Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-08

TO the citizens of Wilmington and OF
the county generally.
II is well known that various indi-
viduals, coteries and organizations have
taken upon themselves the work of
formulating Legislative bills.
Some of these documents have been
compiled under the direct auspices CT
the recognized leaders of party organi-
cations, others by factions, and still
others by single individuals whose de-
sultory effort will reflect solely their
own personal bias.
II is believed that with one notable
exception there will crop up no organ
lied or responsible movement for the
retention of the levy court. Its abolish
ment is now looked upon as a sine qua
non, an indispensable condition of all
legislative reform that may be taken in
hand or even considered at the APP
preaching session.
Over half d dozen bills have already
been drawn up, born of rs many dis
tinct sources treating upon what shall
supplant the doomed levy court in the
government of New Castle county.
The first and most important one Of
his cousnship of legislative documents
the Five Commissioners bill for the
overnment of New Castle county, to
AXE the place of the present cumber-
ONE antique levy court system. The
lraft of the bill was read Friday at q
meeting of the Democratic executive
committee of New Castle county-was
upproycd-and was then submitted to
Senator John 2, Donohoe.
The members of the executive COM
mitlee present at the meeting We're:
Wilmington hundred, Willard Hall
Porter, ESD, Patrick Neary, u. +. Kane;
Pencader, Il. r. Cam; Christiana,
Humphrey Lynch; Brandywine, Squire
Fighter; Appoquinimink, w. l.. Scott;
Mill Creek, ID. Peach; White Clay
Creek, w. l.. Wier; Red Lion, New
Castle and Blackbird were not repre-
sented.
The document was drawn up by a
number of young lawyers of this city
appointed to that duty. The proposed
enactment has, it is understood, the en-
dorsement of the party leaders.
Its requirements comprise, as may be
inferred from the title, five commission
ers TO manage the administration of the
county. These officials are to be APP
pointed BY Governor Reynolds and to
hold office until 1894, (the lapsing of the
levy court term). There will be II mi
noTity representation. The political
color of the appointees will be three
Democrats and two Republicans.
The district system is another feature
Of the bill. The county will be divided
mp into five districts as follows:
District No, brandy Christiana
and Mill Creek.
District No. NORTH Wilmington (north
of SIKH street,.
District No 3-south Wilmington South
of Sixth street).
District No New Castle, Red Lion and
Pencader.
District No; 5-White Clay, st. Georges,
Blackbird and Appoquinimnk.
There will also be controller to audit
and issue tax books to collectors. These
latter are required to settle accounts
every month and make cash deposits
for county tax collectors every two
weeks, and for city collectors every
weelS.
The bank of deposit is to issue tripli-
cate receipts of tax collectors cash de-
posits-one to the controller, one to the
county treasurer, and the third the bank
holds as public exhibit that the money
has been received at the depositary.
The controller makes tabulation of
every man entitled to vote, that matter
thus being taken out of the hands of
the clerk of the peace. He issues the
books, every receipt being numbered
consecutively, the stub with the dupli
cate number. The collector or his
bondsmen are held accountable accord
ing to the stub number.
Should the five commissioners pass
out more orders on the county treasury
than so per cent of the taxes those who
so vote for the paying of such orders
Will be held personally responsible on
their bonds Tor the excess.
~ If the controller approve any bond
that is not right he also or his bond will
be held personally liable. If he does
anything crooked even in issuing tax
receipts, this would be misdemcanorand
u fine would becollectible from his bond.
The controllers bond is $4,000 and
each commissioners, $4,000 Each com
missioner must be freeholder. The
amount Of salary is left blank in the
drafting of the bill, but proviso is in
serted that il shall not exceed $500 per
annum.
There will be separate prisoners
feed bill. The matter will he put under
the control of the New Castle county
Jail commissioners who will appoint
superintendent. Supplies will be adyer-
tised for and the various contracts given
to the lowest bidders. In fact the whole
matter will be modelled after the aims
house plan for supplies.
No information is obtainabIe in re-
gard to the bruited attack. from certain
directions upon the CITY commissioners,
Water or Street and Sewer II * com.
monty surmised that the rood financial