Evening journal., 1915-02-03
PROPOSED CHARTER
AGAIN DISCUSSED
Continued on Page 9.)

committee would not be harmonious
and we have, in view Of the sugges-
tions above outlined, deemed il best
TO avoid the specific clauses in the
charter for the reason that we arc
unanimous in the belief that a more
specific discrimination be made by the
Legislature of the departments and
officers Of the city government and
the powers to be exercised by them
respectively.
Furthermore, It is the opinion Of
this committee that in view of exist
ing conditions that the present city
charter should be amended ia mat
ters in which ii needs amendment
especially along the lines Indicated II
the annual address OF the president
q the chamber Of Commerce. rather
than mat an effort be made 10 have
2 new charter measure enacted"
After extended discussion at the
committee meeting. Mayor Howell
offered the following resolution.
which was unanimously adopted.
lhat the two committees recon-
mend to their respective organiza-
tons that each appoint a committee.
the two committees to act as a iolnt
committee and work to the end that
the charter measure adopted by the
Wilmington Civic Association be
amended in proper fashion 10 present
to the 1917 Assembly for enactment.
Mr. Bayard offered the following
motion, which was adopted with oniv
one dissenting vote
Ihat the joint committee approve
the recommendation made by the
president of the Chamber Of Com
merce in his annual address looking
toward the amendment of the citv
charter in certain particulars and that
the joint committee recommended h
the Wilmington Civic Association and
lhe chamber OF Commerce that each
organization indorse such OF said
amendments as may be reasonably
expected TO be enacted by the present
session Of the Legislature"
irving Warner in his answer, said
that at a meeting of the fun charter
drafting committee of the Civic Agso-
citation, held on Monday evening. the
committee decided. and the members
OF the subcommittee which had con
ferred with the Chamber of Commerce
Committee, admitted that they did not
nave any power other than that of
merely suggesting or recommending
10 the full committees, amendments
TO the proposed draft TO be agreed be-
tween this committee and the Cham
Der Of Commerce.
He stated that this subcommittee
became convinced that many of the
provisions which the Chamber OF Com
merce criticised as being lacking III
the proposed draft were found there
in after more careful examination. He
said they believed that a few hours or
a days conference al the outside be- |
tween those desirous Of whipping the
present charter draft into satisfactory |
shape, IS all the time that will be ne |
cessary. Our committee believes,
ne said that since the proposed draft |
received the endorsement Of the mem |
bership council Of your body and your
committee was instructed 10 confer
with our committee for the purpose
OF recommending the form Of the pro-
posed charter for final approval by
your body, that the spirit Of that ac-
lion BY your body requires a confer |
ence Of the joint committees. al which |
the objections and criticisms shall be
more specifically alleged and an on
given TO answer them"
Mr. Warner said the committee had
acted on the Chamber of Commerce
objection to the election
p the commissioners at large and de-
eided to retain this provision as il
would prevent log rolling but we're
willing to insert a provision that not
more than three commissioners shall
DC Of the same political faith.
Mr.. Warner said the new idea in the
proposed charter was the city manager
who directs and supervises under the
guidance and control of the commits
iioners and stated that the commit
ee's suggestion that no charter had
leen found from which the creation Of
specific departments was omitted. re-
iulted rom the fact tnat in all char
ers of tho commission plan, urior TO
he dyene of the city managat plan.
ach commissioner was usually elected
With the intent Of his becoming the
read of one Of these departments. j
lence the necessity of having as
lany departments as there were com
lissioncrs elected
To create departments, he said.
Would destroy the whole theory upon J
which the charter was built. He said /
here would be no difficulty in max a
ng the change from the old to new !
orm Of government. but declared
revision could be inserted giving the !
resent Council power to facilitate /
he change. He stated that the I
hamber of Commerce committee
aid IN its report that there were (
lany provisions in the draft which
'ould not be harmonious and said
he committee is inclined to the be-
ef that the above suggestion con
aims the gist Of the reason why the
Ho committees have been unable to I
pport back to the Chamber OF Com I
lerce body the completed draft of r
harter as agreed upon between n
lem.