Evening journal., 1912-04-02
CHARTER
GETS FEW
MORE RAPS

Continued From First Page.
and Chairman Ward steered the dis
cnssion safely past threatening ami
mosities
Sections 1, 2. and (a) under Sec
tion 5. were passed without comment
section 8. which according to Charter
Commissioner Thomas +. Bayard's
statement last night, takes away the
referendum power now given the citi-
zens by the present charter. by vest
ing all the legislative power in the
City Council, brought George II. Litz,
Of the Referendum League TO his feet
declaring no redress was left to citi-
zens against unjust ordinances made
by City Council. Mr.. Bayard said that
the new charter did not prevent ad-
visory referendum being given by
City Council,
Arnold w. Francois expressed the
idea that the new charter was as
cumbersome as the old, since all laws
not inconsistent with it were allowed
to remain in force.
w. f. Kurtz, H. answer, explained
that these laws did not remain as part
of the city charter but as city ordi-
nances, and that they we're the minor
laws necessary for all the smaller de-
tails of government. The difference. he
explained, would be that the citizens
of Wilmington would not have to ask
permission of the State Legislature.
only part Of whom they elected.
every time they wanted any little
change in city affairs, but could have
IN done by City Council. all of whom
they elected. Action of Legislature
WAS necessary 10 change a charter he
said, but an ordinance could be
changed by City Council he explained.
He said IL was hardly necessary to
state that all the bylaws by which
the every day business Of the city was
conducted could not be dropped when
a new charter was adopted for the
city would be paralyzed until the leg
islative autl ority could enact new
ones. The proposed charter left the
legislative authority free to change
nny Of the old laws.
Mr.. Gallagher expressed the rather
Noluminous wish that all the 500
pages of laws In the old charter which
are proposed 10 be kept as city ordi-
nances. should be submitted to these
meetings for discussion.
The capitatiou tax, and the assess
ment on abutting property for special
improvements. were the two obiec-
tons made TO (b) under Section 3.
Charter Commissioner Bayard said
that the section did not impose any
taxes whatever. but merely gave the
City Council power to impose these
taxes If they saw it, Charter Com
missioner Kurtz said the people
should elect City Councillors who
would levy taxes according to public
sentiment whether IL should be a sin
gle tax or any other kind Of tax.
George II. Litz. Frank A. Houck and
Mr.. Gallagher objected on the ground
that the charter should have left no
opportunity to City Council 10 i'm
pose a capitation tax or tax on abut-
ting property for special improve
ments. saying that City Councils were
not 10 be trusted Mr. Gallagher stat
ed that he would trust no man. how
ever good his reputation. not even
himself, when put I'm an offive where
there was great and constant tempta-
tion 10 favor special interests: that
the only way to secure goodness on
the part Of City Councils was by the
checks Of the referendum, initiative
and recall
unfair, there had never been more
than petty graft at the most in VIII
mington, he said and he believed city
officers on the whole were trying to
do their best for the city
Mr.. kurtz also spoke in commenda-
tion of the short ballot features Of the
proposed charter.