Milford chronicle., 1893-03-17
A Condition Not a Theory.

We have called attention TO tue hhth-
,es. not only Of the State, but Of the
and warned those in au-
thority to guard well the public
nurse and use the strictest economy
in the expenditure Of public funds, II
financial prosperity was to continue
and taxes kept at a low rate within
the borders of this State. Our adj
vice was not needed and as a result
we are met by 8 condition in State
and county that should cause every |
prudent man to pause and consider
The future. Now what of our finan-
ces. not only for the State, but for
every county in the State. For the
State be it said to the discredit OF
those who have ruthlessly and reck-
lessly spent money for every pur-
nose regardless of justice, right or
expendiency that the treasury IS al
most in a condition not to be able to
meet its obligations and even the
State Treasurer is compelled in an
estimate of receipts and expendi-
lures to estimate q deficit for the
current fiscal year of about $4,000.
A few years ago when prudence and
economy was the watchWord IN
every department of the State, the
State treasury had plethora OF
money. Why was this, may be ask
ed? The answer is easy. Then and
for twenty-five years prior to 1874,
the average annual expenditures or
expenses of the State government,
exclusive of the interest on the State
debt, was but about $34, 900. Since
that date the expenses of the State
has been steadily increasing, uptil
the expenditures Of the State during
the last fiscal year amounted to the
enormous sum of 100000. These
figures show that extravaganza has
run riot and that the State will soon,
if the thing is kept up, he IN the
condition predicted by some OF
the able sen at the time these three
countiesSwere made a colony or a
State, viz thatthey could not sup
port Stat6 government. Be that
as it may. Is lt not about time that
lIe-osupE "a who has the welfare of the
peog 8 ie heart, to call halt and
dema. s economy of the strictest
kind, ]S I'D Of demanding an in
crease OF laries for this and that
person, simply because he is a hale
| fellow well mAt and possibly politi-
cal friend and associate? To our
mind. the man Ngho wants to do a
service to his stste and who wants
the Democrat -ty perpetuated
into power, VIZ. .A$ efore the Gen
eral Assembly N .fVS session and in
the name ofjustice and right, demand
the strictest economy aud nOincrease
Of expenditures in State matters.
This should be the shibboleth and
demand az least ofeveTy good Demo
crat and of every Republican who
values good, cheap and economical
government for the State of Della.
ware. As for the counties really the
people do not know their condition
financially, and we divulge no secret
when we say that they have been
managed in the most extravagant
manner for the last few years. As q
result New Castle county has bond
ed debt, possibly not half million
dollars, which is not being decreased
but little, if any. Then from reliable
authority, we can say that Kent
County to-day is absolutely in debt
$5S, 900, and that a bill has been pre-
pared to get legislative authority to
/ issue SAC, 900 worth Of County bonds
Sussex is in the same boat and bill
is before the General Assembly auth
Orizing the bonding of that county
for $4,000. While we do not speak
knowingly for New Castle and Sus
sex counties, we do know something
of Kent and know that such a state
of affairs would not exist if proper
economy and proper management
had been used for the last few years.
/ Twenty years ago about $4,000
run Kent county and paid all expen-
ses. To-day the collectors are tax
ing out Of the people for county ex-
| penses annually in the neighborhood
Of $65 600, and, yet the debt Of the
county is year after year increasing.
The presumption is that the same
state of affairs exist in the other
counties Such being the case in the
State and in the counties, is it not
about time to call a halt We are
mot insensible Of the fact that we
shall be censured for these state
meats, but we owe it to ourselves
land TO the people to give 3 warning
to the people and to the Democratic
leaders, that they cannot plead ignor-
ance when financial disaster and poll
tical destruction comes, as. it surely
| will If those in authority wreck the
| financial standing OF the State and
place additional burdens on peo-
| pie struggling for a livelihood. On
behalf Of the people we ask for halt
and the conservative and sensible
men ofthe General Assembly to start
Immediately on a course that will in
a short time land us back to the
economical days Of twenty-five years
ago. The Legislature and the Lcvy
Courts are the only powers to 2 hich
the people can at present appeal and
If these bodies are wise, they will
heed the gepeal in behalf Of economy
in publf Expenditures.
~ Your Own Teacher
II meosf roaf vou one half AZ uuch. Do