Evening journal., 1921-03-21
KEEP UP Fight
FOR THE BILL
Chairman Walker Insists
Citizens Know What
They Want
VIRDEN WARNS
AGAINST DRIVE"

More than 200 men and women
representing some so civic organ
izations, attended the meeting on
the city charter, held Saturday night
in Parlors A and b Of the Hotel du-
Pont. Leon Walker. chairman OF
the General Citizens Committee
presided.
Chairman Walker, who spoke at the
meeting. ridiculed the idea that the
SO organizations that have endorsed
the charter do not know its contents.
Mr.. Walker said that when he fin
ally, late Friday, obtained a copy OF
the revised Robertson bill, he found
so many radical changes that the
measure could no longer be support
ed by the citizens OF Wilmington.
Senator Robertson, he said. had so
amended the bill as to provide that
instead OF a city manager being
made mandatory, the Board OF City
Managers could appoint a city man
ager at will. He then paralleled the
original charter bill with Senator
Robertson's changes in other par
ticulars. one change was that the
commissioners might appoint sub
ordinates without date, instead OF at
their first meeting.
The citys borrowing rate, up TO
is per cent Of the city's assessed
valuation. also had been lowered by
Senator Robertson's bill 10 10 per
cent and the Harbor Board placed
under control OF the Commissioners.
But the biggest and most vital
change made by Senator Robertson.
Mr.. Walker pointed out was the
elimination entirely OF five pages OF
the citizens charter bin This cut he
showed, eliminating the provisions
for a non-partisan election aud sub
stituted provisions that the COM
missioners should be elected accord
ing TO the present form OF party
primaries, and that those nOmi-
mated shall become the party candi-
dates at the election. Ward bounda-
ries, however, we're eliminated by
Robertson, as in the original bill
These changes, Mr.. Walker point
ed out, tl1warted entirely the desire
of the people for a strictly non
partisan commission form OF gov
ernment-
A noticeable feature OF the meet
ing was the continual reference
throughout the meeting 20 the sin
visible government" which various
speakers iutfmated '1ies behind Sen
ator Robertson" Some went so far
as to suggest that they should go
easry- on the Senator on the ground
he merely was the tool OF more
powerful, hidden interests" There
was no reply 20 a suggestion that
these interests be named
Representative Virden warned
the meeting mot TO attempt TO drive
any Representatives" declaring he
had never been driven and never
would be. "You know your mas
ters.- somebody called out The Rev.
u W. Wells declared II was time
to drive out the politicians and IN
visible government that ruled the
city and State.
Colonel W. F. Slower asked the
Rev. Mr.. Wells whether he was
speaking as a minister or as a Dem
ocratic politician, and the pastor re-
pued. ~as a citizen OF wilmington
As evidence OF their deter
mination. il was resolved that
every person present should brins
every pressure to bear upon mem
hers of the Wilmington delegation
IN the House OF Representatives to
show them a majority OF the people
OF the city do desire change In
the form OF municipal government
II was also resolved that the night
shall be carried on in the next Leg
fslature II the charter Is defeated by
the present Legislature, and that the
General Citizens Committee on Q
new city charter be cf ndnued with
this avowed aim In view.