Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-26
THE TOOLS or BACON

He Cracks the Party whip and Republic
can Levy Court Obey Its Mandate--A
Sample of Republican Administration
in Sussex.
Special, correspondence Of Gazette and journal
GEORGETOWN, March 19.-The slowness
of the Legislature in taking action on the
County Commission bill has made the Re-
publican majority of the levy court of
Sussex county very bold and yesterday one
of the most disgraceful exhibitions Of how
the party lash is cracked about the mem
bers' heads was given.
Elijah G. Short, commissioner of Gum
boro hundred, had publicly stated that he
would not vote to accept the delinquent
list of Seaford hundred. This LIST has
been the bone of contention during the
whole of the present session of the levy
court and has brought out some interesting
facts.
One year ago j. Frank Wiley of Seaford
was appointed collector for Seaford hun
dred. He refused to attend to the duties
of the office, but delegated to John B.
Hurley the duties of the position. Hurley
was not by any official bond or obligation
responsible to the county. When the levy
court met Hurley brought in the delin-
quent list for Seaford hundred, which
contained 1l3 names of which number 50
were Democrats. The tax was rendered
the collector, but was refused. Yesterday
when Mr.. Wiley came up here to make
affidavit to his list, but before doing so the
following questions were asked him by
William II Boyce, Esq, who had the per-
mission of the chairman to put the inter
"Mr. Wiley did you advertise as your
duty as collector requires ?" TT was
done" answered Wiley evading the direct
| question.
"How do you know it was done?" asked
| Mr. RpVpp 81 " pnn in GpaTpru " Wng
the reply.
Now Mr.. Wiley, answer me directly,
did you advertise and appoint times and
places at which you would sit to receive
taxes as you are by law required%' Il did
not. answered Mr.. Wiley.
Mr.. Boyce then asked him if he knew
the nature Of his oath to the delinquent
list as collector and if he was willing to
make the affidavit, Wiley answered 81
think know the nature of the OATH
Mr.. Wiley then stepped out and made
solemn oath that he had advertised, and
had sat in places to receive taxes as by law
required. Now there is one thing or the
other, Mr.. Wiley either wilfully and
knowingly lied when he answered Mr..
Boyce or he perjured himself. He did not
want to take the oath but the party lash
was cracked tbeing in the hands of ].
Frank Bacon) and Mr.. Wiley If he an
swered truly to Mr.. Boyce's questions
swore to facts which he knew to be false.
When it came to Il vote to accept the de-
linquent list of Seaford hundred the roll
was called and members were to answer
aye and nay.
When Mr. Shorts name was called he
did not answer. The chairman ordered
Mr.. Shorts name to be called again. Mr..
Short said ''Ill pass it by The chairman
then ordered Mr.. Shorts name called again
and this time Mr.. Short voted to accept it.
]. Frank Bacon having taken him aside
in the meantime and given him Il crack
with the party lash. Mr.. Bacon in order
to apply the lash more effectively took
both Alr. Short and Mr.. Steele out of the
levy court room.
A special committee appointed by the
levy court to ascertain the financial condi-
tion of the county was appointed Friday
and reported yesterday If it is remem-
bered the investigating committee has
never presented its report to the levy court
for adoption but the pamphlet was used as
aRepublican campaign document. The re-
port Of this committee was prepared by J.
Frank Bacon and was prepared from this
pamphlet in very crude form, making
statemet that the taxes due by collectors,
would pay outstanding Indebtedness. How
a report can be adopted by any rational
set of men that has been made from
campaign document is beyond the COM
prehension of intelligent men.
GEoRGETowN, March 20-In the levy
court yesterday the following resolution
was offered by MIR. Robinson Of Dagsboro
hundred
WHEREAS, 1t appears from the statement Of
Mr., Wiley, collector OF Seaford hundred, that
he did not advertise and sit in certain public
places according to law, but delegated the
office of collector 10 q party irresponsible TO
this County, without the knowledge or consent
OF this court; therefore. be 1t
Res'tped, That the motion to accept the delin-
quent lists of Dagsboro, Nanticoke, Ce ar
Creek and Seaford hundreds be rescinded as
far as it relates to Seaford hundred.
The resolution was not adopted by
strict party vote.
MFR. Robinson then offered the following
resolution as regards the tax rate which
was fixed at 40 cents on the S100 the day
before
WHEREAS, The motion adopted yesterday
that the rate of taxation was fixed for the
ensuing year at 40 cents on the lS1U0) one hum
drod5dol7rs, and
WHEREAS, It appears from statements made
by.-Mr. Edward 5, Burton, clerk OF the board of
trustees, that the poor treasurer Is unable to
payl the bills drawn on him mixing it ex-
pedient that the poor rate be increased for the
ensuing year. ami
WHEREAS Our public roads are in bad con-
diticn md this court recognizes the necessity
of putting our roads in good order; and
WHEREAS, IL appears that the county
treasurer will be unable TO pay several large
county orders in the hands of several ex-
shHrlffs and others; and
WHEREAS, 1t is the desire of this court that
the credit of our county should be maintained;
thf refore be it
Resolved, That the motion fixing the rate at
40 cents on the 800 be hereby rescinded and
that the rate for the en- uing yaar be 45 cents |
on the 800 and the poor rate be lilo per cent.
The object of Mr.. Robinson's motion
was to run the financial affairs of the |
county on purely business principles max
ing the rate sufficient to meet the ex- |
penses of the county, but the Republicans
defeated it, their only object seeming to be |
to make political machine out of the levy |
court.
The Republicans appointed committee
to wait ON the Legislature to protest against
the passing of the Commissioners bill. For
the first time the people of the county are
made aware that Frank Bacon lisa member
Of the levy court for he is appointed on
that committee, being the first time that
person not member of the levy court has
ever been appointed on committee ex-
eept the clerk of the court.
/
Mrs. Livermore's Lecture.
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore lectured in the
Unitarian Church Friday evening uponEthe
.opic ''The Dream of Tomorrow" The
eCturer spoke upon the progress in the
lrts and sciences which this latest quarter
n the nineteenth century has witnessed.
Mrs. livermore considered that we stand
lnly in the vestibule of the greater dis
,nyerias which will come with opnninu IF