Evening journal., 1912-04-30
ONE TILT
THIS TIME
OVER CHARTER
Mr. ChaytOr and MIR. Gallagher
Mix Over Misleading"
InSlnuatiOR
GALLAGHER PREBICTS
BEFEAT OF MEASURE

the wilmington NlNlc ASnoclhlions lot
discussion of the proposed new city
charter, was that held last night in Irish
American Hall The evening was devot-
ed TO an explanation of the charter by
Armon ID. Chayter. Jr. one of the com
missioncrs. after which there was free
discussion. Unlike other meetings, there
we're few personal tlts between the
speakers.
The meeting was opened by II. II.
Ward. president of the association, who
spoke on the method of discussing the
charter and on motion of Lewis W.
kraemer it was decided 10 have ono OF
the commissioners, or some one in favor
OF the charter, TO talk for half an hour
on tho subject, after which discussion
could be had. Mr.. .,raemcr called on
William r. kurtz, one of the charter
commissioners, TO speak, but Mr.. kurtz
declined and Mr. Cha tor took the floor
Mr.. Chaytor began his remarks by say
ing that he had been informed by one
gentleman that the main cause of op.
position 10 the charter was the concentra-
tion ofgovernmcnt. He said the reason
the charter was made so WAS that every
one thought e long ballots now in use
IT city elections were cumbersome, but
in tho present charter that was provided
for by taking the good features out OF
the Dcs Moncs plan and having the pco.
pie elect the Council, who appoint the
admin 'rative board, who can do moth
ing without the approval of Council
As for concentration, Mr.. Chaytor
pointed out the present charter where
one department of the city's government
employs a lawyer to get out an iniunc
tion against another department. To
avoid this, Mr. Chaytor said, all depart
ments, under the proposed new charter
would be under common head, the
Board of Administration. Mr.. Chaytor
declared that the charter was, in his opin
ion, good one and he advocated IT, As
tor the present method of having var
ious commissions, Mr.. Chaytor said that
only one was elected, while the others
were appointed, in some cases by those
who had previously been appointed BY
the Governor who was elected.
The method of dividing the city at
Eighth street, the speaker said and hav-
ing three councimcn from each district,
and like number at large, would pre-.
vent "hoeging,' he declared. As IL is,
census figures show 5000 more people
north OF Eighth street than below t.
Mr.. Chaytor said he believed there
would be no Republicans, Democrats or
Socialists in the city government, under
the new charter.
The subject OF assessment and taxa
tion. outlined in the charter. Mr. ebay
tor said. had been by Lawson w. Purdy
tho New York expert, while he was here
and Mr.. Chaytor said that the commits.
sion had even gone so far as TO secure
the services OF an expert from the New
York department, TO come here at the
right time and arrange the lists and as.
sessment maps.
NOT ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE.
Evan W. Gallagher, of the Central La
bor Uuion, asked what the people would
do under the proposed charter, except
vote. lie said that the proposed method
OF electing a few Councilmen and hav-
ING others held over would cause to bc
formed the worst political machine the
city ever had. Not content with that
Mr.. Gallagher referred to the veto power
of the present Mayor
IN closing Mr.. Gallagher said: "lf the
people are rceenerated after the charter
All right but if not it will be awful We
understand human nature; we know
what men win do"
Frank Kane said the people arc dis.
tnistful and wanted power TO control
the men they elect Continuing he said
the proposed charter might be good
"HtiIi ANA graft iIi NNIM INl same
criticism would apply TO all charters
that did not emhody the initiative, ref
ercndum and recall privileges.
Mr. Chavtor declared that as the pro
posed charter was better than tho pres
ent charter, in that it provides home rule
he urged those present 20 vote for it. lii
said that men were honest but that mis-
takes are sometimes made by the bos
of mon.
Walter L. Willis said that while n
WIS not class conscious. he would saw
without malice that The badge of rc
spectabihty In Delaware WIS dollars O
political preference OF both. He contend
ed that at present II lawyer went 3
the city tax Office TO see the lists. Il
could see them, but If man of meagr
means went, he was called am anarchist
socialist or a bug.
GALLAGHER PREDICTS DEFEAT
lively tilt then occurred betwee
Mr.. Chaytor and Mr.. Gallagher over th
logic of accepting the proposed charte
in preference TO the present one IN
charters being compared with baskets q
apples, the new charter containing on
'decayed apple" and tho old charte
half decayed.' Mr.. Gallagher said th
people Of Wilmington were in a pos
tion TO take a good full basket Cor
tinuing he said: "Nait until the rcsu
OF the vote is known and sec II I am n,
right"
Henry G. Downward said the propose
charter was very much like those adv,
Gated by the Board of Trade some veal
ago. except the referendum clause ha
been omitted, and he asked why it ha
hcen left out. Mr.. Chaytor said IL wa
like a good many other things left on
but that Council could provide for q
measure IT It saw It,
Mr.. Gallagher asked II that wonld
mandatory or advisory and Mr.. Chayt
referred. advisory. Mr. Gallagher 4
clared the answer obsolete. saving VIII
the people wanted to go by was the Ia
guage oi the charter, and not by VIII
some one said.
This caused Mr. Chaytor Go declare.
don't want You or any other man to Al
! try te mislead youn
George w. Litz. a member OF the Boa
OF Health. asked why the commission ,
not copy the Trenton charter. which ca
tanned the initiative plank
Mr.. Downward said he believed in
initiative. referendum and recall 1
Thought the proposed charter a good O
At this point adjournment was taken 1
til May B.
INSPECT COUNTY ROAD.
Members Of the Levy Court a
Counfr- T., ofnoor u-fl~o., f.-..~o.-s 4.