Evening journal., 1912-03-21
LABOR HTS
CHARTER And
THECOURTS
Central UaiOR Speakers Con-
demn Measure Because Re-
Call Feature is Lacking
ALSO PLEAD FOR
REFERENDUM CLAUSE

the General LABOR Aulohs III AHShAH
ISIS han, Nc. 4UO onipiey street, last
evening, was 10 discuss the proposed
City Cnmtel, the nity or more per-
sons present m0ulgcd IN discussing
the recall feature on the imuatlVe ana
Reieren0um propaganda incidental
ly, the Justice meted out IN the NUM-
cipal Court was raped and one speak
or, Evan w. Gallagher, stated tnat II
the Recall was IN vogue mere tue
image on tnat bench would have been
recalled long ago. Continuing the
sneaker saiu: ANY man mere could
dispense more justice intten minutes
than the Judge of thau court mas IN
his term OF twelve years The de-
cision recently handed down IN the
Federal Court by Judge Bradford in
the strip ticket question, also was dis
cusscd.
Last nights meeting was made up
OF committees of the Referendum
League, trade unionists and the So
cialist party and il is probable that
a civic association will be formed by
them. That was the suggestion Of
Frank A Houck secretary of the So
cialists party and a delegate to the
Central Labor Union Mr.. Houck
urged those present to constitute
themselves into such an organization
10 further the Initiative, Referendum
and Recall, the holding of a consttu,
tional convention and the drafting OF a
new city charter Nothing was uone
in the way OF organizing.
The meeting was opened by Evan
W Gallagher, who stated that the
floor was free for discussion. Joseph
H. Andrews, chairman of the leglsla-
tive committee of the Central Labor
Union. reported objections to the pro-
posed city charter as presented by the
committee They we're practically the
same as the objections advanced by
the Rev. George II. Dole and which
we're as follows,
Objections Outlined.
THE charter was never submitted
to the people or members of the Civic
Association for amendment or sug-
gestion, as requested of the Charter
Commission by vote of the Civic As
ISOLATION
THE charter has never been sub
mitted even to the Civic Association
for adoption
The said charter studiously avoids
providing any of the methods whereby
the people can check waste, eX-
travagance, graft, or malfeasance, for
which a new charter was specially
desired by the citizens of Whining.
ton.
"The charter gives city officials un-
limited power to pave the streets OF
Wilmington and charge the entire eX
pense TO -abutting owners, whereby
those who for years have paid fol
paving the streets for other property
owners. will be compelled to bear the
entire expense of paving their own
The granting of such unrestricted
power to officials opens the way fol
unlimited exploitation of our citizen.
by politicians, officeholders. and con.
tractors, thus raising taxation and
rents proposed Charter, Sec. 3:
/. 1913. The charter provides no ap'
peal or redress on the part of ciJi-
zens as to the act of officials of un.
limited power under the said charter
"The charter provides for entering
into all manner of expenditures in
public enterprises without consent OF
control on the part of the citizens
who foot the bills. Sec. 8 (e).
The charter provides for a Coun.
Gil Of nine, each holding Office fol
four years, and elected by the people
and a Board of Administration, con.
sstine Of five members, appointed. by
The Council for five years, with whom
responsibility is supposedly placed
Since it. takes two years to change 2
majority of the Council and three
years to change a majority Of this
Board of Administration after two
years has been spent in changing q
majority of the Council, graft
malfeasauce, waste, and extravaganza
arc by the said charter impregnably
fortified for five years at the very
outset Sec. S, 80 and A.
The charter provides for bbnding
the city for ten per centum of the as
sessed valuation of real estate, an
amount highly in excess of any de-
mands ever made by a city governed
by business or economic principles
thus inviting exploitation of the tax
payer by the INSCRIPTIONS who fol
temporary gains are ever anxious to
load the city and the future with the
burdens of debt and interest. Sec. 5 C
"The charter authorizes the grant
Ing of all franchise by city officials
without restriction. and without any
reservation for citizens or expression
Of their rights. Sec O. p.
"Tho charter instead of providing
the maximum salary to be paid offs.
cials, prescribes the minimum salary
leaving the city officials to nix tbeil
own salary, thus enabling officials e
appropriate to themselves excessive
salaries and laying the city Opea e
unrestricted graft. Sec 13,
THE charter deprives the mayor q
all power to veto ordinances apprO-
priating money. thus removing an inl.
portant check on the part of the citi.
zens' representative in preventing in.
trigue and fraud. Secs. 25, lines and
3; 80. lines and T.
The charter makes il possible tC
appropriate moneys without the usu.
Al thirty dag notice, whereby with.
put the check of the mayors veto. OF
even knowledge on the part of thJ
public, moneys may be taken and
hsed Sec. 81, lines Is and 16.
The charter provides for the annu
bl misappropriation of $4,000 and
iogalizes fraud. Sec. 40. line II. Wha
Easier loophole could the most unscru
pulous desire than is here legalized
The said charter authorizes the de
struction of our present. most efficient
worthy and economical fire depart
nent and hands it over to a board
Dut of the reach Of the people and into
he domain Of uncontrolled intrigue
Sec. g.
'rhe charter provides a method o
collecting taxes that is inadequate