Evening journal., 1912-11-26

GOVERNMENT
FAVORED In
CHARTER BILL
Referendum League Draft
Provides for Election Of
Five Men to Transact
Affairs Of the City
DISCUSS TIE BILL
AT MEETING TONIGHT

Following months OF patient work
during which visits we're made by
members of the committee to Des
Moiues. Iowa. and various cities
throughout New Jersey including
Trenton, the committee appointed by
the Referendum League of Delaware
will submit a draft of a proposed
new charter for Wilmington to the
League at its meeting this evening
The committee which was named fol-
lowing the defeat of the recent char
tor al the special election held last
June is Francis l. DUPONT w. W.
Knowles. Charles r. White and the
Rev George Henry Dole.
The draft calls for a commission
form Of government and is a result
of careful study Of such method of
government After the committee
had worked for months it secured
Mr. Hoag, of Philadelphia, who had
travelled through England, Germany,
Switzerland and other European coun-
tries and the charter as proposed was
submitted 10 him for criticism.
The charter was drawn with special
reference to local conditions. and con-
tains only such provisions that have
leen tried and won favor elsewhere.
The committee that prepared II did
Sc at its own expense. with the inter
csts OF the city in view.
It Is planned, if the proposed char
ter meets with the appreciation OF
the League. for It to be given to the
public through the public press Tho
charter provides home rule for the
city and before it could become ef-
fectiye II would have to be adopted
] fr1 will no
presented 10 that body under a gem
erai enabling act. IL contemplates
q commission form OF government for
other cities in Delaware as well as in
Wilmington, providing TOR FIVE com
missioners for every city over ten
Thousand population and three com
ie,iasioners for III towns or villages
having a population Of less than l0,-
0OO
Under the commission form Of gov
ernment, the city would be conducted
by these interested In business man
ner and the FIVE commissioners who
vould possess legislative. executive
and appointive powers would be cleo
led yearly. All subordinate offices
would be appointive through civil SER
rice requirements In this manner
while the head of the departments
would change. the working forces
would not
AS the commission form is inten-
aed 10 eliminate old party lines 1t Is
intended 70 abolish the ward or dis
irict lines and elect the commission
ers from the city at large. Control
Would be held over the commission
srs through the initiative and refer
endnm although the recall Is not pro-
rdod for
Tie committee who drafted the
,hsretr also has provided for nomi-
natlons 10 he made by petitions only,
buch to be made by any individual,
the ex-officio commissioners being
eligible along with the twenty others
who have the greatest number Of
signers to their petitions. Names Of
these twenty-four nominees would
then be submitted to the citizens for
election. Ave to he voted for.
As the Wilmington Civic Associa-
ton which was organized two years
ago for the express purpose Of advO-
eating a new charter will meet with
in a short time It is likely that the
charter draft will be submitted to
that body.