Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-05
I MEMBER council
ONEPROPOSEDCRANCE
Charter Amendments to be
Discussed at Chamber OF
Commerce Luncheon
WOULD USE NON
PARTISAN BALLOT

An explanation and discussion Of
the proposed amendment TO the City
Charter of Wilmington. is the program
arranged for the luncheon meeting Of
the Chamber OF Commerce too.orrow
in the Hotel DUPONT
The discussion will be led BY mem
bers Of the Joint charter committee,
appointed from the Chamber Of Com
merce and the Wilmington Civic Asso-
citation, who arc DR.. Harrison W.
Howell, William G. Taylor, John S.
Rossell, Irving Warren, Caleb r.
Burchcna ard W'lia.. p Kurt
The points in the proposed changes,
which will be especially emphasized,
are the substitution for the present
CITY Cuu' cil OF g sl vo0-mo0thar COun-
oil, and Mayor. to be elected on a non
partisan ballot: that a financial de-
partment be created; that Council
have legislative power; the institution
OF q thorough budget system; the elm
ination of the city auditor and his re-
placement by a comptroller; the re-
organization Of the Board of Health:
and the authorization TO Council 10
pass finally on all franchises.
II the new plan TO create a seven
member council and mayor is adopt
ed, three members of the body will be
elected from the section Of the city
lying north of Eighth street, three
from the section south OF Eighth
street and one at large. The latter
will be president Of Council The
election of these members of Council,
as we'll as the Mayor, would be
through petition and primary election,
and ballot in which party politics
would have no part. To provide for
the growth of the city and to keep the
size Of the two divisions equal. Coun-
Gil would be required to re-district the
city after each national census.
The proposed new charter would
create a financial department, admin
istered by a board Of three commits
sioners. the city treasurer to be an
employe of the board. II would insti-
tute a budget system. whereby the
various administrative commissions
would be required to meet with Coun-
ell and discuss and agree upon their
financial needs for the ensuing year
but Council would have the power TO
fix the tax rate and apportion the
budget to the different departments.
Franchises would be approved by the
Street and Sewer Commission, but
they would have to be finally passed
by Council.
The plan also provides for a Board
OF Health. of three members, each
major political party to have at least
one representative on the board. The
powers and duties of the board would
be materially strengthened
There would be only eight elective
Offices in the city-the seven members
OF Council and the Mavor and su7l
elective Offices as city treasurer. city
assessors and collectors would be
eliminated The Mayors powers an6
duties would be increased under the
amended charter. All appointments
made by the Mayor. except his sec
rotary, would require confirmation
by a majority vote Of Council.
The Council would have power to
enpoint its own clerk and bailih.
The Offices Of milk, meat and build
ing inspectors and clerk Z the market
now named by City Council, would b'
transferred 20 the commission. The
Office OF coal oil inspector would b'
abolished.