Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-26
An INVESTIGATION DEMANDED.
Poor Trustees Insist That the Levy Court
Proves Its Charges of Extravaganza,
Wnstefulness and IIIeRaIity.

Poor Trustees Insist That the levy Court
Proves Its Charges of Extravaganza,
Wnstefulness and Illegaiity.
The members Of the levy court were
conspicuously in attendance upon the
monthly session of the Board of
Poor Trustees at the almshouse
yesterday afternoon. They made
an inspection of the institution from
cellar to garrett and were pleased with
the informal view which revealed every
thing to be scrupulously clean and in
the best of order. A Republican mem
her of the levy court expressed himself
as being greatly pleased with the condi-
ton of affairs as observed in the tour of
inspection.
New members were sworn in as fol-
| lows: Delaware Clark in place of j.
Wilkins Cooch; Charles NJ. Groome in
place of j. P. Chandler; John w. Den
nison succeeding i. L. j. Baldwin;
Charles Jester in the place of !. M.
Solomon, and Allen Smith in place of
William H. Mooney. Organization for
the unexpired term was effected by
electing H. A. Rowland, president, and
John w. Lawson, secretary.
The total number of inmates is 236, of
whom Al are negroes. Four deaths were
reported during the month. The pay
roll and few minor bills were passed
Chairman Rowland threw a sort of
bomb into the camp of the Republican
majority of the levy court by vigorously
and emphatically denouncing the court
for the passage of u resolution charging
the trustees with extravaganza, waste
fulness and illegality. Mr.. Nowland
read the resolution from EVERY EVEN
iNG's report of the levy court proceed
ings.
He denounced the charge as being
prompted by partisan motives as dark
and deep as hell, and not the work of
the men who presented and passed it,
but the cunning man in the background
who conceived the plan to blacken the
integrity of the trustees of the poor.
MIR. Rowland offered the following
resolution, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, The levy court of New Castle
county has charged that the trustees of the
poor of New Castle county have for some
time past been charged with extrava-
pances wnstefulness and llegality in the
management of its financial affairs, and
the court further affirmed, that the said
charges are affirmed by responsible citi-
zens and the public press without regard
to party.
WHEREAS, The words "for some time
past are explained in the resolution to
mean recent years.
ReSot'ed That the Board of Trustees of
the Poor of New Castle county deny en-
phatically the truth, of said preamble and
regard the charges made as untcnable and
induced by q violent partisan spirit or an
Ignorance Of the true conditions.
Hesot,ed That in view of the serious
character of the charges Of the levy court
" nc "a ,,f Il
of New Castle county, demand an inyesti-
CATION at once in this management of re-
cent years, that the tax payers and all re-
spectacle citizens may be assured of our
honor as men and our faithfulness as
officials.
Another resolution provided that
copy of the above be furnished the levy
court.
Mr.. Rowland severely dashed the
Republican majority of the court by
asking them to name citizen or a
paper who had made charges as alleged
concerning recent years conduct of the
institution. There was no response.
He read from the last report figures
showing that inmates Of the institution
were boarded and clothed at cost of 1:} |
cents per day and that $4,000 was spent
in.aiding the poor outside of the aims
housc.-known as outside relief. He
asked the court if they could keep pri-
soners so cheaply as that and suggested
that if the Republicans were looking
about for popularity they should strike
hands with the poor trustees and
bring down the cost of feeding |
prisoners TO that of keeping the county's |
wards in the almshouse. Despite the |
fact that he believed the whole affair |
was inspired by rank and bitter parti-
sanship and its aim was to blaclSen the
character Of the levy courtmen, he
courted full investigation. He wanted
the light turned on full head; nothing
covered up, and if the levy court failed
to establish its charges of "extrava-
gance, wastefulness and illegality," he
should demand that it make an amende
There was not dissenting vote on
the passage of the resolution, and after
DR.. Springer's outdoor allowance bill
had been passed the meeting adjourned.