Evening journal., 1914-12-29
OFFER AMENDMENTS
TO CHARTER DRAFT
Franchise and Initiative Sec
tiOnS Not Satisfactory
TO Some
OTHERS FIND MORE
"HOLES" IN MEASURE

Reference to. the charter committee
for further consideration of Section %
of the proposed charter concerning fran
.chises of public utilities was the feature
of the meeting of the " ilmington Civic
Association i'm Council chamber at City
Han last night
While only small number of mem
bers were present the session was most
interesting. Irving Warner, president
OF the charter committee, presided
William p. Bancroft objected to the
terms of Section -, which prohibits The
granting or renewal of exclusive fran
chiscs. Mr.. Bancroft pointed out that
IN the case of certain public service cor
porations it would not bee advantageous
to operate them under terms of such
section. lie mentioned the Wilmington
uas Company as a utility of the charac-
Ter he had in mind.
Mr. Warner said the secion was
most important aud hc suggested that
ID would be well to have the commit
toc agam discuss the provisions of Sec
tiou 20 The section was then referred
to the chartc. body.
After Mr.. Bancroft brought up the
question. Section 80. which deals with
subordinate boards. was returned 10 the
charter committee for further considera-
tion Mr. Warner declared the section
was inserted for the purpose of re-
tanning services of men now ON the
park and other boards ol the present
municipal government
The charter committee will also fur
thcr consider Section -. concerning the
payment of water rates and taxes Dr.
George Henry Dole moved TO insert
provision providing that wacer should
be shut of unless the rate is paid ON
imc
Mr. Warner declared the water board
now has the power.
An interesting discussion followed
the reading of the election provisions
Of the charter. Mr. Warner said the
committee seemed to favor the direct
primary plan of nomination for COM
missiOners under the charter He de-
clared it was the object of the char
ter drafters to make it possible for
the selection of commissioners on
nOn-partisan basis He added that
the scheme is in vogue in many cities
where commission government has
been adopted
. J. p. MCGOWAN opposed the direct
primary
In other cities persons have taken
an interest in charter discussions and
primaries. but il is different in VIII
mington," he said. "The people of this
city will not turn out to a primary
and then an election he result
would be that the politicians would
present their tickets TO voters-fve
men put up by the Republican politi-
clans and five by the Democratic poll
ticians."
B. L. Gulick suggested that a sec
tion providing for a refund of I per
cent. of taxes be made to all voters
who turned out at a nominating pri-
mary.
He declared he believed the plan
would result in increased interest ON
the part of the Independent voters.
George H. Litz pleaded for the in
sertion of a drastic section prevent
ing the use Of money by ward work.
ers or politicians at primaries or cleo
tions. The speaker asserted the in
lection of money was tho gravest evil
said money is the "tie which binds
party leaders and ward workers"
The question was put to a rising
vote. and it was decided to insert
such a section and refer IL to the
committee for action.
The initiative and referendum sec
tion was sent back TO the charter
body for the purpose of considering
the work general" before election ia
the clause. Objection was made TO
the use of the term. and municipal"
NAV be substituted.
There was considerable discussion
OF the percentage of voters sigma
lures required on the II itiative feat
ure of the charter. il being claimed
that % per cent IS too high.
"Many persons in pt wer arc op-
posed 10 the initiative and referen-
dunn blr. Warner declared. "and we
thought IL would be best TO provide
the 25 per cent feature. On the
referendum the number is only Is
per cent This smaller percentage
was placed on the referendum