Evening journal., 1912-02-01

wilmington Charter Commission. a
noon today delivered 10 Mayor Howell
IN his office at the City Hall, the draf
OF the proposed new charter for vii
mlngton. Mr. Bayard informed thi
Mayor that while the draft was com
piete the Commission desired 4
change some of the verbiage and pol
lsh It up and revise certain portions
which would require two or three
weeks. He requested that the Mayor
yeturn the draft to the Commission al
3 o'clock this afternoon so that The
Commissions committee on phraseoI-
ogy might resume its consideration ol
the proposed charter.
Mayor Howell declined TO make pub
lie the charter draft, because he had
not read it himself He said he did
not think it would be made public
until it is finished. Mayor Howell ex-
pressed the view, however. that the
charter draft should be made public
as soon as possible, because after all
IT concerns the public most, and am
pie opportunity should be given to
study its provisions.
just what effect the failure to finish
the charter draft by February ] may
have on its validity is question that
has arisen. The law creating the
Charter Commission provides among
other things
Said Commissioners shall complete
the framing Of said charter or scheme
OF government on or before the first
day of February A. d., 1912, and forth
with make their report thereof TO the
Mayor Of said city then in office"
There is further provision that
the Mayor shall have printed ten
thousand copies of the proposed
charter in pamphlet for for
distribution by March l. The Char
ter Commission expects to have the
instrument completed by February
I5
Some persons incline to the view
that failure to complete the charter
by today may furnish an opportunity
for it's opponents to have it nullified
even before it gets to a public vote.
II is understood that the Charter
Commissioners feel that they are
within the law by making a report to
the Mayor today, even though the re-
port may be changed after today and
before it is printed officially on
March l.
The new charter draft provides for
an entirely new scheme of govern
ment for Wilmington. It abolishes
the present Commissions, merges de-
nartments and provides for a city
manager or supervisor to see that all
departments do their duty to the
people
Tr,td,-- fIo v,ros,arn1 Al, ,sfrr,
lines are abolished and there will be
10 party designations on the ballot.
The city is divided into two wards.
Eighth street being the dividing line.
The people would elect a Council of
nine-three from the southern ward,
three from the northern ward and
three from the city at large. The
people also would elect Mayor,
these would be the only elective
officers
Under the new scheme. the Street
and Sewer and Water Departments
would be merged into the Department
OF Public Works. The engineering
department Of the city would be
merged with It. Under the depart
ment Of public safety would be the
police and fire departments. lsduca-
tion would continue to be in charge of
2 Board Of Education. and parks
would continue as separate depart
ment. All the financial matters Of the
city would be combined in depart
ment Of receipts and disbursements.
The Mayor would be elected for two
ears. He would received a salary.
not yet determined. but to be about !
81 900 a year
He would have veto power over the |
legislation of Council except appro- |
priation ordinances.
The Councilmen shall determine by |
lot after the first election which two
from the northern district and which |
two from the southern district and /
which member chosen at large, shall |
serve a four year term. The others
shall serve a two year term, but the
of all would be elected for
four year terms. This would make
four or five hold-over members for
each new administration. Elections
w@lld be held for Mayor and part or
Council biennially. Council would
have full legislative power to give
home-rule, would grant
all franchise, and would confirm the
Mayors appointments as we'll
as some appointments by the
Board of Administration, a two
thirds vote being required to conform,
Or to remove for cause any official.
The President Of Council would be
chosen from its membership by the
Council. Council would have no ap-
pointive power except to name its
Dailiff and clerk.
The Board Of Administration, which
with the Mayor would lay down the
policy for the city government, would
consist OF five members. chosen from {
among citizens Of business expert
snce, 10 be appointed by the Mayor.
The first Board shall determine by lot
who should serve, one, two, three.
'our and five years, and their success
sors would be named for five years.
Council would have to confirm the
The Board would have
antire administrative control of the Z
'ity's business except as otherwise I
specified in the charter. j
The Board Of Administration would 6
appoint a supervisor Of administration I
)r business manager TO be its chief !
xecutive officer and who would be '
irectly responsible to the Board for /