Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-23
E4plainlng the Aooountant,s Bin.

Mr.. John w. Jolls, a member of the
levy court and chairman of the commit
tee having the matter in charge, has
deigned to give TO the reporter of the
Netcs an explanation of the bill of Mr..
Brown, the Philadelphia accountant,
who is now engaged in making an in
vestigation" of the county's financial
affairs. The explanation Is neither in
genuous nor satisfactory; it is ridiculous
Here is sample:
Mr.. Brown was engaged on account of
his fitness and his thorough knowledge of
the finances of this State; in fact, he knows
more about the finances Of the State and
the different counties than many lawyers
in the State. He first came 10 this State at
the instance of Ex-Governor Stockley, and
made an investigation of the accounts of
the Farmers Bank at Georgetown His
ability rs an accountant was at once estab-
'lished in this State by the careful and
rapid manner in which he did his work.
Well, Mr.. Brown must be wonder,
indeed. If the single task of investigat-
ing the accounts of the Farmers Bank
at Georgetown enabled him to obtain a
more thorough knowledge of the
finances of this State" than many of
our lawyers, he must be nothing short
of financial and mathematical
phenomenon. This is about the lamest
pretext ever offered for an indefensible
action. 1t is not true, and Mr.. Jolls, if
he is correctly reported, ought to be
ashamed of himself for giving utterance
to such arrant nonsense.
Here is another choice specimen:
An accountant was not employed from
this city for the reason that the members
thought that there was not a capable man
in this city who could investigate the
books in accordance with the ideas of the
levy courtmen.
The "ideas Of the levy courtmen,n in
deed. And what are those "ideas?n
This lisa point that Mr.. Jolls may very
properly be little more explicit upon,
for if their ideas" are identical with
those of their Republican levy court
brethren in Sussex county, the inyesti,
CATION had better be dropped at once.
The Sussex "idea" was for partisan re-
port intended to aid the Republicans in
the last campaign, but the people in
dignantly rejected 1t by a majority of
600 votes. We would like 10 hear fur
ther about "the ideas of our levy court
men,"
With respect to expenditures for car
fare for Mr.. Brown and his assistants,
Mr.. Jolls explains in this manner;
Had they come to this city and boarded
at hotel at the usual rate of $3.50 per day
the expense would have been $3.50 in
stead Of $3.50, difference of $50. Alr.
Browns bill for three trips for So. would
have been, had he remained in this city
$3.50, an extra expense of 500. The
court decided il would be saving of this
1890 TO have the men come to this city
daily and return in the evening and submit
their days labor to Mr.. Brown who went
over their daily reports.
The amount paid for tho services Of
the assistants for about two weeks work
was $21225, while Mr.. Browns com
pensation was $3.50 per hour, or $15
per day of 10 working hours. Is not
this sufficient remuneration to enable a
man TO pay his own hotel bill while en-
gagged in his work. Does Mr.. Brown
want the earth, or a mortgage on the
court house?
Mr. Jolls had better try again. His
explanation docs not explain, and the
employment Of this wonderful Phila-
delphia expert still stands as an insult
to the many competent accountants of
this city and as an act Of unwarranted
extravaganza from which no possible
good can result.