Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-27

| CAL hull III lIld fbputtS Az s+stc4EpAtS "a
theae expenditures except in bulk of
thousands OF dnli9rs-sums too large to
be paid out by any one man. This
mnnnar of doingbusiness is not fair to
| tha officials or to the public II too
readily suggssts temptation. II is very
unbusinessihe. just imagine any cor
porstion conducting its affairs in such q
way. Imagine the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company or the Baltimore IL Ohio rail
road making expenditures and accepting
| reports of this nature.
II bslieve | describe the existing sys-
tem correctly, Mr.. Neary, do not? ?"
Mr.. Heary-"I think it is SO, as we'll as
/ know"
The money does not go ont from tho
levy court. but upon the draft of any
certain iovy coartman for his particular
hundred. wy.
Mr.. yandAgritt- think that the com.
missioner accounts 70 the levy court"
Yes, 40 understand. Bat the public
il not informed as to details OF thoss ex-
penditures. It goeH into the levy court
report in lump sums. presume tho
drafts are examined by the auditor, but
maan 10 aey that the detailed expenditures
are not ordered by ths levy court.
believe the whole system needs
remedyinR. Il is cumbersome.
Mr.. Bstes paid complimentary tribute
to the deliberate and lingering methods
of the court. There is less fret or fric-
tion in its consideration of business than
il the deliberation of any public body
within the city, county, State or in the
United States. IL moves with admirable
ease. lie feared the per diem system of
| paymen. preGisposei unoonsciously to
this leisure We are al susceptible to
thess conditions.
The speaker cited an illustration in his
own experience. lie went to the levy
court Us attorney for the Wilmington
City Railway Company for permission to
place poles upon the court house pave
men.. lie went TO the court ut 10
oalock. With his ideas OF business he
supposed it would conSums only few
minutes time. | vas too rapid, however.
There was de!ibara.ion and com.
inittee OF seven was appointed 20 view
the pavement and 500 where tho poles
were to be put But not that day. Yet,
as was informed, out of consideration
for the application, they would not post.
pone the matter until the next Tuesdays
meeting. They came up to town on
Thursday. The expenses OF the insosti-
cation must baye re- ed at between
S2j aud $50. muat gay, however,
of tnese gentlemen that there existed
with them no conscious intsution OF ex.
panse to the oouaty. think though if
il we're a matter of private business 80
minutes al lunch-time would have fixed
the whole matter up.
In speaking OF the proposed boardaot
commissioners as a substitute for the levy
court the speaker expressed himself as
not opposed to it. Hs was convinced
that minority representation is needed
in the levy court. Whom our party ia in
power weNshould not b, Hfraid of it. Aud
when we are out it will be very advan-
tageous to have. A minority representa-
ton can be secured by elecung either in
general ticket with proper provisions or
by a district system.
Uponthequeation ofaalaries for .hs mem
bers OF the proposed 3 or commission
era who gubatitute the lazy court, no
th3ught IN amount in proportion 20 what
the Judges receive aud IN excess OF that
received by the Regulators woald be
proper. He understood Chester county
has board OF commissioners. Tho rate
OF taxation is equal to aoout two-fitths OF
ours. That county has much better roads
than we have.
MIR. Bates thought the general criticism
on the levy court IN regard to county
floating dsbt unjust. All the truth has
not b9ea said in the papers. AT the sama
time we are ia position demanding a
better management Of the county.
IIr. Bate3 was applauded at th9 close
OF Lis q dress.
Ehe chairman next introduced Mr..
Vandegrift. Thu speaker wRs proud thRt
the club hsd taken up the question OF
county reform, that it followed its trial
of ballot reform with the confederation
OF 8 question so important as the present
one. 1t is infinitely more oreditahls tt
the club that it should be doing this thing
than that the room DO fill-d day after
day with in3i9ant voters waiting to re-
oelva their doies, as Il the custom with
another political organization of tais city
the name OF which It is NOT necessary to
Il 5iEnate here.
There is no iuHbt there ia in this city
! county, Skate end nstton new awaken
Ing 20 have politics managed differently
.rlm tho pSgt, W9 have Rons on fol
. yeDrs and ihsra hns not been ths INTEREST
amOne tho public that there ii to-day.
Taxpayers have gIumhled, bat they have
, stopped at that. They have not inYsBti,
ga,ed Gs they do to-day. The reason i;
, they have not until tc- lay reached tine
bed rock OF poverty. Long ago there
was no aucl need of looking after the
penca. The country has drafted on liz
: larEa estate in favor OF ali the world
, We have been careless OF our vast do.
main. That OF the farmes'a is the grast.
z,A .i..l ltp,f k,n al SD
to give 80 worth OF corn for i worth oi
projected goods. Bnt that time hos gone.
NuW The lands are held at exact value
and they are laden With mortgages. The
farmer cannot give So for 81 EoW. He
, cpuGot pay his 6edts. That is the reason
, the people arc waking up and crying that
| account be given.
The party that does not heed the
! farmers cry will go down. That Ia the
reason why l an anxious that the Demo.
crnt.o party in this State will give tbs
, best government for the least possible
expenditure.
, Now. how shnil this be done? Tht
spesker answered tbs question by stating
that the panGcea Tor aii ills is to be dis.
covered in the establishment OF an abso
lutely secret ballot Th best principle!
will be possible of successful aiVocatior
} and the best man elected.
The speaker believed il the next Lagis
[ lature enact Law for secret ballota Thu
members might then adjourn and n
! home. They would have accomplished
more Poo1 than any other Legislature
I since 1T97.
/ don't kaow whether l an in favor O.
. salar I'd county otfisofs or not. I'm ii
| grave DOUBT. Bat il th could bt
nlanlnu bY seSret Laliot then | WoulS