Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-10-11
rhe Levy Court.


the Levy Court.
The Levy Court il the Legislature Of
the county, not 1t il true empo wered
with the making Of the lAwr, but with
authority Of providing means toenforce
the law and to conduct the affairs Of
the county. 1t has the power to levy
and collect taxes from the people to
keep the highways in order, to lay
cut new highways, 70 build and repair
bridges, TO arrange the boundaries Of
school districts, to provide for the main
tenance Of the poor and unfortunate, to
provide for the safe keeping OF criminals,
and to provide place for the holding
OF the courts Of the county. These arc
but few OF the main duties of the
Levy Court. The assessment and col
lection Of the taxes arise - . necessity
out of the levying Of taxes, and yet
these are some Of the most important
duties Of the Court.
Ths Levy Court 10 composed Of eleven
members elected to servo four years
each. That they may not all be elected
at once, six Of them are elected ct ono
election and Ave at another. BY this
plan there are always either six or five
holding over members. Frequently 1t
happens that the Court 10 composed en-
tirely Of one party or the other. Tho
party that carries two successive cleo
tions has unanimous Levy Court 90
far a. politics In concerned
This to all fair minded men 10 Ohjsc-
tionable, ~ there remains no check
whatever to political scheming should
any arise, and it is well known they do
arise and are very often carried to
great length, even TO the detriment Of
the fair, legitimate transaction of the
business of the county. Fair minded
people will therefore see that 1t is better
that the Levy Court should be divided
politically. Five Republican members
though not majority are q sufficient
number to preserve an equilibrium and
to prevent extreme partisan action,
and in the same manner six Democratic
members afford too small majority to
put into effect any extreme partisan
measure.
There Is no doubt whatever that the
Republicans would like to have the
larger number just rs the Democrats
are pleased TO have it now, but as long
as they cannot have that number, it is
better to have Ave members than none.
Even If the case WAS reversed it would
be better for the Democrats 70 have five
members than to have none.
As this Is tho year for the election Of
FIVE members Of the Levy Cours, voters
who see an advantage in having both
political parties represented should vote
for the Republican candidates. The
Democrats have the six holding over
members and will therefore have q
majority even IL the Republicans are
elected. As six always outvote Ave.
The election OF five Republican men,
bers of the Levy Court, will make no
difference In the political standing Of
the tax-collectors, constables, bridge
tenders and other officers which fall to
the Levy Court TO appoint.
Six Democratic members can A
easily elect them with Ave Republicans
In opposition as eleven Democratic
members with no Republicans in oppo-
sition. A nearly equally divided Levy
Court insures full attendance of MEM
beers and q more prompt attendance to
business and impartial action. AS the
Democrats have already the Levy Court
In their hands, and 1t cannot be
wrested from them for two years at
least, there should be enough Demo-
Gratis of liberal turn Of mind, who see
the advantages of a mixed Levy Court,
to elect the Republican Levy Court
ticket, even though they should vote for
no other Republicans. The election of
five Republican members now will not
make the court Republican at the cleo
ton two years hence. Then they will
oe Blk members to elect, and if the
Democrats elect them there will still
bold the court, the same az IL there
were no holding over Republican n I'm
bers.