Evening journal., 1916-12-19
CHARTER CHAfCES
UNDER DISCUSSION
Department Of Finance and
Comptroller Are Sug-
geSted Under New
Plan
GREATER POWER
FOR THE MAYOR

Elimination OF several offices Of the
city, the institution Of other Offices
and the enlargement Of others are
provided for in the proposed amend
ments to the present charter of the city
OF Wilmington, which were discussed
at q meeting Of the Joint committee Of
the Wilmington Civic Association and
the Chamber OF Commerce at the
Hotel dupont last night. The pro-
posed charter changes were discussed
carefully and the need of change or
otherwise was threshed out by differ
ent speakers.
Under one amendment the mayor Of
the city is given greatly increased
Drerogati5e with authority to ap-
point all administrative commission
ers and the department Of finance and
a comptroller, which are to be Gre
ated
The proposed amendments follow
in full:
Charter No. Work Of the charter
committee 1912.
Charter No. 2-W. c. a. charter
1913.
Charter No. 3-W. c. A. charter 1915.
l. Recite the boundaries of the
olty as they now exist in the engi-
neer's Office. with such changes as
may be necessary.
?. GIVE the city the very full pow
ers of self government as contained in
both charters No. and No. 8.
3. Reduce the elective officers of
the city to mayor council and presi-
dent OF council, eliminating the cleo
tive Office of city treasurer and asses
sors and collectors.
4. Increase the duties and power
of the mayor, having him appoint all
the adm nistrstive commissioners. in
Guiding park md police. Also the De-
partment OF + nance and a Comptrol-
Ter. which are 10 be created. All
appointments to be confirmed by a
majority Of Council (except the
mayors secretary. Mayor may re-
move from Office for cause any official
thnt he Is competent to appoint with
out acqu ring approval Of Council.
3. Council shall consist Of seven
members of which three shall be
elected from north of Eighth street
and three from south of Eighth street
and one AT large, who will be Presi-
dcnt of Council Council shall be re-
ouired to re-distriot the city every ten
years. immed ately following the ma
tional census. by dividing the city into
two distr cts of approx mately equal
population, the dividing line to be
the centre line Of a street running
east and west.
6 All legislative power for the
city shall be vested in the Council
and Council shall have no appointive
power except for its own clerk and
bailih. The Offices now created and
filled by Council will be transferred
10 the administrative commissions al
follows
Milk Inspector, Health; Meat In
spector Health; Building Inspector
Street and Sewer; Clerk Of the Mar
ket. Street and Sewer; Coal Oil In
spector, Abolish
II Council desires any new muni-
cipal activity TO be undertaken it may
by ordinance direct the most appro-
pirate department to assume the
work.
Z. Election OF mayor and Council
TO be by nom partisan ballot through
petition and primary election. (Char.
ter No. 81
s. Create and define the duties OF
a financial department. administered
by a board OF three commissioners
rhe City Treasurer viii be an en-
ploye Of this board.
9. Reduce the Board Of Health tC
three members, each major political
party having at least one representa-
tive. Increase and strengthen the
rove~s md duties OF the board.
10. Institute budget system
wA. the different administrative
commissions will be required to NEE
with Council to discuss and agree
upon their requirements for the en-
suing year. Council to have the power
to fix the tax rate and apportion th'
budget TO the different departments
but shall have no power to state how
the money so appropriated shall b'
spent. except when appropriation fl