Evening journal., 1912-05-23
Peoples Column
THE CHARrERs wATCH.DOG.g

To the Editor Of THE EVENING
JOURNAL.
In my last letter | showed that the
proposed charter takes away from
the Mayor the peoples representative.
all power to veto ordinances appro-
priating money CSec rs and 30), thus
depriving the people Of the last
remnant of general representation in
city affairs. This is one Of the rea-
sons why so many have said that the
proposed charter turns the city over
10 a one-msn-rule. In reply to such
criticism, it has been said by those
who favor the charter, that the power
to restrain waste. extravaganza, and
malfeasance is put in the hands of a
Controller. Sec. III says that the
Controller" shall have such super
vision of all receipts and expenditures
of the corporation (meaning the city,
as to prevent violations Of law or
ordinances in respect thereto, or any
improper use thereof. This provis-
ion is absolutely ineffective to pre-
vent abuses for two reasons. First,
the charter gives every power under
the sun to officials. The officials
can do anything desired without vio-
lating law 1t would not be a viola
ton Of law TO vote the Mayor two
or three thousand dollars per year
It would not be a violation of law
30 ,s~to fho' Co,,ncf1roap lilo attn1e
See Sec l3. It would not be a vlo-
lation of law for officers, If they are
unanimous to waive the thirty day
notice and borrow money and mort
gage the city to do so. II would not
be unlawful for officers. II they are
unanimous to appropriate fifty thous-
and dollars year for any purpose,
and this without the Mayor having
a word 10 say. See Secs. 40 and 25.
There are many like things that officers
can do, and yet be lawful under the
proposed charter. There is nothing
that officials could desire. how ever
bad they might be, that could not be
worked through in ways lawful un-
der the proposed charter. The i'm
proper use" referred TO in Sec. III,
means only that the Controller must
see that the money appropriated goes
as appropriated. and surely that is
Just what the officials would desire.
Second. Let US examine the nature
Of this savage Watchdog of the city
treasury. so-called by the authors OF
the charter. Whose dog is he? Turn
to Sec. 27 There it will appear that
this Watchdog is selected by The
Mayor and Councill And note further
| he can be removed for cause, which
cause, we are informed by one OF
those who drew the charter. may be
"a common-sense cause, and not q
legal one!" In other words, those
who will need watching under the pro-
posed charter, select their own watch
dog. To bring the point home, What
house breaker would object 10 a
Watchdog, If he could have his own
dog do the watching? This is what
| the people are offered in exchange for
the power Of the Mayor to veto ordin-
ances appropriating money. That IS
the proposed charter takes from the
Mayor. the peoples representative, the
veto power over appropriations ol
money, and offers such Controller
/ instead And note. the Controller
is not a representative of the people
but is appointed by the Mayor. and
approved by the Council. Will not Of
fcials have a merry time under the
proposed charter T''yFiil Hour citizens
be Indifferent June first. wher
the charter is to be voted on?
In my next letttr I will consider
Sec. 81, which gives the Council power
to waive customary procedure. and
borrow money and issue bonds with
out notice
Respectfully,
George Henry Dole.
Wilmington, Del, May %, 1912.