Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-18

Al uhcussinB the county commissioner
eyttem Tor this county to supercede the levy
court, Nathaniel Williams OF Middletown en-.
presses himself as being heartily in favor OF
toe prolect, but is Of the opinion that the
pennln4 Dill is scarcely radical enough In
me direction OF the much needed reform
ne thinks that the commissioners should
have the guards OF auditors apout them and
that the present absurd method 10 vogue OF
the members being their own auditors be
abolished, Mr.. Williams also f4vors The
election OF the county trea, urer and en-.
powering him to act with deputies. as re.
cpiVer OF taxes and 70 abolish the present
obnoxious and totally insffi lent system Of
the TAX collectors. The pending bill, he be.
lleves, should be 30 mod q I'd ~ TO more al.
reetly cover or touch upon the duties given
over TO the levy court, aud for that purpose
thinks several changes 10 the measure be-.
IorA Tho Legislature advisable.
Mr.. Williams gave ss brief outline and
without details what he considered should
De embraced 10 q bill providing for three
commissioners He has given much
thought to the matter mud his familiarity
with public affairs must render his opinion
OF value. His suggestions prov for three
county comm sstonere, elec cd by districts
as proposed. to be elected by the vote of
the entire county; after first election draw
lots for terms OF two, four aud sig years,
4
q vacancy occurs It should be filed by the
governor for the period Intervening till the
next election, then elect and maintain the
rotation; Ia man may be eligible only for sig
| years out OF - and the recon panse to be
T, BY liked salary. Three audio should be
chosen In the same manner and sui OF 10
the same restrictions Rs the commissioners,
remunerated by moderate salary-mod.
erate--ae their services will be required
only few days of each year. Have
board OF rev sion, to act In con.
7 Junction with county commlRs oaers, paid
i per diem, for limited time under the pro-
Visions OF the law at present their services
| would be rq1ired only every fourth year,
/ In February and March; tn -ir duties To
Apply only TO real estate-the assessment If
| poll and personal estate taxes to be left
With assess ors and county commissioners.
have q receiver OF taxea, who shall also be-
county treasurer, and be compensated by
percentage on rrceipts, with power to APP
point deputie1: In this connection aut horige
| the giving Of -enurlty by ell county officials
by security company-making "security''
q matter OF business and not OF friend hip ;
| the receiver to be elected by the people, so
as to be Independent OF the county COM
/ IN saioners.
| Elk Levy Courtman MoCracken who was
the ineeptor OF somewhat similsr bill be-
| fore tina last Legislature heartily concurs
In Mr. Wtlliams' views and is emphatic In
expressing hts opinion that the levy court
shonld he Rbois ned and the commissioners
| system instituted. Mr. MeOracksn served
! four years In the court and his course
there and experience give his opinions
| great value.
The levy court as at present constituted
/ has entiEe md absolute control of the
coun'y'H affairs without check and the
| public is withopta safe guard. 1t will not OF
does not giyo the public any accounting OF
| the money expended aud the tax. payers are
absolutely IN the dark as to the disburse-
mente OF the money they pay into the
county treasury. To show the vast patron.
age and urqueationed Jurisdiction Of the
| levy court WDicd 1t distributes and exer-
| eises without check, and Is responsible to
no one, may be detailed sorie of it's duties
| which, however, are not 20 oumbersome
thst they could not be discharged by three
| men who would sit OF least three days oil
each week and In salaries save the county
about &c
1t appoints county treasurer, IA COL
lectors OF county and poor taxes, all county
conRtables, IA trustees OF the poor. i4il
commissioners, jail physician, a number OF
| bridge ke5perS, revt-es all assessmbnts,
levies the county and poor tex, settles the
accounts OF collectors, flxes compensation
OF prisoners board, makes ako wances for
sheriff, clerk OF the pace. other clerks,
! justices ard copstsbe s coroner (compen.
! sation OF which Is SUP p ,sed to bs fixed by
| law), audits accounts OF county treasurer,
treasurer OF the poor, jail commits .ioners
and road commissioners OF all hundreds,
hns Jurisdiction IN opening new roads, has
control OF court house. jail. county
| bridges and causeways, selects Jurors, and
| Is suppoet to audit Its own accounts.
The petitions asking the abolition OF the
levy court ars being very numerously
signed, and the continent as expressed
without dissent, except from an occasional
petty politician, ciearly indicates that the
levy court Is III fair way to go 10 the near
| future.