Evening journal., 1914-12-19
DISCUSSES phases
OF BOSTON CHARTER
Irving Warner Shows Differ
enceS Between 1t and Pro-
posed New Wilmington
System
COMMISSION BOARD
VS.. ELECTIVE OFFICIAL

Irving Warner, chairman of the Char
ter Committee of the Wilmington Civic
Association, discussed today, the Boston
charter, the leading features Of which
have been brought before the Whining
ton public recently. lie said:
"lt is very difficult to compare two
charters which apparently differ greatly
in theory and say definitely that one is
better than the other. But | would call
attention particularly TO the forewor1
that accompanied our public presenta-
tion OF the proposed charter for Will
mngton last week. In that statement
we said thot there were several under
lying principles that governed the work
OF the committee, as follows;
81. Home rule. Apparently the Bos-
ton charter is IN accord with this prin-
ciple, except that the Finance Commits
sion is appointed by the governor OF
the State. This is departure from
the general principle which would APP
pear both unnpOrtant and Unnecessary
80 Non partisanship in local gov
crnment The experience of Boston
proves the contention of all who hav,
been working for new charter for viii
mngton for years back; namely, that
1t is not only desirable but possible
TO divorce local and national politics
with immense benefit TO the community.
"3. Centralized authority. The
Boston charter carries this to an ex-
! treme extent as compared with the
proposed Wilmington charter. All
administrative functions and powers
are centered In Il single elective Off
cial, who is controlled by an elective
legislative body of nine. For Will
mington it is proposed to combine both
the legislative and administrative
function in single elective body Of
five, number which is at once too
large TO be dominated by single man
but not SO large as to be unwieldy.
a. Popular control through the
Initiative and Referendum. Boston
seeks to control its Mayor through
its representative body of nine and
by holding the threat of recall over
l.him. The same object is sought af-
ter in either case. It happens, how
ever, that it is the average desire Of
the people of Wilmington to exercise
I this control through the Initiative
and Referendum as is witnessed by
the popular defeat of the charter of
1912.
In regard to the frequency Of cleo
tons, it is TO be noted that the Bos-
ton charter requires an election every
year. which Is certainly too often to
sustain interest. On the other hand
the possibility of special Initiative
or Referendum elections is very re-
mote. In practice it will be found
ha % sr..
| ment OF legislation is confined 10
comparatively isolated instances of
flagrant abuse Jf their powers by
Commissioners and TO the inability
of the people to tear themselves away
from partisanship in selecting their
Commissioners, owing TO some local
conditions. On the other hand, the
use of Initiative and Referendum
votes on important questions at the
time of regular elections is highly
desirable as an aid 10 awaking and
sustaining interest in municipal pro-
blems.
"5. Professional management Of
the administration of city affairs.
Here occurs the real parting of the
ways between the two charters. Bos-
ton claims TO get efficient manage
] ment through an elective official
whose term may last only four years
Wilmington proposes to get the same
results by a continuing professional
administration controlled by It's
| Board of Commissioners.
In this connection, it must be said
that the National Municipal League
J which has made the most intelligent
and continuous study Of the subject
recommends the Commission-City
Manager plan. II is asserted by the
advocates of this form, that IL is i'm.
possible for the people at an election
to pass upon the professional fitness
Of candidate. On the other hand
voters as whole can and do pass
intelliRntly on general policies, anC
on the fitness of candidate to pro
perly interpret and advocate thos,
policies. Commission City Manager
I government Is a logical development
from the straight Commission form
which has proved so successful il
some three hundred municipalities
The newer plan was but the natura
evolution to overcome some of thu
minor defects that experience deve
loped in the older system. Yet i
cannot be called an untried plan. foi
many small cities have had it fol
several years. and Dayton, Ohio
whom adversely blessed by giving on'
Of the most intelligent Charter Com
missions with which any city wa
ever favored. has adopted il with ;
highly gratifying result
"ln short the Boston plan is a NOR
or less isolated type while the plai
for Wilmington is along naturall!
developed lines of what is acceptel
as standard practice The BostOi
charter should give good results ant
1t Is highly gratifying TO hear tha
such satisfaction has been obtained
Certainly the system is far bette
than the obsolete forms which hinde
the progress of most cities. Never
theless. we contend that the propose
charter that we have presented is
better. safer and more acceptabl
one. and we are confident that W
are substantiated in this belief D.
the thoughtful consideration of th
people of Wilmington.
The committee stands by its ori
gnal statement Of welcoming con
structive criticism as "A means of oh
tanning the best charter that it
DOesiblc' TO get for Wilnin ofon "