Evening journal., 1911-03-22
LEGAL STATUS
FOR OFFICIALS
House, However, Fails t.
Legalize Acts Of the VIII
mingtOn Administration
CHARTER COMMISSION
BILL ALSO PASSES

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Del, March 22-Action to
legalize the status of the city officials
of Wilmington, who were returned as
elected at the election Of June, 1909,
which was declared by the court to
have been an illegal election, was
taken by the House yesterday after
noon when Representative Moor's sub
stitute bill to make legal the status
of the present officers of Wilmington
passed the House without a dissenting
vote. The Moore substitute was really
one Of the bills introduced by Repre-
sentative Gormley under another
number. The House also passed
unanimously Representative Moore's
bill to create the Wilmington charter
commission.
This leaves the House bill to vail
date the acts of the present adminis-
tration of Wilmington yet unpassed
by the House, and it is understood
that the Republican members will not
vote to validate the acts of the de
facto officials unless the Democrats
will consent to support the Moore sub
stitute bill to apply the State election
law to Wilmington.
Representative Moore called up
House bill No 227, to validate the acts
of the present officers of Wilmington,
which was Representative Gormleys
bill that twice had been killed, and
after it had been read Mr. Moore Of
fered a substitute bill which was
adopted The substitute was a dupli-
cate Of Gormley's House bill No. 226
to legalize the status of the officers Cl
Wilmington, and it thus became
Moore's substitute House bill No 227
by the process of parliamentary twist
ing.
Representative Gormley said the
Democrats stand for fair and square
deal to straighten out the tangle ii
the city of Wilmington, but he thought
his party should be consulted abou
It. He didn't think It any more thar
fair that the acts of the men whose
election was about to be legalizet
should he validated at the same time
Representative Moore explained
that his substitute was really 2 dupii
cate of the Gormley bill. verbatim. ]
had become a subject of acrimonious
debate. he said. and personally III
could see no partisanship in IL. HI
pointed out that there might be ;
question of the legality of the assess
, ment and collection Of taxes and o
the financial budget If the bill wal
not passed. and he called on all o
, his colleagues to pass It. Not a votl
was recorded against It.
Mr.. Moore then called up his bill &
create the Wilmington Charter Com
e mission. which passed unanimously
= II provides for commission of fiv
o residents of Wilmington to be appoint
1 ed by the Governor and FIVE to be ap
e pointed by the Mayor of Wilmington
. to frame a new charter bill. They ar
{ to organize by May 10. and shall com
= plete the charter draft by February
r 1912. The Mayor then shall hav
! 10000 copies of the proposed draf
. printed. and on the first Saturday o
t June, 1912 there shall be a specia
election. at which the qualified voter
4 of Wilmington shall vote for th
. adoption or rejection of the charter
; The election officers of the city elcc
u tion in June Of this year shall serv
= at the special election next year
?. majority of the votes cast shall b
I I'm favor of the charter draft, II wi
i, be the duty of the Mayor and Counc
to urge the enactment Of the charte
9 bill by the Legislature. of 1913.
= The Senate last night reported ia
forably and passed the Moore sui
q stitute bill to legalize the status {
q the present officials Of Wilmington.
3 The Senate also last night passe
the House bill to create the Wilminl
g. ton charter commission. This action (
/ the Legislature yesterday will thu
10 legalize the status Of the city officia
n of Wilmington and enable Council
- make a legal budget and fix the ia
rate for the ensuing fiscal year.