Evening journal., 1915-01-06
new Conference
ON CITY Charter
Business Men and CivicS
Association TO Discuss
Some Amendments
WILL THEN SEEK
PASSAGE OF LAW

J its discussion OF the proposed charter aJ
o its luncheon yesterday afternoon in tn,
DUPONT Hotel. A number of criticism.
OF the charter made by Joseph Bancroft
were answered by Caleb r.. Burchcnal
Irving Warner and William =. Kurtz.
! who stated that all the objections wer,
details which could De compromised q.
well as any other detail. provided none
Of the fundamental principles of th,
harier were violated The following
resolution presented by Joseph Bancroft
was adopted.
Resolved, That it be the sense OF thi,
meeting OF the Membership Council that
the proposed charter Tor the city ol
Wilmington, drafted by The Wilmington
Civic Association, substantially meets
the views OF the Membership Council
and that IL be recommended 10 the
Board of Directors of the Chamber OF
Commerce that il appoint charter
committee TO confer with the CORE
spending committee Of the Wilmington
Civic Association 10 the end that &
charter be prepared that is acceptable
to both organizations. And further. that
when the draft in its final form be re-
lported back. il acceptable. the best cr-
forts OF the Board of Directors and OF
the members Of the Chamber of Com
mcrce be used to have such charter en-
acted at Dover at the current session
Of the Legislature"
in his address ON the charter subject
Mayor Howell stated that il gave him
pleasure TO relate his experience as "a
dummy mayor throughout his two
terms. he mid that II the proposed
, charter draft was TO be- referred 10 the
Chamber Of Commerce for such amend.
ments as would make /. more practica
bic he was ready 10 give ~ his cm.
phatic endorsement He said he had
hoped the charter would contain some.
, thing that would enable the people Ia
, find out ii there WAS ANYTHING the mat
; ter with the Board Of Education. anc
that while he did not believe there q
, anything the matter. he wished there
! was some way 90 find out
On behalf Of the Charter Commit
Z tee Irving Warner. the Chairman.
3 made the following statement:
You have before you copies of
- the Digest OF Proposed City Charter
drafted by the Charter Committee of
5 the Wilmington Civic Association In
r order TO outline the important fea-
7 I
: digest 10 the most elemental points.
o. "The charter conveys all former
I privileges, etc, OF the Mayor and
, Council OF Wilmington, and provides
y for complete home rule of the city
= on all matters in lieu of the present
b. system of legislative enactment al
S Dover. In addition to the long list
b OF specific powers conveyed to the
= municipality for the purpose OF Sc.
curing the greatest amount Of local
b self-government. powers are convey
s ed 70 do all things Whatsoever neces.
r sary TO effect an efficient management
= Of municipal property and FOR the
e proper administration of the govern
\ ment
- "All legislative and administrative
powers vested I'm a board of Eve com
missioners elected blennially al larg,
and on a nOn-partisan ballot tn,
N Mayor Is elected by the Commission.
II ers from their own number and n,
H. presides at the meetings of the Boari
r but has no power of veto
p Salary of the Mayor is $4,000
D per annum and all other Commits
I sioners 100000 per annum subjec
,e to a fine for absence from reenlai
m meetings. Salary OF all other Off
n GERS and employees of the city fxe,
y by this Board
"All franchises granted by tn,
Board OF Commissioners. who also II
the future will act In the place o
n and with the powers of the presen
M Public Utility Commission. whicl
n will hereafter be abolished. The pre-
sent Public Utility laws continuel
and public utilities granted the righ
Of appeal before the Superior Cour
from any regulation of the Board
- In order to get the benefit OF IN
experience OF the members of on
y, present administrative commission
% il 10 provided that the Board Of Com
VI missions may create such subordinat
boards and appoint the member
- thereof who shall act in an advisor
and administrative capacity In thei
own particular jurisdiction but tina
they shall serve without pay.
"All the actual administrative an
executive work of the city shall b
: carried on under the jurisdiction G
a city manager who has full cOntrC
|. of all departments and who Is an
pointed by and holds Office subjeC
10 the Board of Commissioners.
general he appoints and removes al
heads of departments and subordin
= ate officers and employees subject {
!, the Civil Service provisions OF IN
= charter.
y "The present financial arrange
ments of the city are largely con
a tinued without change. Extraordin
airy appropriations to be made on
- Of current receipts OF must be in
cluded in the tax rate for the ensuin
- year No money shall be expende
in excess Of the revenues except a
extraordinary appropriation not eS
ceeding S5OOOO.OO.
Affirmative vote Of four OF IN
Commissioners necessary TO author
ize bond issue. which must not eS
~ coed 10 per csp' OF the assessed valu
I OF the property. Budget system pre-
W On vided for and a continuous audit b
m an official of the corporation and a
III annual audit by certified public a,
countant required. The assessmeI
" of real estate carried on by a depar
- ment under a Chief Assessor. wi
is subject TO the City Manager.
-. Tax map system of assessmel
AZ required. Methods Of appeal fro
~, assessment provided for togethl
az with secondary appeal.
,,s9 Very careful provisions have bee
IN made to prevent delinquent taxes an
at the same lime TO prevent ar
lltl bardShin hqfnp ,Vprlpd ana 4, eoi