents OF
able alton. and no charter is going to
IT,
has Mr.. Higgins advocated the hi
er of of an expert by the city or State t6
( as vesigate conditions and lay them
) as fore the people. He didn't question
intelligence Of Wilmington ciuz
con- but he didn't think intelligence W
came help them much without knowle
very which he didn't think they had
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