Daily Republican., 1885-10-01
Tne A,msnou.e Investigation.

the AimsnOuse Investigation.
If we are not mistaken In the temper
OF the people OF New Castle County, ex-
captions will bs taken to the manner OF
the invest eating com mittee OF the Levy
Court, into alleged almshouse abuses, ia
arriving at the truth OF certain matters
which concern the public fully AS
much as individuals, Since IL became
known that the committee was to sit
with closed doors, that the public could
not get to hear the character OF the evil
dence brought before 1t, the impression
has prevailed that there would be no
thorough investigation-but rather q
skim ming over of the mater that the
forms OF strict Investigation might be
com piled with, though the spirit Of 1t
would be avoided.
We have always said, and we say
that all Investigations of this character
should be held with open doors. The
matter to be in vesti gated concerns the
people, and the people should be given
the fullest opportunity not only to look
personally behind the charmed curtain,
but to be informed through the public
press and by every other available
means OF conveying public intelligence
to the people.
1t has been known that the investi-
eating committee has been holding
meetings at the almshouse for some
time past, from time to time. Nobody
Is the wiser yet Of anything that has
been done, though 1t is some two
months since the committee was ap-
pointed. When the question was
brought before the Levy Court, that
body, with the exception Of two mem
bers, declined to let citizens have any
thing to do with the matter, but rather
arrogated to themselves the duty Of in
vestigating the doings OF their own ap-
pointees. This itself weakened the con-
fidence Of the people, but that conf
dence was still farther weakened when
after . very long delay it was announ-
ced that the proceedings of the commit
tee would be conducted with closed
doors. Various reports have from time
to time been coming from that commit
tee room, some of which may have been
correct and others untrue-possibly all
correct or all untrue. one rumor was
that one mem Der 81 least OF the Trustees
had suffered very much by the investi-
gation-so much indeed that 1t was Diff
Fl cult to see how he could escape at
least censure, If not a more severe pun
ishment.
But 1t is said that even that mem Der
has been exonerated by this secret com
mittee at yesterdays meeting OF the
Trustees OF the Poor Like q Grand
Jury, the com mittee, 1t is said, had
found true bill or cause for Indictment
and trial by the committee that created
1t, but unlike Grand Jury, the report,
instead of being made TO the superior
that had power to try cases, 1t was
made to the accused member himself,
after the reporters of the press and all
others not mem bers Of the Trustees O.
the Poor nor the Levy Court, were ex-
cluded from the room in which the
meeting was held Mercy and leniency
are at all times commendable, but this
indeed seems to be great stretch OF
those humane attributes. 1t need not
be thought strange that under the cir
cumstances under which the two public
b0die, met, with the outside world ex-
cluded and none present but themselves
chat immunity, il not q full pardon,
was gfSpted. Whatever was done will
never be correctly known by the pnblic,
and whoever the accused were will still
have to lie under the suspicion OF guilt,
because their innocence was established
by party interested, and by a star
chamber investigation.
tits possible tina, theEe were no
grounds for the charges hlou sht against
the Board indeed We have always
looked upon them a. being greatly ex-
aggers.ed, but no matter tor this, II the
invest CATION had been held public, the
public could have better determined the
amount ~ Condemnation, II any, that
was due, and the public could also have
determined the quantity OF forgiveness
required for any alleged infraction Of
law or omission Of duty.
OF course . report will be made to the
Levy Court when it meets the second
Tuesday in October, but 1t will be made
from the proceedings OF a COMMITTEES
more interested from partisan motives
in CLOSING and covering over the wors
scars of damaging testimony, and from
within the precinctI of a secret com NIT.
tee room.
1t will be the fault of the Levy Cour
and OF the committee OF investigation /
the people at large look upon their pro
eeedings as an investigation not intend
ed TO investigate.