Evening journal., 1914-12-15
civic ASSOCIATION
STUDIES THE Charter
Bonding Of Officials and Tax
Delinquent Sections
Are Explained
MORE EXPLANATIONS
AT LATER MEETINGS

UIEHnIIHIIOHt
adoption of the report of the executive
committee marked the first of a SER
les of meetings of the Wilmington
Civic Association in City Council
chamber last night President irving
Warner occupied the chair and an
nouncod that sessions will be held in
Council chamber every Monday night
for the next three or four weeks, for
discussion of the charter. While the
attendance was small. interest was
demonstrated by those who took part
i'm the discussions. the majority OF
which were of short duration.
Report of the executive committee
follows:
"At the last annual meeting held
i'm December 1913. we reported to you
the failure of the Charter Bill pro
posed by the Referendum League and
backed by our association. lnasmuch
as your committee found that general
interest in new charter was still
strongly manifest il decided to take
upon itself the preparation of new
charter draft, and to that end formed
a committee of fifteen, consisting of
eight members of Executive Committee
and seven additional men. Announce
ment of this committee was made at
the last annual meeting.
"Since then this committee of fifteen
and its subcommittee have labored
diligently in the preparation of a new
charter. The draft of this charter was
made public in the local newspapers
on Thursday, December 10th We now
formally present this document TO the
association as the work of the COM
mittee for the past year.
I'VE would call your attention par
ticularly to the statement preceding
the charter as published in the news
papers. We wish to reiterate at this
time that though the committee be-
lieves that this charter, as drafted, is
as well suited to the needs of the city
and as nearly in accordance with the
average public desire as IL is possible
TO get it, nevertheless, we regard the
draft as being tentative and purely a
starting point for something better,
If IL is possible to obtain it,
Accordingly we have arranged for
series of Monday night meetings to
be held here in the Council Cham
Der weekly, at which time we will
welcome thorough discussion of this
charter. If after passing thru the
crucible OF public discussion it is
found that the charter, either in its
present form or as it may be revised
/ through intelligent recommendations
is thoroughly approved of by this as
sociation and the public at large
| then your executive committee, co.
operating with other associations anC
| individuals in the city will use every
effort to secure its passage by tn,
Legislature of 1915
"The executive committee begs L
call your attention to the fact tina
/ the association secures its supper
| entirely through the small annual
4 membership dues of S1.00 and ha,
! heretofore had its strength througl
the support of a large membership
/ We, therefore, request the members
to pay their annual dues to our treas
urer promptly in order that the asso
citation may not be unduly hampereC
through lack OF funds.
Respectfully submitted,
"The Executive Committee of the vii
mingtOn Civic Association.
Irving Warner,
President
Caleb y. Burchenal made a plea fol
the reelection of President Irving
Warner. to whom he paid a tribute
for work on behalf of the organiza
ton.
"Mr Warner has been in Office dur
ing the drafting of this charter. anC
he should be kept in Office" Mr.
! Burchenal declared "He has done
his best and it is no more than righ
that he should continue as president.
Mr. Warner received seventeen
votes on the nomination, which wal
by ballot, and his election was de
clared unanimous on motion of VIII
liam =. Bancroft
other officers named were: Franci
p. Kane. vice-president; Norman K
Johns, ecretary-treasurer: member
of executive committee. c. r. Ken
worthy William T.. Kurtz. A. i
Warner Sr., the Rev. George Henr
Dole and Caleb E. Burchenal.
Tellers of election were: Clarenc
C.. Killen and c. r. Kenworthy.
President Warner thanked tho mem
bers for his reelection. and then too
up a discussion of the association
plans for the charter campaign. II
pointed out that the executive CON
mittee now is preparing to fully in
struct the people as 10 all phases q
the proposed changes I'm the city
government. Mr.. Warner read a con
munication from the Ninth War
Civic Association. notifying the char
ter body that the organization wi
meet I'm Public School No. 30 neN
Monday evening. and asking that tn
charter association send represents
tives. This probably will be dom
Discuss City Schools.
Replying to a question bv George
Miller concerning mention of the city
public schools and their government, NJ
Warner pointed ont that the Board
Education is a separate body and Il
association feels that IL is enough
change the present method of munic
pal rule without dealing with Il
schools. William =. Bancroft desire
information concerning appropriation
for schools. Mr. Warner read that Sc
tion of the proposed new charter callii
for the retention of all ordinances al
acts now in force unless repeal is pr
vided for in the charter.
Mr. Bancroft objected 10 the secti
preventing persons in arrears in tax
10 city from holding office.
Mr.. Burchenal explained that he q
proved the provision, as under the pr,
cut plan owners of large parcels
property let their taxes run behind.
declared these men pay five per ce
interest aud fhis l. simnlV horrOwi