Evening journal., 1921-02-01
CHARTER BILL
PROVIDES PR FOR
CITY MANAGER
continued from page onel


ed Il was characterized generally Dy /
an apparent willingness by all hands /
10 waive personal feelings and obtain 1
a measure as nearly satisfactory as
possible.
Leon Walker. chairman OF the Cih-
zens' committee, presided. r. T. heed /
was secretary More than 20 members /
OF the two committees attended. II |
was early agreed that members OF /
each body should participate in the /
meeting on equal terms.
Manager Made Mandatory.
Colonel George w. Sparks. chair
man OF the Bipartisan Committee, |
stated that il had voted unanimously |
80 present the bill 10 the legislature, |
but believed the Citizens Committee |
could better handle the campaign In /
its behalf. He also explained that the |
Bipartisan Committee had agreed |
that a city manager should be made |
mandatory instead OF optional.
John p Long, OF Central Labor |
Union, protested against city man
ager plan. declaring his organization |
believed IL gave too much power TO
one man. 1T IS altogether too auto
cratic" he said.
Robert H. Richards. former attor-
ney-general OF the State. said he had
been in favor Of a city manager for a
long time. and recalled discussing the
system years ago when there was
only one city manager in the entire
country. He said ne could not CON
ceiye how city manager could be
autocratic when his actions were
hound by the commissioners VIII
liam F. Kuriz concurred In Mr.. Rich
ards views and declared a city man
a.ger would merely be a servant OF
the commission and the people" A
city manager, he said, could be re-
moved at any time.
William p. White raised the ques-
ton OF the salary OF commissioners
and moved that IL should be made
SiW0 a year, with $500 additional for
lhe Mayor. H. H. Ward favored $1,000
Tor each commissioner and S25OO for
inc Mayor. A. ID. Warner, Jr., favored
making the positions honorary with
ouI salary. Mr.. Richards supportcd
Mr. Warner and pointed to the State
Highway Commission as one Of the
most efllcient bodies in all Delaware.
Yet us members gave their services.
On vote the joint committees de-
more than s2OcO" for the commis'
sioners and s5Do additional for the
mayor. '' WV
Preliminary Primary Loses.
Mr Nhlte here revived his propo-
ston, made and defeated az the last
meeting Of the Bipartisan Commit
zee, Tor holding Of an elimination or
preliminary primary. This called
Thomas F Bayard 10 his feet with
protest aeanst such a system. m.
bayard charged such a primary
would throw the whole plan back"
20 ule present system. To eliminate
undesirable candidates In pri-
mary, ne argued, would siibvert The
non-partisan plan 10 politics.
Mr.. Richards brought ont that
under ule charter as u stood the
commissioners could he chosen bv
minority as we'll as a majority vote
lie expressed himself in favnr of a
preferential primary. but with n nor
lod hat any candidate who should
Fet majority OF votes OF city in the
primary should be considered elected
City Solicitor John w. Huxley. Jr..
said ne believed an elimination pri-
not Increase IT,
Mr.. Kurtz favored the preferential
system or voting. He declared both
political machines would strive 10
cast its vote in elections for GER
tain particular men"
Colonel Sparks Causes I.auqh.
Colonel Sparks created laughter nv
saying Mr.. Chairman. never have
had much 10 do with politics. but"
He then declared a large ticket would
mean The hottest kind OF a fight"
and he believed final ticket limited
TO ten would be safer.
Percy Warren Green said no he
lieved the elimination primary would
tend to give The people better oppor-
Mnhy TO know the men thew were
voting for. Charles II. Ten Weeres
here entered the discussion. saving
there seemed TO be a fear that a mi-
nority vote might elect commission
ers That however, would be the
fult OF The public He doubted such
an effect, however. and warned that
100 much time was being given TO
details.
Colonel Sparks declared il The gen
eral committee would ct the bin
ready he would personally see that
10 WIS properly presented and It's
Interest safeguarded in the Legisla-
ture"
Mr.. White here presented a formal
resolution for the Ming OF randi-
dates names 30 days before an cleo
ton and the holding Of a primary to
reduce The number Of candidates TO
not more than twice the number TO
be chosen at the election.
Chairman Walker quoted al length
from Clinton Rodrers Woodruff. Of
Philadelphia, on methods Of holding
pr marics and elections. He urged
every effort by members Of the com
mlttce 20 harmonic their divergent
views and present a solid front in
the Legislature. vote was taken
and Mr.. whites resolution was de-
featod
Elections Department Wins
Mt. White next introduced another
resolution which he had previously
presented 10 the Bi-partison Commit
tee. TO give the present Department Of
Elections control OF the conduct az
elections instead OF the city commits
sioners. Mr.. Bayard attacked This
measure as violating home rule.~ he
cause the officials OF the Department
OF Elections are appointed by the gov
ernOr
Mr. Huxley declared that IL the com-
mission were 10 conduct elections and
its own clerk were to canvass the
rule"
"Will the clerk he a crooks" sud.
denly asked former Senator Thomas
j.. tiormley.
'Surer retortcd Huxley. amid
hearty laughter.
The question threatened 10 blocl
TIE proceedings and Chairman Walkel
pleaded for some one with brainsr n
solve II In a practical way. He urged
the committee members 10 forge
whether they were Democrats or Re
publicans and show enough vision [,
safeguard the future OF this charter"
Colonel Sparks said he had gone int,
The charter scheme 20 get the bes
possible government for the city II,
n L InrINI - ..l