Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-04


BY an act of the State Legislature
pnssed in 1883 the levy courts of the sev-
oral counties Of Delaware are commanded
10 publish detailed statement of their ex-
penditures annually. Though the word
ing of the act il distinct and it, pro.
Visions explicitly put forth, its mandates
have been sOt ct defiance and totally dis
regarded in this county. Upon one
fiimsy and nonsensical presext or another
the law has never been complied with,
and the county tax payers are left in total
ignorance as to the expenditure Of the
money which they annually pay into the
treasury. The right OF the public to
know Of the stewardship Of its servants
is ono recognized everywhere aud uni
versalIy admitted. and one the Legisla-
ture appreciated to It's full value when IL
enacted this compulsory measure. As to
how the money is spent is matter OF
great public concern, and tine publication
OF the disbursements of q public body
has wholesome influence, and every
worthy public official should he glsd OF
the opportunity the lay has provided to
present his work ia lis detail before the
public. The legislative enactment under
consideration, with single amendment
changing the month from May to Deeem-
Der reads:
Section /. rhat II shall be the duty Of the
levy court OF each county IN this State AN
nually, In the mouth OF December, 20 cause
to be printed in pamphlet form a detailed
statement OF all expenditures OF the funds
of said county, and orders drawn by each
levy court commissioner for any and all
service performed or natetiala furnished
In their respective hundreds, specifying In
said statement the time when and the pur-
pose for which the same was done; satd
statement shal, ALEC contain tho aggregate
amount OF the per diem allowed to each
member OF the levy court, with the number
OF days Of attendance and miles allowed TO
each.
sec. 2. The said levy court shalt have
printed suGh number OF copies OF said
pamphlets as aforesaid as the said levy
court may deem advisable and necessary
for their respective counties, and ons hal
of the number 50 printed shall b equally
divided between the Justices OF the peace IL
the respective counties, and the other hal
between the members OF said levy court
respectively, who shall keep the same fo
delivery upon application to them by any
voter OF their respective hundreds.
The levy conrt Of this county hsi
avoided compliance with tho law upor
she Aimsy exouse that the Legislature ha
ssde. no provisions for the payment q
the Expense for printing the annual state
ments, and again it has set the law asid
on the pretencc that the construction o
the act does net maze the publicatioi
mandatory. Upon the latter point tn
law as quoted speaks for itself. Cor
corning tho pay, still more non
sensical excuse. Tho Legislature doe
not smphatically and explicitly stat
how sry 'taTn =, a-nAnse shon \
met. n, n,A 'e,is. 75scia N
GAzsrTE will sneertully 80 81, lay
court in turmounung. This Journal Il
the peneft of the tax payers will open i
advertising columns gratuitously 70
the publication of the detailed statemei
of the levy court for the past fiscal yea
It will further furnish o model upC
which satisfactory report may
constructed and will giss assistance
the clerical preparation of the sam
As before stated the GA2ETrEl will pc
forin these offices gratuitously and wit
out 3 cent OF cost to tho tax payers.
the levy court has the slightest desire
make public its financial affairs, here
ample opportunity. 1t may find "
ont Of accepting this offer in the lansus
OF the aot, which provides for public
tion in pamphlet fern, bat such IN
Ouse would not be very plausible o
70 ofTar tho public in defence Tor the &c
tinued Systematic violation Of law OK
State. The GAZETTE is NOS maxi
any charges OF mismAnagemeu but d
ply desires 30 pnE in the way u ev,
official tho opportunity of giving M
count OF his stewardship, one VIII
should be embraced ny eysry hou
nan III public place irrespective Of eS,
sther consideration.