Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-07
One Thing at q Time.

The emergency that now copfrorts the
reonle of Wilmington in respect OF the
important matter of administration is one
that REQUIRES radical treatment IN the
form Of a change Of system. With that
accomplished, details Of operation ana
.rnnlovr,ent of agencies may be left fer
later consideration. This important TACT
has been recognized by the committee
that evolved the suggested commission
plan of government, and 1t Is apparent
that its work is received very favorabiy by
MANY interested citizens. Now the thins
% do is 10 have the commission charter
measure prepared as soon as possible ana
prescpted TO the Legislature, with united
demand for it's enactment.
But there are some persons who DO not
seem 70 be satisfied with the commission
system, but want something more. lhey
call for the city manager plan in addition
and are urging that it be included IN the
commission charter measure. Such
movement. we are sure, would inclte op-
position.
Seldom are needed reforms effected at
one stroke, and il win be admitted, after
comparison Of present conditions II VII
mineton with the admirable promise held
out by the commission charter measure
that the latter embraces all that could De
reaeonahly asked for at this time IL pro-
vides the foundation for an effective and
economical administration. il is sohd
and promising system. The city manager
: but an agency, and it is not one that can
be set down as essential IS beginning
ltisope that NAV easily be included there
fter. bv the action Of the commission,
and il might be good policy to SO enlarge
the power. Of the proposed commission as
70 open the way for the employment OF q
city manager whenever, in the Judgment
Of the commission. such move seemed
advisable.
There is a promise Of so much good In
the commission charter measure row IN
course of construction that il would be 8
mistake 10 endeavor to handicap i with
measures Of detail which would threaten
to engender any kind of opposition. Gen
eral powers allowing wide range IN the
exercise Of administrative authority such
as the pending measure contenplates viii
be all-su.hcient and the privilege Of en-
ploying 4 city manager if deemed advisable
NAV well be included among them.
A more important and practical crit
clsm Of the commission charter measure
might well be directed against the ex-
cluslon from its scope and authority OF
the Board Of Education and the Harbcr
Board There is no sound reason why
.ar entire machinery Of city admlnlstra-
ton should not be entrusted to the pro-
posed commission. With provision for s
nou-partisan election and the choice Of
commission members placed entirely at
the disposal Of the people untTammeled
bv partisan restrictions there would be 10
reason why the people could not select g
body Of men capable Of assuming control
of all the agencies Of municipal admins
tration and bringing forth the best results
1t would be their own fault if they failed
70 do this.
However, having made such 8 gooc
start IN the direction Of al effective char
ter let us now bend all our energies
towards supporting the very promising
measure that has been evolved and max
ing our initial experiment il the field 0
achieving better things q success. Th'
charter Is the main thing At this time
Other matters may be attended to later.