Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-19
GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY
Discussed by a Committee of
the Board of Trade.
AN ADDRESS BY THOMAS MERCER
The System of Chester County
Pa, Explained.
lpserestinE Facts and Figures Given by n
Former Commissioners in the Neighboring
Pepusylvanis County, Which May Assist
in the Movement for Reform a ere.

FcuutytvAutb OouhLyB which may Absist |
in the Movement for Reform ere.
The committee of the Board of Trade
appointed to consider tho matter of
improved county government, with a
view to recommending to the Legisla
ture that changes be made in the
present system, held meeting last night
week at the board rooms, and as
much information was obtained
report will probably be made at, the
special meeting OF the board this even-
Ing.
Thomas Mercer of West Chester, Pa,
who was one of the commissioners of
Chester county for two terms, from
1885 to 1891, attended at the request of
j. Newlin Gawthrop, one Of the mem
bers of the committee, and explained
the manner in which Chester county is
governed. He is now one of the prison
inspectors, which office pays salary of
$25 per year.
Chester county, Mr.. Mercer ex-
planned, is governed by three commits
sioners, which office is similar to that
of levy courtrnan here. Previous to
the adoption of the present Constitu-
tion the law required the election of
one commissioner each year to serve
for three years. Politics crept into
the elections and selection Of commits
sioners to such an extent that change
was deemed advisable, and when the
present Constitution was. framed pro-.
vision was made that each voter has
the right TO vote for two persons for
commissioners, and two for auditors,
and the three persons receiving the
highest number of votes for each Office
are declared elected.
Immediately after the election the
commissioners are required to bond,
the security being fixed by the court.
The prevailing amount in Chester
county is 5000. On the first Monday
in January after their election the
commissioners organize by electing q
chairman, after which they appoint a
solicitor, clerk, and assistant clerk, il
( necessary. They also appoint two
janitors for the Court House and fix
the salaries of the officers SO appointed.
Every year they appoint two prison
inspectors for year and the court APP
points three, the five constituting tho
prison board. The commissioners also
appoint mercantile appraisers. The
State imposes a mercantile tax on all
merchants. 1t is State fund, but the
county is required to appoint the ap.
praisers.
The commissioners have no super
vision over roads, schools, poorhouse or
Jail, except the appointment of the
prison inspectors. They pay all Of the
expenses of the court, except defend
ants witnesses and judges salaries.
the judges salaries being paid by the
State. They pay the assessors, CON
stables and justices of the peace. Every
year they are required to make out the
adjusted valuation for each township
and borough, from which the schoo
board levies the tax. The supervisors
also levy from the same valuation.
The commissioners pay all election ex
penses and build and keep in repair all
county bridges, there being about 2Ot
in the county.
At the end of each year the count,
auditors take up the account of tn,
county treasurer, commissioners, prison
inspectors and directors of the poo
and audit the accounts of each body
The auditors have the power to sur
change any of those officers for any ex
cessive expenditures or expenditure
not warranted. Mr.. Mercer statet
that this is seldom done, but he ha
known county officers to be surchange,
by the auditors. The law serves as
check upon them in the matter O
spending public money.
The commissioners receive So Der da
and their travelling expenses.
Each township corresponding to th
hundreds in this State) elects its owl
road supervisors. The matter of roa
supervisors is covered by general aci
except in Chester county. Many of til
townships are governed by special act
In this matter, but some are consider
ing the advisability of reverting to tn
general law. As the matter now stand
some of the townships have authorit
TO apportion roads for improvement an
let portions out to the highest bidder
to be kept in repair.
Two years ago the Legislature passe
new act relative to the matter ,
roads, but it is not in force, as til
State had agreed to pay specified su
to each county for the purpose al
failed to make an appropriation.
In laying out new roads six or mo
individuals may petition the court 4
a jury. The court appoints three ms
from other parts Of the county. TIL,
advertise their intention of visiting Il
locality in which the road is desir,
and send notices to tho landowne
along the desired road six days befo
the meeting. AT the specified tin,
accompanied by one of the coun
commissioners they visit the local.
and take testimony and deterniil
whether or not the road is needle
They make their report to the cou,
and the report lays over until the ne
court, and ii necessary second ju
is appointed. If both juries reco,
mend that the road be laid out, /
report Of the second jury is confirm
and turned over to the township, viii
bears the expense, with the except
Of such as may be required to pay la
damages, which expense is borne
the county.
The road tax is laid and collected
the supervisors. The collection
more OF a settlement, as they COLI
from some and pay to others Who ha
done work on the roads, the labor a,
rule being furnished by. the farme
Some of the farmers work out tn
tax.
County bridges are granted by fc
different tribunals. Individuals W
want a county bridge built petit
the court for jury. The court appoi
three men, who visit the site and
termine whether the bridge is nee
sary. Ii they think it is necessary i
their duty to determine whether
would be too expensive for the townsl
or townships in which it would
located. If they arrive at a fayora
conclusion they report to the cot
and from the court the report goes
the grand Jury, which is composed
men from all over the county. IL
grand jury concurs the report goes b
to the court and from the court to