Evening journal., 1921-01-03
CITY MANAGER,
NOT UNLIKELY
Proposed Charter Will
Leave Way Open for
This Change
DISCUSS BILL AT
THURSDAY MEETING

Wilmington may yet have city
manager form Of government The
way has been left open by the bi-
partisan committee which has drafted
a bill FOR presentation 10 the State
legislature giving the cty a new
charter.
Under terms OF this measure the
oily will be able 10 vote into power
! a governing body composed OF five
commissioners. But thele Is nothins
contained IN the act, II was learned
today, which will prevent the com-
mission itself from employing a city
manager and entrusting direction OF
municipal affairs 10 his direction.
The entire question viii be brought
10 focus at the meeting on next
| Thursday night In the directors
room Of the Chamber OF Commerce In
the dupont Building. This meeting
will be attended by representatives
OF the Rotary, kiwanis and Social
Service Clubs. the Service Citizens,
Chamber Of Commerce and Central
Labor Union. As now planned Col
lOnel George W. Sparks. as chairman
Of the bipartisan committee ap-
pointed by the two leading political
organizations. viii present the draft
OF the proposed charter bill as thus
far agreed upon.
At this meeting there will be full
and free discussion OF the entire
proposition. Means OF getting the
new charter passed by Legislature also
} probably viii be considered. Il Is
believed that n united front Is pre-
scented by representatives OF the p0-
llitical parties, the mayor. Council
and all the civic and business organ
izatiOns, the passage OF new charter
hin Will be insured at Bower.
In this connection much stress Is
laid on "hOme rule" for Wilmington,
by which Is meant that the munici-
= pality shall be given brOadest power
10 select is own form Of govern
: lment. II. therefore. commission
form shall be selected, the commits
sioners will be able, should the citi-
zens at large so VIII, 10 employ a
city manager.
Il agree with Mayor Frederick w
{ Donneny OF Trenton says Mayoi
Taylor, in favoring a plan whereby
the mayor appoints the commission
ers. In this way responsibility car
. be placed where 10 belongs. and thl
J habit OF shifting obligations from
one department TO another will b'
? eliminated"
5 According TO Mayor Taylor. ex
: perience has shown that the commits
; sioa plan of city government has no
proved more economical. Trenton
;. for example" he says. while hav
ing an incOme OF approximately -,
10000 more than Wilmington. has
higher tax rate and Is considering a
the present time a 20 cent Increase.
A w. Warner. Jr.., president OF I'M
! Chamber Of Commerce, while approx
ing the Eve commissioner plan, voice
the opinion that 10 would be hignl'
! desirable II the draft OF tho propose
: lrharier should contain a clause al
N lowing the commissioners TO selec
a clty manager. Mr.. Warner person
!. aliy believes the city manager plan
4 the best that can be adopted.
I'll "Between the two plans considere
BY The committee, the 1--WE commits
sioner plan adopted and the one !
have the mayor select a commission
there can be no question OF which
best" SAYS MIR. Warner. The pla
adopted would insure the city a cleai
', progressive administration N the rigi
| ivpe OF men are elected as commi.
sioners. while the defeated plan, cOul
hardly be considered an improVemeI
d on present forms Of mismanaged cit
rt governments"
Ia William Il. Douglas, president Of N
ia Rotary Club and Of Goldcy Colleg
D. characterizes the action of the charb
r. committee in adopting the i've con
al missioner plan as "one OF the mo.
80 constructive steps in The history
n. the city.
n From the reports Of the decisho
IT, Of the committee that have reaohe
NJ me through the press" Mr. Douglas
"a saws 81 strongly apDrONo its action
con Walker. chairman OF the Goa
OF mittee on public affairs OF the Rotai
NJ Club. saws: "Of the two plal
he brought into prominence through y
Al deliberations of the charter comm
I'M tee. approve heartily the pli
m adopted for i've commissioners cleo
gn ed at LANCE" =,
ly The public affairs committee OF q
'ir Rotary Club fathered the moVeme
e. for a new city charter
Ia David Snellenhurg Is or the Opinr
le that the best thing that a new 81
government could do for the peoI
es would be 10 bring about such eco
H. onv IN city management that the q
nr rate could be reduced. with cuts
NJ waees. there should be reductions
n. rents" Mr.. Snellenburg said. This
nv he added. cannot be brought abo
unless taxes on real estate are
an duced." o..
IT. tee will probably submit a report
"a its decision TO the civic ana cohIle
nc cial bodies faVoring a new city cnl
nS Ter within a few days. a commit
rcpresenting the various civic bod
No will then be organized TO lay I
,as proposition before the State Leg
-. ! Ia ftlrp Al nONor