Evening journal., 1915-05-21
To the Citizens

AT the beginning Of the city campaign
the Democracy of the city, through Its can
didates, reafirms its faith IN the peop'., ',, 49,
in the principle that no government VI .n
city of Wilmington can be just eAcep'
cording as it is administered IN the lh'ereS'S
Of, all the people, and is responsive
will of the citizens. We believe Iha' 'ne
nroper theory of municipal government 10
that II is purely business matter III "in0
the canital is supplied by the taxpayers anu
the nublic officials are merely trustees
charged with the duty of managing the ousi-
moss to the best advantage of all the people
If entrusted with the government Oh the Guy
at the coming election, we pledge ourselves
IN exert every effort within our power 10 Pu.
the government on business toothg' anu
20 restore such economy in the financial ar
fairs of the city as is consistent Win ehl-
cient service.
We charge that the Republican administra-
tion lust drawing to a close has been entire-
ly disreqardf,l of the will of the citizens
Two wears ago the people of the city on
referendum vote declared emphatically tnat
stems should be taken by the incoming gov
eminent to make waterfront for the clty
Of Wilmington a reality, but notwithstand-
inc the clear voice of the people in this be
half absolutely nothing has been done. we
deny that any obstacle has been IN 'he way
of chewing the peoples command except the
hardened disposition of the Administrations
or of an "unseen power" behind the auillih-
istration to ignore the people altogether'
The excuse has been offered that the law OF
fered no way by which to proceed We deny
this. but assuming its truth, a law was pass
ed nv the recent Legislature presumably Tor
the purpose of supplying the alleged detl-
cheney in the law but notwithstanding, noun
ING whatever has been done under this law
IF successful at the coming election, prompt
action will be taken to determine the status
in the matter of the ownership of the Dela-
ware riverfront in accordance with the eX-
pressed will of the people, and to proceed TO
the realization of Wilmington's dream Tor
FORTY wears or more by the acquisition of a
frontage for the city upon the Delaware
river. our action in this matter being deter
mined in scope and extensiveness by due
consideration for the taxpayers OF the CITY,
We further charge that the present adj
ministration has been obviously and shame
fullv unmindful of the real interest OF th'
citizens and taxpayers. Large sums O.
money have been expended for an investiga
tion of the Police Department, and so far a
we can see without definite results of benefi
TO the city. Besides, other large amounts o
the taxpayers money have been expende
in connection with a new assessment
work which, however desirable, 1t seems I
us. might we'll have been done by men o
our own city who knew conditions hrsthan'
and at much reduced cost. The foregoin
are but examples of the high-handed mar
ner in which the financial affairs of the cit
have been managed. The result has bee
that taxes have increased until they have b.
come a positive burden to owners Of prol
ertv. and Of necessity extending in their o.
pression to the renter who not infrequent
is required to pay higher rent than heret
fore. nor is there any indication that u
taxpayers are to be given any greater co
sideration in the future. On the contrary,
statute passed by the recent Legisatui
leads to the belief that the increases. in ia
alton already experienced are but a begi
ming.
The statute above referred TO authoriz
the city to borrow upon the credit Of the ci
and to issue bonds to the extent Of ten 7
cent. of the assessed value of all the pre-
erty in the city. We urge upon the peol
that such authority in the hands OF tho
| who have already shown a settled dispo
| ton to ignore the peoples interest is a d
tinct menace to the citizens. We know
| future only by the past and judging fr
the past, we can readily see that contil
ance Of the present regime may very pr
ably result in overwhelming the people
crushing their initiative and industry un
| the burden of still further increases
| taxes.
The attention Of the citizens is called
the fact that although there has beer
current report for many months past
the books Of former tax collector for
Of the districts in the city show short
on the part Of that official still. .u1accour
for, and although one member OF City Co
eli has recently presented the matter to