Evening journal., 1912-04-18
MD KTIpT7 0N
lTkKts NUNIL UIv
CITY CHARTER
Member Of the Commission
Sets Forth Some Of Its
Advantages
FIRST OF SERIES OF
LETTERS ON SUBJECT

Editor Of THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL. Sir.--I ask space in your pa
per to discuss the provisions Of the
proposed city charter for Wilmington
recently drafted by the commission
named for that purpose, believing
that if the citizens of Wilmington
adequately understand its provisions
they will vote more intelligently on
it. The discussions thus far seem to
be SO clouded with bias and prejudice
on account of what it does not con-
tain, that very few people know what
It. does contain.
The commission which drafted the
charter comprised Robert H. Rich
ards, attorney at law; Thomas f.
Bayard, attorney at law; George w.
Sparks, manufacturer; Sylvester d..
Townsend, banker; J. Jackson
Peirce. real estate broker; William
=. White, connected with Charles
Warner Company, merchants and
manufacturers; Armon d. Chaytor,
attorney at law, Joseph H. Macklin.
mechanic; James Kane foreman for
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and
myself,
II is but fair to state that Judging
from the discussions that took place
at the meeting Of the commission and
the results thereof, no men could
have entered upon and performed
their duties more conscientiously and
faithfully. The discussions were sim
gularly free from opinions or attempts
to secure partisan advantage, although
the commission was non-partisan or
bipartisan I'm character, whichever
III .t~-1.t
ed TO be mbued with the idea to give
the people for their consideration a
measure which would remove or cure
the palpable defects of the existing
charter and embrace those progress
sive characteristics of municipal gov
ernment which by experience else
where had proved advantageous I'm
promoting good city government.
The members OF the commission
fully appreciated the fact that, in lbs
last analysis good government,
whether Of city, state or nation, is
not dependent ON the form Of gov
ernment but on the intelligence,
alertness and civic spirit of the citi-
zenship. The form of government at
best can only remove or minimize the
friction, wastefulness and PARTISAN
ohiH NhA'4 itnuiln .AiOh al
quate form of government. and that
form would be best which would most
completely OF adequately enable pub
lie opinion to be translated into the
acts of government most efficiently
and economically.
That was the sole ambition of the
commission which. framed the pro-
posed charter, and that It has fulfilled
/ i ~.
nit to the citizens OF Wilmington for
the reasons which are stated herein
and in the succeeding papers which
will follow
The proposed city charter should
commend itself to the citizens of Will
mington for these few reasons stated
broadly:
Because il secures absolute home
rule to the citizens of Wilmington In
municipal affairs
because the nomination of Off
cials by petition instead OF by po-
litical parties as such minimizes
the dangers and wastefulness Of par
tisan politics in city government and
increases Independent voting to such
an extent that fitness for Office and
not reward for partisanship is apt
I " ui ihN iNltl fAAitilOu III tue Sc
lection Of officials.
3-Because the charter secures to
tho citizens of Wilmington all of the
advantages which result from the
compactness and responsibility ae-
cured by the new commission form
of government without the disadvan.
y tages which experience has shown
to attend that new form of city gov
ernment.
4-Because Il insures in the ad
ministration of the citys affairs al
of the good results attained from the
development of the modern corpora
ton idea. Under the proposed char
ter the citys business affairs will b'
conducted by business and profes.
sionsl experts. with the power anC
} authority to accomplish definite aims
while the ultimate and residuary
mower to legislate for the people anS
to control the administrative Officials
, is vested in the elected representa-
,ites Of the people
'5-Becauso all of the disiointe'
, and independent bodies. not core
lated which now comprise the cit.
government of Wilmington, are
welded and harmonized into on
] nUNOOERINUu0
tive department is brought into close
relationship with the legtslativ
, department and Il will requir
but the united intelligence and civl
, spirit Of the citizens to make thei
t machinery OF city governmen
moro and work with more eth
, cheney and less waste and friction
, so that the material progress an
/ Hp
Grated. as I feel sure it would be
this charter is adopted.
10 6-Because It, removes, or min
imizes the bsneful effects Of partisan
d., politics in respect to the awardin
u of offices as premium for part
work. Under the proposed charter.
carried into effect I'm the spirit /
which it rs conceived and written. tn
party machine can no longer delive
the goods that is. the offices, as
] reward for party service Employo
Y are hired for their knowledge an
ability and retain Office during goo
behavior. and their retention whe
E faithful. is insured by board Z
civil service This win promote a
= ambition TO make municipal expert
of city employees.
7-Because the city charter wi
remove the biggest cause which ha
produced the clamor for o new char
ter. to wit. the constant annual dc
fcits of current receipts to meet cul
rent expenditures. The propose
charter provides a scientific metho
for assessing real estate in accord
ance with the method employed in n
, city Of New York, which will resu
in a full. Uniform. fair assessmer
OF real estate. without prejudice c
favor and will result Inevitably