Evening journal., 1913-05-23
MR.. SEMPLE
HASI IDEAS ON
GOVERNMENT
Tells City Council How Money
May be Saved in Conduct
Of Affairs
WANTS PURDY TAX
SYSTEM FOR CITY

James II. semple. IN a communion
tion to City Council last night offered
some suggestions relative to the con-
duct Of the affairs of the city lie
showed how money could be saved in
salaries by combining certain Offices
and making other changes. He also
urged the adoption of the Purdy sys
tenn of assessing real estate, and went
into other matters in detail. The
letter was read and was then refer
red to Council as a committee of the
whole. The communication follows:
Wilmington, Del, May IS, 1913.
To the Honorable Mayor and Council
OF Wilmington.
Gentlemen: As the necessity for
economy in city expenses is Impress
ed upon your attention, and in view
of the agitation for improved, and
also more economical conditions Of
and for our city government it has
occurred to me that where there's
a will there's way" and probably
our present City Council could do
some original work for the cutting
down of the multiplicity of public
Offices and for the economical ad-
ministration Of the affairs Of the city
and at the same time probably pro-
mote the efficiency of the public SER
vice.
In q word, could not the present
Council of Wilmington itself and
with the cooperation Of the different
departments and officials, inaugurate
some of the benefits and economies
hoped for from commission govern
ment. without waiting two years for
the next legislature?
Does the gas inspector still receive
$500 per annum as gas inspector and
is that office still limited by law to
the man who holds the Office of
plumbing inspector. for which Office
he receives $1,000 per annum?
If that be right, in that case, one
man performs the duties of the two
Offices and draws the two salaries
and he must have bee doing SO
with comfort and satisfaction or, al
any rate, it cannot have been toe
onerous and burdensome, for ! dc
not recollect having heard Of the
death of any such official from eX-
haustion and strain Of official duties
and overwork
So far as possible, similar or al
lied duties should be placed upon one
official, and no official should hold
another Office nor be employed in
any other public Office ir the State
nor under the United States Go srn-
ment; at least he should not draw
two public salaries or incomes.
Would it not be possible, "Wher'
there's a will there's a way" all thu
time, for the City Council to say {,
applicants for this officeAand ther'
is usually no lack Of applicants-o
to capable and available men. tina
the full. duties of the two Offices
vir .ually one Office for one man-ar'
70 be performed for the one salary o
plumbing inspector?
There is little doubt Of opportunit.
to get an honest. upright man. en-
tirely capable anC qualified for al
the duties of the above mentioned
double Office, and entirely satsier
with a salary of $500 and probabl,
$1,000 per annum.
Where a man cal get salary from
public treasury, which is absolutel.
certain and assured on pay day, with
out risk or responsibility. or any o
the ordinary cares OF business effort
or the worry and IS TO 1S hours a da
brain teasing and heart testing bust
ness life, so very frequent. then, 70
a sober. upright man $1,000 is NOR
comfortable and happily conditione
than is $500 under the usual siren
uous business life.
Would it not also he possible, Il
some cases, to combine the duties c
two or more inspectorships for on
official and one salary?
II is probable the duties of buildin
inspector are sufficiently exacting {
demand the full services of a capable
we'll qualified man. and that IS prot
ably true also of the Office of plumb
ing and gas inspector.
But might It not be possible {
combine two or more of the Office
OF meat inspector, oil inspector, mil