The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-05
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY i, 1891,


At last the worst has come with the |
notes given by the Levy Court to raise
money to carry on the county. Some |
of those notes have already been dis
honored by being allowed to go to pro-
test, and now comes the legal decision
from such a prominent attorney as
Edward G.. Bradford, Esq, that tho |
notes were Illegally contracted, and |
according TO the plain wording and |
meaning OF the law those members |
OF tie Levy Court who voted to con-
tract them are responsible for the pay
ment Of them,
This note business is no new thing,
suddenly sprung upon the unsuspect-
ing people Of the county by Republi-
can Levy Court. The existence of
these notes, amounting in the aggre-
gate to SSS,000, has been known for
some seven years past, but on account
OF the persistent refusal OF the Levy
Court to publish an annual statement
of the finances of the county, accord
ing TO law, the exact situation has
never been fully known.
The law forbids the Levy Court from
borrowing money in larger amounts
than $40, 900 in a year, except in cases
OF destruction of county buildings by
fire or sweeping away Of bridges, and
the destruction Of roads by floods, and
the law farther specifies that the s1O,-
600 so raised by vote or otherwise shall
be paid out of the taxes levied the next
year. Instead, however, OF adhering
to this wise provision Of law, the tax
payers Of the County are met with
the colossal floating debt of SS3, 600,
and it was this debt that the Republl-
can Levy Court yesterday did not want
to make themselves responsible for.
In 1888 the county was over $500, 900
In debt, and an act Of the Legislature
OF that year authorized the funding of
that amount, but there was still n bal
ance of $4,000 not covered by the re-
funding act, and this was the com
mencement of the floating debt of the
county. Instead of paying off that
s23, 600 by u tax levy that same year,
the court commenced increasing the
floating debt $4,000 or more at time
until the amount became unmanage-
able.
In addition to this, Democratic tax
collectors commenced the Democratic
system Of cheating several thousand
Republicans out OF their votes by
cheating the county out OF their taxes.
Some years from $4,000 to So, 900 was
lost to the county through this pro-
cess, and rs the Democrats would not
increase the tax rate to meet these
losses, Of course there was no other
resource than To borrow money to
make up what was not collected
The action of the Levy Court yester-
day in declining to meet those Illegally
contracted notes al maturity removes
the Republican members from all re-
sponsibility in the matter They can
not he individually held to make good
any notes contracted before they took
their seats. Several notes will become
due in a few days and they viii be al
lowed to 60 to protest. No effort
whatever will be made TO honor them,
on account OF their illegality. The
county can suffer no more for the pro
test of these notes than it has suffered
In the past from tho same cause. So
far as the present Levy Court is con
,t;t.I.. -
doubtful responsibilities, and will pay
as il goes. The tax collectors will be
enjoined to collect the taxes at the
proper time, and TO collect from al
who owe taxes as the best and only
honest method of keeping down float
ing debts.
But Mr.. Bradford in his decision
would not crush the county noranno.
those Democratic Levy Courtmen VIII
voted to contract these illegal notes
That is not what he wants, nor is
what the Republican members OF tn
Levy Court want, but what they d
want is that the business of the count
will not he carried on longer in tn
slip.shod manner that has characterize
1t for many years past. The idea is t
unload the illegally contracted floa
ing debt, and start anew with clea
balance sheets and ledgers, and her
after, as long as permitted, TO condu
she business OF the county in busine!
like methods.
The floating debt of $4,000 shou
be paid, however, and we have I
doubt will soon be paid Mr. Bradfo
pointed out the remedy -applieatit
90 the Legislature for a special act
fund the debt. No doubt the LegisI
ture or that portion OF 1t at least tn
took the men to their bosoms recent
who were instrumental in creating {
floating debt, will pass bill to autho
ize the payment of il.
II Is TO BE regretted that Levy Cou
man Hutchison felt himself compell
to administer physical reproof to {
Levy Courtman Roberts on soul
bound train the evening before la
We are well aware that human natt
cannot endure everything, but /
right thing for Mr.. Hutchinson to ha