Evening journal., 1919-03-13


ton"
By charter provision, the City Coun-
oil should be required TO assign all
0ewly-created administrative functions
10 one or more Of the departments emu
merated. the survey recommends, and
provision should he made for the crea-
lion Of new departments whenever ne
cessity arises.
The survey makes no specific recon-
uendation as TO the form Of city C0un-
cll that should be adopted by Wilning'
ton The Bureau Of Municipal Research
does not advocate any single form Of
organization for a city legislature, the
survey states. However. il discusses
The several systems Of City Council or
commissions prevalent ia other cities.
II points out that the double chamber
City Council has been abandoned by
most cities. 70 also analyzes the COM
mission form Of government the pro
porhonal representation system" FOR
City Councils. 3ndthe present Council
system in Wilmington.
Assuming that the present system is
TO be retained in Wilmington and that
there are 10 be twelve CounN Nlmtn
elected by wards. attention should be
Balled nevertheless to certain signin-
can't facts IN the present distribution Of
Representation" TIE survey states. lt
sets forth a table Of population OF the
various wards in Wilmington and adds.
~This table indicates gross inequality
IN the distribution Of population among
The several wards. For example, The
fepresentatlve Of the n-st ward. which
has a population OF 3fz3 has the same
voting strength in the City Council as
The member of the Ninth Ward, which
has q population OF 1898. Such an un-
egttl distribution makes 10 possible for
~fecisi0n OF the Council 20 represent a
majority rather than ~ nority OF the
people. An wards or representative
tiistricts should contain approximately
equal population.
''yVhere the commission plan Of city
government has been adopted it has
been the common practice Of having
the i've or more commissioners elected /
at large by popular vote. Experience /
with this form Of government has de-
veloped some serious objections
There are obvious advantages and
abundant arguments to be advanced IN
support Of any Of the above forms Of
Qouncilmanic organization, and they L
should an be given due consideration
by any public authority charged with
reorganizing the legislative branch Of
Wilmingion's government
Generation Behind
Regard ng the Board Of Health The
survey says In part:
THAT NE public health service oil
the city OF Wilmington is inadequate /
has long been recognized by citizens OF
Wilmington interested aud informed in
health matters How in1deQuate t Is
has probably not been appreciated even
by those best Informed t5 may truth
fully be said ihat Nilminstoa has
Health Department whi'A Is 40 least
generation behind modern, progressive
public health thought api servlce.a
The survey recommends thlt The
Board OF Police Commissioners be abol-
sshed and that one commissioner TAX"
over the complete dulles now exercised
BY the board. 10 further adds
"A study OF the conditions surround
tog the development of the police de-
2frfment Indicates that the present
board Of police commissioners was ap-
pointed not so much as a direct meas
ure to secure administrative efficiency,
Is It was an attempt 10 divorce the
police department from politics. In
Iced it is e fact that the police depart
ment within the last fifteen years has
been rid Of those sinister and damaging
political Influences which formerly ran
rife throughout the force. It may be
baid. however, this has resulted more
particularly from the fact that o high
type of citizen has been appointed TO
lhis board rather than there was any
Thing inherent IN a Bipartisan board Of /
which r1f1frIH I
better results than might be expected
OF one commissioner OF the same type.
Commend Chief Black.
Wilmington has been fortunate in
not having experienced, as many other
cities, frequent changes in the office Of
me chief Of police. The present chief
mas hied this ofllce for eighteen years ,
ana no doubt great deal Of the credit !
.el lae progress made in the police de- /.
rSasn'eh' mas been due 70 his ability 20 :
ss rss.Ain'ain loyalty and integrity among ,
we police officers"
n, !" % r,ss also suggested that a system y
kee-s -et+eaYs ~ reports be Installed fo
he act,,.,l .s Snlel better Informed AS to
idea ~ s.s',. q lAe department. Tho
49, ol giving the chief roors a.. ilc , Z
Ielo work was b-ourht ~, ''lils ior ;
81. e1. ~, y pointing out that IA a., ne we
1ne time ne Is required A. s, w pres
81 ms time In the ONCE. I, 7isno oals most
NE department for Its appsaT3,..l sS-i.l'enns
discipline. aldhce and
me survey goes into connrsb.,
slve study and analysis Of eseh 1agh- a,,l.
county and State department nov, 0,ss' y,
1sfing and as proposed, and sets sors,,
& detailed recommendations as 10 each
u Governors Message
Governor Townsend, in transmittins
he copy Of the survey TO the Senat,
Aaid in his message
TO the Members Of the General AS
0Dmbly:
In conformity with my message e