Daily Republican., 1890-04-17

That Levy Court Dinner.
After all 1t would perhaps be better
TO speak out boldly and plainly on the
Central Hotel dinner aflair instead O
making insinuations as If II were q
subject that dare only be limited ut and
mentioned In whispers.
Well, then, the facts Of the case are
these: The sheriff has been allowed
by The Levy Court any where from
$l5. 600 up year for feeding the pris-
oners In New Castle Jail. The Jail
having been exceptionally Gro Wded
this last year, the bill at 80 cents per
day for board may reach $4,000. OF
this amount about 81, 900 is clear pro.
fit and the sheriff having two years TO
serve, made profit in those two years
OF $24, goo, without counting the pro =
fits from the other branches OF his
office. As times were hard, with farm.
ers especially, aud taxes were opprcs
'slve an effort was made by the Every
Evening, backed by number of
other papers, to have the feed bill cut
down to 90 cents per day, by which
$1,000 would bave been saved TO the
taxpayers. Accordingly petitions from
about one thousand of the leading
farmers, business men, tradesmen and
mechanics were sent 10 the Levy
Coalt asking the reduction named.
These petitions were met by protests
from an equal il not greater number
Of people than petitioned for reduce
ton during the present sheriff's term
OF office. The sheriff himself, the
party most interested, managed the
protestant movement personally, sent
out blanks in all directions, had them
directed back TO him signed and he
handed them In TO the Levy Court
In dollarand cent point of view he
was excusable. for although the re-
duc,ion would have left him 5000 Il
year profit, $4,000 a year was still
larger, ard as the money in the ,tlice
was all he was after he could hardly
be expected TO do less than lie did DO
At last day was set apart Tor the re-
ception OF the petitions and protests,
and the case was argued at consideru
BILE length, the sheriff being present an
interested spectator.
The various compromise measures
offered were but henging on the quse
ton, the real sentiment oil the Levy
Court settled down to seven members
voting in favor of continuing the pres
ent rates for feed, and four members,
Messrs. EHason, Mccall, Rothwell
and Shallcrcss, voting Tor the reduc.
ton.
1t was considered, however, by those
opposed to reduction that this action
did no. settle the matter, but that the
standing committee had the same
power it always had without regard 10
The action oil the court, and 10 this
committee the matter was referred. i
was currently reported that the com
mittee would certainly make come re
duction either for the past year or pro
pose reduced rates for the coming year
In either case the sheriff was of cours,
intensely interested aud would nat
urally oppose reduction. The Levy
Court Is expected to fiuish up all it
business and adjourn TO morrow, ana
II was further expected that the sher
Ills allowance would be reported Oh
tha. day.
Under these circumstances, Whether
judicious or injudieous, Sheriff Allel
conceived the brilliant idea of show
ing his hospitality TO the Levy Couf
that was debating the propric,y o
cutting down his feed bill, by givinl
them splendid dinner at one of tht
leading hotels in the city. This W,
believe is the whole thing in nu
shell and hence arise some very potent
and Important questions, the greatest
OF which is, did the Levy Court under
the circumstances do right in accept.
Ing the invitation ta tie dinner, The
amen bers may have thought they wer,
doing right, but we are very mucl
mistaken II the people will not enter
tain different opinion. For our owl
part we unhesitatingly say that we ar,
surprised that the members SHOULD
have been caught by such an insight
Meant bait US roast diEner. Al any
other time the acceptance OF thu
sheriif's invitation would have beer
Fight and proper.
The argument TINT the sheriff has
no intention OF influencing the Levy
Court with big dinner will be made
In vain. II il was disinterested mu
nihcence on the part OF the sheriff, Ii,
chose to exercise il ut most I'LL or
tunate time Tor the reputation OF III
Levy Court, and ii may turn out al
most unfortunate time for his ow
benefit.
But, after all, ii will not do to so
that the Levy Court will be influence
by big dinner. 1t may act very in
dependently upon the feed bill an
paralyze the sheriff by cutting dow
his enormous profits. This wou
raise the Levy Court in he estimate
OF the people, but who could fathol
the feelings OF the sheriff with his fe,
reduced and his big dinner gone f
nothing. II the Levy Court makes /
provision for reduction of the fees,
will subject itself to the severest kin
OF criticism by the people, and Il
members will be blamed for being i
huenced by big dinner, when the
probably would not have acted difie
entity without the dinner. This Is no
the matter stands.
Ey-PREstnESr ~ ruuTANn 10 n n