Evening journal., 1921-03-18
FOR
CITY KILLED
BY SENATORS
CONTINUED from nrst pagel

having another bill substituted
for H.
Democratic members OF tho Senate
and in fact many Wilmingtonians
who have been advocating passage
Of the original bill introduced by
Senator Robertson. condemn the
substitute killed yesterday as being
entirely different from tho measure
that tho people OF Wilmington have
endorsed. II is charged that the
Robertson substitute robbed the
original bill Of one OF its best fea-
tures. that OF providing for a nom
partisan city government. The sub |
stitute restored the party primary /
system in the election OF the pro- |
posed commissioners under the bill |
and ripped out the non-partisan |
ballot system.
The charter bill was introduced |
by Senator Robertson some weeks /
ago. At several conferences between |
Wilmington members Of the Legis- |
lature and the legislative committee 4
/ Of the Chamber Of Commerce SEN I
ator Robertson made a number OF |
objections 20 the charter bill az
drafted by the bipartisan commit |
tee. Amendments we're prepared TO
meet the various objections made by
the Wilmington Senator and incor-
porsted in the bill.
The action Of Senator Robertson
in reporting out the substitute bill
/ favorably on Wednesday apparently
came as surprise 10 many persons
| interested in tho efforts to secure for
] Wilmington a charter bill.
CnwuFnr = ohns-funrt uafT fhr nhunC.
was necessary 10 get the votes" In
upholding the party ballot he eulo-
| gized politicians
Senator Murphy declared that the
partisan ballot destroyed the entire
intent Of the bill"
The substitute was adopted in
I lieu Of the original by a vote OF IL
/ to 6. Senator Richards offered an
amendment 10 the substitute pro-
Wding that nothing in the bill would
interfere with the Wilmington curb
stone market which was adopted.
After the amendment had been
adopted Senator Murphy asked Sem
ator Robertson TO explain the differ
ence between the original and sub
stitute bills
Senator Robertson stated I'm reply
NAAhA AlAt mann NNnMkt fMAMWAAEu III
the substitute provided for party
primaries and did away with the
non-partisan ballot
Senator. want 70 ask you n the
main object in the minds OF those
who drafted this charter bill and
those who supported IL was not 10
get away from partisanship," Sem
ator Murphy asked.
n. .. -. 4
was never a unit in support Of IT,"
Senator Robertson replied adding
that at times they didn't know just
what they wanted"
Senator Murphy asked that the
| privilege Of the floor be given 10
| Representative Kramer which re-
quest was granted.
This bill. said Mr.. Kramer. "as
originally drawn was supported by
the citizens committee, the ac-
| credited representatives OF the Re
publican and Democratic parties
and by a large majority OF the citi-
zen's Of Wilmington. They have all
been in accord and have agreed to
certain changes in the bill
This change has not been en-
dorsed by them. They know moth
ing about It and its aim Is TO de-
stroy the intent Of the whole char
ter" Mr.. Kramer added.
Here Representative Kramer al
luded to certain remarks made by a
Senator in Wilmington, concerning
the bill
Name him. name him." Senator
Robertson demanded.
Senator Robertson" was Mr..
Kramer's reply.
After Mr.. Kramer referred 20
certain objections which he said
Senator Robertson had made TO the
bill. the chair asked that he confine
his remarks TO tho hill.
a little over a week ago. Mr..
Kramer resumed. "all the differences
existing over this measure were
understood 10 have been ironed out
' at a meeting with the Chamber of
Commerce. II was agreed that the
bill as drawn would give us the best
form Of government obtainable.
This eleventh hour amendment
simply means a reversion back TO
! the old system. Il is not satisfac-
tory and II is not what the people
OF Wilmington asked for" Mr..
Kramer concluded.
when you get a bill down here.
. you have 10 modify II so that you
can get It through. II is necessary
, TO get the votes" Senator Robertson
said in beginning his remarks. Il
p have been a member OF this body for
p six sessions and II has been my ex-
perience that you never get just
what you want. My plan has been
! TO get as near what you want as
% possible"
Senator Robertson then took up
in detail the changes that had been
agreed upon several weeks ago.
a These changes were the result OF
. several conferences between the
4 Chamber Of Commerce legislative
= committee and the Wilmington MEM
Il bers OF the Legislature.
al with reference to the change in
IL the method OF election OF the COM
n Imissioners. Senator Robertson said
y This feature is the bone OF con-
2 tention. The nomination and cleo
/. ton provisions Of this bill have en-
o gagged the careful consideration of
v everybody and there has been con-
n siderable protest against the nomina-
tion by petition.
"Thc election laws OF the city OF
Wilmington are without blot. They
\ have always worked satisfactorily
= Some people object to politics. !
% don't. l admire a man who takes
I,f- otavE Frr,,Irr nr nrn eide ~ ,th.r