Milford chronicle., 1889-10-18

for the men composing the crews Of
The life saving stations. As the super.
intendent admits in his letter to the
keepers notifying them of the reeogni-
tion Of their services, to the men is
largely due the hOnOrs of which they
stand AS representatives.
IN its study of the State Auditors
report, the Smyrna Record has become
lost in the vast uncertainty of its stale
ments,and rightly argues that the peo-
pie have Il right to know the items for
which their taxes have been paid out.
Like all other Democratic papers in
Delaware, the Rec01d cannot maintain
couble position without occasionally
aniagoLizing one or both. For two
weeks it has vigorously shown up the
Inaccuracies Of workmanship in print
ing the Auditors report, and the vague.
ness of the items composing bills
amounting to thousands of dollars.
No claim is made Of robbery, or def
cit. but infers that the expenditures
have been of lavish or useless char
aeter by theattempt made to pass them
under the heading Of general ex-
pense." Against this very abuse Of
power, Republicans and those of DEM
ocratic party desirous of having our
taxes lightened have earnestly striven.
and hoped to gain remedy through
new Constitution but the Record
has vigorously opposed tile movement
because il was TO come by aud through
the Republican party. The following
is its editorial comments Of last week:
One example will suffice for all and we
shall take Kent county Tor that example. |
Why should Joseph Mcdaniel receive 81 2zS.-
90 from Kent county Ask any dozen we'll /
informed men that you happen to meet to-
morrow morning what it is for. They can
not tell you. Give them a copy of the audi /
tors report, and ask them to tell YOU then.
Not one ofthem could do il if it were TO save
his immortal soul. The only information
that he or any one else can get from this
exhibit of the finances of the county is that
so much money was allowed No one can
say that Joseph Mcdaniel was not entitled
to TINS money aud, as it is a large sum no one
could say that he is. It is quite evident that
the Levy Court thought he was, or it would /.
not have made the appropriation But the
reasons which influenced the Levy Court are
not apparent to the taxpayers in a book
which preteuds TO give them that iuforma.
.ion
Four thousand dollars is a large sum of
money to spend, and a still larger sum to be
accounted for to the people who furnished
I by saying that It WIS used to pay a sher-
ii S bill II IS not sufficient, and no excuse.
% say THAT the sheriff's bill was correct and
he charges all legal There are many
louses TO which the law apparently gives its
ianction abuses which have grown M from
mall aud unheeded beginnings, increasing
lom time to time until they have at least ]
'ecome extortiOns and expressions, and
which the people would lose no time in cor ]
ecting if The facts under which they exist Z
we're not studiously concealed from them in Z
ne only source Of Information that is, ,practi- I
ally open to them.
This great sum Of money, it will be remem-
ered IS paid to the sheriff in addition to the
egnlar fees Of the Office. What these /
lees amount TO the public have no means l.
I ascertaiuing; we know that there is always j
disgraceful scramble for the Office, and that
q adjoining county now presents the spec
.cle OF man advertising himself as a can c
ilate Ici tue once eighteen months III adj &
auce OF the election. It seems then, that c
le fees" Of the Office, or these enormous (
Ills against the county, one or both, make =
e Office of sheriff in these days a very valu- !,
DE prize, and in proportion as it thus be- y
mes valuable is It necessary for the people =
know accurately and definitely how their r
oney goes. N
To illustrate this point great deal has re- Z
ntly been said 10 the newspapers of the N
unity about the capture %, fine and i'm A
Of tramps. It has been alleged "
at certain constables have been in the =.
bit Of making business ofarrestiug large (,
mbers Of tramps aud taking them before n,
riain justices Of the peace by whom they " ~
re committed to Jail, and all this for the d
e, simple and only purpose Of obtaining
: legal fees. Most Of the persons so COM 10
tied are received atthe jail at evening and RI
discharged next morning, having received j