Evening journal., 1912-05-02
TIE PAVING POWER,
TIE PROPOSED CHARTER

Sir: In this sixth letter taking up
some Of the provision in the pro-
posed charter, / call attention to thu
paving clause, Sec. 8, lines 17-1S.
Under this clause, body of officials
Will have power to compel owners of
property to pay for all street i'm
provements. They can compel them
to pave streets, allow corporations to
team them up, and when ruined by
so doing, compel abutting owners to
pay for repaving them. When
property owner pays for paving his
street, he owns the pavement. Yet
there is no provision made in con-
sideration of tearing up ones pave
ment. No petition from abutting own
ers to pave is even made necessary,
as Is usually provided for, and no
provision for appeal is made. The
opinions of the Board OF Administra-
tion shall be final," Sec As If all
the traffic in the city should pass a
mans house, he must keep the street
in repairs, though he does not own
so much as a bicyclel The general
principle that those who use the
streets should pay for their repair,
is totally overlooked in the proposed
charter. It is argued that the city
cannot afford to pave the streets and
keep them repaired. If this is true,
how, then, can a few do what all
cannot The cry is continually rising
from officials, more taxes" Under
this pavement clause officials will be
able to double. triple. or quadruple
your taxes, and this for five years,
at the very outset. and you are help
less. When the cry of distress and
regret rises under the sway of the
proposed charter, you who fail to
come out and vote it down will eat
in bitterness your own indifference.
Notice that the power conferred by
this clause Is not general power from
the Legislature to the city. but il
gives particlar powers TO once hold
ers We are told that it is not likely
that tho said board will use all Of
the powers as there conferred. but
who ever knew OF ONCE holders that
did not use all the power In their
command to exploit the people? Is
It not true in this city, as everywhers
else where the old form of city gov
ernment exists, that the Office hold
ers are perpetually studying how to
raise more money? Are they not
even running up our bonded debt 10
get all that can possibly be filched
from the citizens. and get It before
the expiration of their term Of office?
Why put such power. unlimited, arbi-
trary. omnipotent into the hands Of
any body? Such power should be
retained by the people.
But mark you: here Is another
"ioker" You are not giving these
powers omnipotent to those whom you
elect. You are giving them to a
beard appointed by those whom you
elect and you are giving the powers
for FIVE years at time Are the
citizens of Wilmington so stupid as
to walk into this tran? Here Is the
way said charter will work You will
20 to the Board of Administration,
with whom al responsibility is placed
(Sec. 45), and ask for redress. They
viii tell you that they are not re-
sponsihle to you. They did not get
their Office from the voters. For the
Council appoints them. Then you
VIII 20 to the Council. The Council
will say. We are sorry. very sorry.
but they are IN for five years, and
we are powerless to help you. They
are following only the powers Of the
charter given them by the vote OF
the people, and you cannot check them
unless you can prove malfeasance. ''
No political ring no gang" or
boss" no body Of corruptionists could
possibly obtain a charter more fav-
orable to their schemes, or stronger
in fortifying intrigue and fraud thar
does the proposed charter And what
] say Of this provision, is true Of
every vital provision in said charter.
Let me appeal to you, fellow citizens.
II you do not come out and vote
against said charter. you are re-
snonsible for results
ln my next letter l will take up Sec.
g. compare it to modern methods
and show that II is but a link in the
endless chain Of extortion and civic
debauchery.
Respectfullv.
George Henry Dole.
Wilmington, Del, May 2, 1912.