Evening journal., 1921-01-07
5-MAN PLAN
CITY CHARTER
IS ENDORSED
IeonlInned dom page cnel

continued from page cnel
ballot with power to select a commits
sion OF four other men 10 assist him
in governing the city.
To be nominated for a commission
er, Mr.. Curley explained. candidate
would have TO obtain 800 signatures
Of bona-nde voters 10 a petition. An
oloction would be held every two
years. AT ue end OF the nrst Two
years, two commissioners would Zee
tire, and three commissioners would
be chosen at the secmd election, so
that The full board would at no time Il
retire from Oillcc. Each candidate
for office OF commissioner must de-
post 500 with the city clerk at ihe
time OF Hing. his petition. This
money will be used 10 help dofray
the expenses OF the election.
When the board or commissioners
hold their first meeting. they Will
elect one OF their number 10 De
mayor. Each commissioner will be-
come the head OF one OF i've depart
menis Of the city government, name |
ly. the Department OF Public Affairs, |
Department OF Revenue and Finance, |
| Department OF Public Safety, Depart |
partment OF Parks and Public Prop
erty. No provisions are made for the |
Board OF Education and The Board /
Of HarbOr Commissioners. Both will /
be LEFT unmOlostcd IN their work for
| ten years after the new charter goes
| into effect.
In case OF the death or the removal
/ from The city Of one Of the commits
sloners the rest OF the board will nll
out the term OF that commissioner
until Che next election.
No Limit ON Duties.
AZ present, as the proposed char
ter stands. no limitations are placed
on the division which these commits
sioncrs might make I'm the work OF the
different departments assigned 10
them. and may change the scope OF
their respective department each time
a new commissioner takes Oillce.
There was diversity OF opinion as
TO whether the citizens at large SHOULD
be allowed 90 take a referendum vote
on the proposed charter, or whether
the General Committee should draft a
form OF charter and present II TO the
Legislature without delay. 70 was as
serted during the course OF The dis
cusiOn. that very few vOtera take ac-
tive interest in city government.
Colonel Sparks said he believed the
people OF Wilmington should have
some say In the matter.
Let us have home rule" he said,
. Everything we have ever received
from outside the city, we have had To
fight for Let us leave the matter OF
framing the charter and presenting 10
10 the Legislature in the hands Of the
General Committee so that we Will
not have 90 20 10 Dover every two
years FOR legislation 70 amend g."
Percy Warren Green, former chelf
( deputy att0rncy-gencral, and member
OF the subcommittee OF the Bi-par-
tlsan Charter Committee explained
the second plan. which called for the
election OF a mayor on a nOn-parii-
san ballot. the mayor being granted
the power 10 appoint a board OF four
commissioners TO assist In running
the city government.
10 was planned by those framing
, this plan TO place the matter OF chang
ing the city government or not before
The people in the form OF two ques-
lions, namely:
, ~ Should there be any change in
! or the retention Of the present form OF
city government?
o. Which scheme do you prefer,
meaning the election OF five commits
4 sioners or the election OF a mayor
with appointlve powers.
/ Fear "Aiachine Work"
This last-named idea was not con-
, sidered feasible by those present. Mr.
Curley was OF the opinion that 10
savored too much OF machine work.
Others expressed themselves SINH
larly.
Many OF the general committee
thought it would not be considered as
representative OF the people Of VIII
, mingiOn until Herbert H. Ward re-
minded them that they were called
together for the express purpose Of
depressing the opinion NJ the people
they represented through The Organi-
cations which had appointed them.
AZ this point vote was called for
Senator James W. Robertson prompt
a ly asked 90 be excused from casting
a ballot saying he did not under
4 stand why The charter had not been
i presented I'm definite form and ready
\ 10 be read and published IN The daily
! papers. The Senator said time was
4 wasted in Wrangling over minor de-
: tails and that the subject should be
a more definitely expressed before an
: other meeting was held.
A. ID. Warner, Jr., made lhe mo-
3 ton for The resolution that finally
\ ended the argument. His motion was
= seconded by Mrs. Charles n. Miller.
o wife Of the former governor. Tie
q | resolution passed 20 TO 2, those vOt-
ing against 80 were the Rev 4. w.
o Wells and W. j. Outten. Of the Cen
+ trail Labor Union. Two members of
n the delegation from the KhNans Club
II and the two other representatives OF
a The Central Labor UnOn asked 20 be
n excused from voting.
After the resolution had been
l. passed a motion was made 10 elect
e The temporary officers as permanent
v officers OF The committee. Leon
z Walker and John E. Kauss, OF o.
II Rotary Club. were elected perma-
e nent chairman and secretary, re-
e spoctively. Another meeting viii
n shortly be held, at which The definite
r form OF charter voted on last nigh
will be presented again.