Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-08
Clrc cation Every A10E
Evening Yesterday i + L W.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY, 5, i
>rv CHARTER FOR WILMINGTON

NEW CHARTER FOR WILMINGTON |
70 the members OF the General AS
senby.
aentlernen: Every Evening desires
10 call your attention TO the new char
tor measure for Wilmington. now In the
hands of your honorable body, and 10
earnestly ask that you give 1t carerul
oonsidera tion followed by favorable ac-
t,on. We make this request in the in
t,-rest Of the people Of Wilmington. firm
II believing that the enactment OF the
NV rharter measure will enable them
4 provide themselves with the best sys-
t,n Of municipal administration that
th, Wit OF man has yet devised
mis- charter measure has been pre-
l.,red under unusually assuring aus
noes The movement that led to its
formulation was born Of pressing ne
c.ssity FOR a radical change IL long
,@.stlng conditions IN this city. and
vas started by interested citizens who
"a no selfish personal purpose 70 for
ward hut whose only concern was the
..,od or the community. With this Oh
Il In view they organized a charter
lnuittee. and that committee care
faIly prepared the proposed new char
ter after thorough consideration Of all
M modern suggestions and actual ac-
complishments in the line Of effective
municipal administration. The result
+ the drafting of the charter measure
low before you. which, il IS confidently
,.aimed. places IN the hands Of the peo-
c the means OF securing fir them
selves the best results Of adninistra-
ton. Also. that the system therein
st forth. when entrusted ia proper
AGENCIES. guarantees one hundred per
c.rt Of efficiency and thereby offers
al that the people could ask for. And
mis- somewhat staggering claim IS based
apon the actual experience Of com
n.unites where the system provided
for BY this pending charter measure
has been practically operated and there
H. proved its merit.
Further than this We shall not indulge
in praise and recommendation Of the
lew charter measure for our city. II
Is now before you and in its considera-
.47-e
with 81 its details. and intelngenty
estimate ali it's probabilities for good
cur main purpose at this time is Il
acquaint you with the fact that thii
measure was conceived and formulate,
nly for the interests Of the people O
wilmington that II gives every promis
uf fully meeting that purpose; that !
represents the best sentiment Of on
people. and that you viii respect tha
sentiment and materially advance IN
welfare Of our city. so far as il depend
upon good municipal administration. h
,uacting this charter measure withou
material changes.
First OF all, there is nothing partisal
in the entire charter movement.
the preparation of the measure. partisa
interests We're not given the slightes
cons Iteration. II was prepared by
body Of fourteen. equally divided as I
POLITICAL afiliation, and the complete
craft received the cordial approval {
eleven Of these fourteen members. Nc
was the dissent of the other three base
upon any claim OF insuficiency in tn
measure as finally approved, but rnerel
upon some matters q administrati,
detail i can with truth be said theI
j. nothing in the new charter measul
mat would either promote or threate
me partisan interests Of either Of Il
two leading political parties in the cit
q Wilmington. or Of any Of the min'
Iohticsl orga nizations.
TIE main argument-the most in
pressiye IN the opinion OF its promoter
and also the most aDpealing-is that
provides comprehensive and approve
rlan of municipal administration 81
capable of the best results. as asce
famed by its practical operation
other communities s-and places it wit
80 the power of the people to select L
lest agencies for carrying out its pu
poses Such q systenn puts it UP
the people 10 give themselves the ben
nt Of good administration. and If tn
fail in the chief essentiaI-the sele
tion Of the right agencies-n win
their own fault A failure Of tho IS
tenn 10 bring good results by reason
such remissness on the part Of
people would be no proof Of the
-uficicncy OF the system. nor would
III any manner be reflection upon y
gentlemen OF the Legislature for {
acting IL into law.