Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-01
MATERIAL CHANGES
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Wednesday evening.

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Wednesday evening.
Leon Walker, chairman OF the citi-
zens' Committee and also of the meet
ing, at this point. said that as drafted.
the snlary Of the commissioners was
to be not more than $4,000 q year and
$500 additional for tho mayor.
William r. Kurtz said the city mana
ger was not TO be an autocrat. but a
servant. Ho said the city manager can
be removed at any time. when he
cannot produce" Mr.. Kurtz said, he
will be fired"
Maurice Rouselle. a delegate from
the Central Labor Union, at this juno
ture, asked: Can you get "A practical
man TO MI this position. who can be
removed at once or even on minutes
notice2" lie repeated his question,
asking If n competent man could he
secured to take the position. Iie OBJ
jected to the city manager plan on the
nv 69uIoolnp ol spusl u lBql punoI9
Rouselle said that the city manager
idea has boon gone over at several
meetings OF the Central Labor Union
and the measure has boon given due
consideration. Another objection is
that the man selected. he said would
.
ono who Is not fnrniiar with con
dltions here.
MIR Kurtz read the proposed amend
ment. showing that tho city manager
could he fired AT any minute" as the
commissioners can appoint and drop
tho city manager whenever they want
to.
Mr.. RouselIo next inquired bow a man
was going To be secured Ia fll such a
position when there is n string on tho
Job" and whose head could be cut or
NJ any time.
Mr. Walker explained that In cities
where the manager method is In opera
ton tho managers are changed II not
efficient and capable ~ producing re-
suits. He said new men are employed.
Tho city manager has some incentive
IN his work. MS nc feels that his rep
utation In at Rtake. Colonel George w.
Sparks and r. Warren Green said that
tho turnover Of city managers is about
30 per cent: In other words that 40 per
cent fail down In their work. Mr.. Green
objected To- the city manager plan. ray
Ing that under this method the respon-
ability could not be placed. AZ an in
stance Of this. no cited tho recent trou
bic al the workhouso where. he said.
the board of trustees AMI the warden
threw the responsibility upon each
other.
Tho motion was carried. Joseph Long
and Maurice Rouselle being the only
frIanbers to oppose the amendment.
Commlssioners' Pay.
william p. White next introduced his
second change. that the salaries n the
commissioners be reduced. He said that
as the commissioner work would be
reduced at least rs per cent. he thought
that $1,000 FOR tho commissioners and
81 800 for the mayor would bo sufficient
remuneration. Mr.. White said that II
he was n member Of the Citizens Com
rnitteo no would mako a motion TO this
effect
Colonel Sparks said that this point
had been considered ~ Immaterial that
at tho tirne during the discussion II was
decided 20 leave tho place for the figures
blank Ho said Mr. White had even
scratched out the figures on his draft.
but Mr.. White took exception To this
saying that he did not remember II.
Herbert II. Ward made a motion that
tho commissioners should not receive
more than $4,000 per annum and that
the mayor should not receive more
than $500.
Mr.. y. ID. Warner. Jr.. suggested fix
ing the salary at $4,000 a year. Richard
c. McMullin seconded a motion 10 this
effect. Robert II. Richards referred TO
the State Highway Department mem
bers. who serve without pay. but said
that Il would not be practicable 10 urge
q city charter that did not provide pay.
The motion 70 tx the figures at
50 600 per annurn for the members and
$500 additional FOR the mayor was lost.
The motion that the commissioners
should not be paid IN excess OF So 900
per annum and the mayor $500 per
annum was passed unanimously.
Savored of Politics.
Tho third hange offered by Mr.
White brought the warmest discussion
OF the evening his plan was 70 have
n preliminary elimination vote or prt-
mary election FOR the purpose OF reduc-
ing the number or candidates to twice
tho number 10 be elected AT the succeed
ing election. Charles H Ten Weeges.
a member Of the Bipartisan commit
tee at this point said: = thought he
was only a spectator" referring to Mr..
White adding that he wanted TO know
il the members Of the Bipartisan COM
nittee had a vote at the meeting. The
privilege Of voting was then extended
to the members Of the Bi- Partisan COM
after which Mr.. White made
his motion. Herbert H Ward seconded
this motion.
Thomas r, Rayard took exception 10
the proposed plan. saying that the com
mittee as whole had favored the nom
mating election and that he objected
to undertake something 70 radically
change the proposed charter. He said
that what Nou are doing now Is some