Evening journal., 1912-05-28
VOTE DOWN
The CHARTER
in OPEN TEST
0HIy Ten Persons at Turn
fall Meeting Favor the
Instrument
MUCH DISCUSSION
Fer AND AGAINST MEASURE

With but four days remaining be-
fore the special election on the adOp-
ton of the proposed new city char
ter. the last meeting for the discus
sion OF the new charter to be held by
the Wilmington Civic Association wag
held in Irish American Hall last night.
The attendance was l50
Numerous persons spoke last night
Tor and against the charter and at the
close Of the meeting a test vote was
taken on the charter after much op-
position by William +. Kurtz. mem-
her Of the commission which prepared
the charter. on the grounds that the
/ Civic Association was not TO vote on
any subject Ills objections we're sus
tanned by President " II Ward. and
John r. Thomas who presented the
resolution asking for the vote ap-
pealed from this decision. The appeal
was sustained and resolution adopt
ed as follows
Resolved. That after much discus
sion Of the charter, It is resolved that
said charter be defeated at the polls
The vote on the resolution was az to
| 10.
Following this action Daniel W.
lynch said he did not think this vote
should be announced through the
pross but as IL WAS only test vote
he did not think public announcement
of the fact would do any harm. Tho
meeting adjourned after a rising vote
of thanks was given President Ward
for his impartial rulings In all the
meetings.
Last nights meeting opened with
those present giving a vote o. thanks
TO the Irish American Aasoci ton for
the use Of the hall for the meetings.
The discussion Of the charter AZ
then taken up. Dr Ge1rge Henry Dole
speaking for nfteen minutes against
the charter
a Mr. Dole said that Mr. kurtz had
a repeatedly stated that the initiative
/, referendum and recall PROVISION
, could be placed m the charter, nu
ne said that he could moi see wher'
II was possible to get The initatY
into the charter In any form
Mr.. Dole complained that the nev
= charter still left certain propertic
= exempt from taxation II was OK
u emplifed now and would be so h
the event OF the adoption of II by tn
= citizens. he thought
Mr.. Dole branded the prQYFion y
, tax persons aud animals as 9 iss leg
irlation and whi',. he said, he. d.
not suppose II was intended SO,
7 could be applied TO women as we'll Al
y to men.
An arbitrary power Was given {
the officials, MT Dole declared. In Il:
, scheme 10 charge the expense ,
street improvements to abuttni
property owners. This power, 4
r said. should be limited
Under the power TO bond the cit
y 10 the extent OF 10 per cent Of II
property holdings Mr.. Dole cor
"a tended could result i'm pereon owi
ma ing a $1,000 property being taxed s1t
is per year which he said was u
Of fair
The power given officers under tn
ct charter 10 grant franchises. Mr. Do
m added. looked good upon its face b.
% IL could be abused by these sam
re- officers extending the time of th
Sc franchises before going out OF oil
fee.
The provision for the paying {
salaries 70 officials gave unlimite
power IN the particular of salaries
He said that all IL provided was tha
they should not pay themselves les
. than 5000
z Another feature Mr.. Dole criticize
was the removal of the veto poVe
from the Mayor
10 Another point he attacked was IN
nine Councilmen and Mayor AM thei
m appointment of the board Of 1dminis
l' tration and they in turn have an
le pointments 10 make which removes
10 further and further from the peopl,
o. He said il was simply hiring tc
rs men to hire five men to hire on
p man.
e. The Council he said. would be IL
s. own judge upon election returns
n The Council. he said. Is authorize
r, also 10 issue bonds and borrow none
p tContinued on Second Page.)