Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-24
.ALMsMousn ,xrFswa. lrIox.
NO Witnesses al tho spen Meeting
of the Coniiaii:ce--.. hat tHas lseen
Dome.


of the Committee. hs,s tHas sseeI
4 Done.
The committee of the levy court ap
pointed to investigate the charges OF tx
trayagance and iuismanageme mt in cunncc
ton with the administration oil the county
nlmshUrise held IN open session at the
allnshousc Tu, sday. The meeting was
extensively advertised and an invitation
to amy one having charges to appear
before the committee Tuesday in order to
present them. There was no response
to the invitation, and only one
man whose name has been used in con.
nection with knowing certain facts about
o recent purchase of oats was m attend
anee. He did not come in the capacity OF
" witness, but simply to state that he
knew of nothing Irregular about the pur-
chase of the oats in question, and stated
| that it had been sold by the tenant of a
| farm belonging to one of the trustees,
| upon formal bid and at fraction less
than the market price.
| 1t was the desire of the investigators to
have heard statement from Malachi
| Barlow, the former superintendent. He
had been twice formally notified and re-
| quested to appear before the committee,
make any statement concerning certain
facts upon which the committee wanted
light, and concerning which Mr.. Barlow
was believed to have important informa-
ton. At Tuesdays sitting of the COM
mittee resolution instructing the secre-
tary to formally notifyMr Barlow to attend
the meeting was passed. A messenger with
a carriage conveying the request of the
Init 10
dence, but he was out of the city and
consequently could not be heard.
After waiting until noon for the appear
ance of any voluntary witnesses the COM
mittee took recess until 2 o'clock in the
afternoon, but at that time no one had
presented himself for the purpose of
making statement.
With the conclusion of Tuesdays meet
ing the work of the committee as far as
the inquiry goes may be said to be at an
end. II will meet again on Wednesday of
next week with the board of trustees of
the poor and make known to the men,
bers of that body the substance of the
report which will first be made public at
the next meeting of the levy court. 1t is
to be first given the poor trustees in order
that if any of them are the objects of
them to present defense. The fact that
the opportunity for defense is to be given,
is an Enthusiastically plain indication TINT
the result of the inquiry SO far MS it has
progressed, has brought to light some
very questionable transactions. This is
also clearly inferred by other incidents in
connection with the investigation which |
as yet are not ready to be given the |
public. An examination of the aims |
house accounts shows that the law
prohibiting any members of the |
board from furnishing supplies
or having any bill against the trustees
has been disregarded for many years, and |
in fact is shown that the law has been |
continuously violated for long time. |
This condition of AFFAIRS extends back far |
beyond the present administration, in |
fact for 20 years or more. The |
committee in its report will |
call attention to the matter and insist |
that the law be enforced in the future. |
Another feature which is open to much |
abuse is the outdoor relief extended |
through cash orders. The committee |
view this as rather unbusi- |
ness-hke arrangement and will re-
commend that it be so regulated |
that the features most liable to abuse be |
cut Off The inquiry has developed the |
fact that there has been considerable ex-
trayagance practiced in purchases and in |
judieious Investments and expenditures. |
Attention will be called to these facts
also.
A member of the committee states that |
he believes the investigation will be of |
great benefit to the county Taxpayers, in |
asmuch as it has attracted the public's |
attention to the almshouse, and paved the |
way for reform measures such as the abo-
lition of the supply committee which was
effected at the trustees last meeting.
The committee has been greatly handi-
capped in its efforts, by reason of hacking
the authority to summon and oblige
witnesses to appear and testify under
oath. In several cases where parties
whose statements were desired, the
committees notice to attend one of its
sessions have been absolutely disregarded
or met with an entire refusal. All the
testimony heard was therefore of yolun-
tary nature, and considerable part of it
of little value. Those who decline to
offer their testimony will be mem
toned in the report as refusing to
answer the committees summons. II is
urged upon reasonable grounds that the
investigation was conducted privately |
because, without having any process to |
demand an attendance of witnesses, no |
important testimony could have been |
gathered at meetings where the |
proceedings were open to the |
public. AS it is optional with the
witnesses as to whether or not they tes- |
tify ; their statements take the shape of Il
formal complaint, which no one cares to
present in public. 1t was the desire of |
the inquiry board to have had the meet
ings public, but with the obstacles men
toned in the way, they decided |
that it would still be "a further
embarrassment to their difficulty in
procuring witnesses. The members of
the committee show an earnest desire to
get ut the bottom of the affair and they |
promise to give full report of the pro-
ceedings in their return to the levy court,
to the public through the latter body.
They will let the responsibility rest Just
where it belongs irrespective of who
is affected and the report will be straight
and from all indications bring
to light the fact that some of the many
concerning certain members have
been fully substantiatet, by the testimony
of voluntary witnesses. The report will
be awaited with the greatest interest by