Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-14
Whitewashing.
NOBODY TO BLAME AND EVERY.
THING STRAIGHT AT THE
ALhBHOUSE
~S -
EXCEPT A HOT STOVE.


EXCEPT A HOT STOVE. |
The Levy Court convened on Tuesday |
afternoon NJ 2 O'Clock, when Mr.. Hainan |
presented the following report
ITO THE HONORABLE, THE LEVY |
Court OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY The
committee appointed by your body to
visit and inspect the new almshouse |
and investigate certain charges made i
against the same, respectfully report: |
That In pursuance OF such direction
they have held eleven meetings Mt the
"a Id premises with the following result. |
BY way Of premise the com mittee de-
sire TO call attention to the difficulty |
under which they have labored. By
far the larger part Of the charges, 30 far
as the Levy Court or this COMMITTEES
are Informed, were not directly made by
individuals stating facts, but we're
founded on bearsay reports and hearsay
testimony. for which no person cared to |
or would be personally y responsible. In
the few caseo which the committee havej
been able to particularize and trace
with any Oofini.eness we have been |
COZ IN forted with the fact that any atten- |
dance before us must be voluntary and
that we had no power of compulsory
prJcess, nor even IL we had, could wei
have administered legal oath
TO elicit the trust. The charges as
stated in the public press seem to bel
directed to TIE following points.
First-Extravagance in arranging
and furnishing the new county build
ings
"second- furnishing Of supplies
by members Of the Board Of Trustees OF
| tho PoUr.
| "Third-Actual dishonesty on the
part of some of the trustees.
"Fourth--General maladministrationI
of the affairs OF the trust"
| We will present the result of our in
vestigation In the reverse order of this
arrangement.
" First-We have examined the ae-
icouuts, vouchers and statements of the
Trustees OF the poor and find every thing
lin a proper condition. As this Is more
Iproperly the duty of the Levy Court, We
lido not think 1t necessary to report more
lat large upon it. We find the houses
land buildings, being new, were, of
loourse, in good condition-clean and
healthy. The inmates were com 'ort'
able ard orderly and we think 1T but
proper to say that 30 far as our observa-
Itlon extended the superintendent, Mr..
iGuthrie, II to be commended for the
deficient discharge OF his duties.
"Second-As 10 actual dishonesty on
the part OF individual trustees, the
lcharaes are that three trustees rosID C.
ltively furnished horse to tbS. boart
and did 20 collusively With ..oe owner
Giving part Of the pr.rchass money
or being otherwise benefited by th
transaction. The,e were the member
from Red LIpp White Clay Creek ant
one member from Wilmington Hundred
AS TO thes d charges the committee thinl
lexplan' lions have been made whicl
they feel bound IN accept. The mem
lbe'. = from Red Lion and White Cla,
J,Jreek Hundreds have supplements
these with explanations which are sub
mittet with this report:
In this connection we wOuld stAt
That we invited the trustees of the poo
TO meet with US on the SOth day Of Sep
ttenber, and at such meeting i.:d be
Ifors then the evidence we had obtain 90
ileavtnQ II to them to institute such in
Ivestigation as they might think ht.
"O;her circuifys,snces, such rs re-
moving . stove, moreover the com
mitJee think they have not been sufi
10 ciently explained, and, while they can
mot say that the transactions wer
culpable, yet they would suggest that
further Investigation be made by tn
trustees Of the poor.
"Third-As to the furnishing Of sup
iplies by Individual members, the com
q mittee find this charge to be wei
fouuded They have not been able t
n discover, however, that the public bav
In this way suffered any loss or beeI
subjected to any extortion. We canno
a sufficiently condemn this method o.
ldcing business, both as being intrinsi
T, cally wrong and also in violation q
. ilaw; upon examination OF the book
oftha trustees, however, we hud tn
custom 70 have prevailed for man
:, years aud that to q much large exten
II formerly than of late years. In thi
~ ,connection we would condemn the sy'
s ,em by which the indiVidua member
of tho trustees draw what ara oalle
leash ordels," being in the value {
checks on the treasurer OF the poor anc
20 far as we can discover, unlimited q
to amount. In the interest of the pub
ilic we think it necessary le2islatio
. should be Obtained to prevent 1t.
IN Fourth-As to extravagance In fur
~ niture, the committee say, that IN tho
opinion the public have received fu
value for money expended. 1t is tru
that in the opinion OF individual men
bers some part OF the furniture Is III
Isuitable and rather more costly tina
ltbey would have purchased, but the
Hook upon this rs difference in opinio
Iaad that 1t extends TO but q small part
the rest being appropriate and prop
for the purpose for which 1t was intep
ed. Other charges have been made
the press as to the large quantities
d meat and bread which was great
II wasted and sqnandered.
"Your committee tndthat at the tin
of removal to the new buildings, the
being large supernumerary force o
gagged necessarily, there were require
larger supplies-this your commit
believe to be the foundation for u
erI said reports Your committee furth
~ report that they advertised In the pu
to llic press that they would be at u
i almshouse on the % day of.Septeme Be
III ard invited all persons having al
10 specific charges or complaints TO ma
to appear before them and that IN
he met pursuant to such notice on that di
. ! but no one appeared to present al
III such charges or complaints.
nd "Your committee say further 10
while the general course OF business
at as ia indicated in the above repoi
loueu 10 adverse criticism and shou
iiC be remodelled and transacted In
IN tcorlance with law, yet We think I