The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-03
WHY COUNTY
is BANKRUPT.
Messrs. Rossell and Dam
by's Report Shows That
Levy Court Pays Its
Friends Well.

County finances which shows why the
couutys bonded ind sbtedness continues to
increa! inst sad Of decrease. 1t also throws
some light ON the matter of financial Jug
Cling aud of how the money contributed
by the tax payers for legitimate county
expenses is dispersed with reckless dis
regard for the principles OF economy Ot
course precedent permits no change ut this
day In the reckless disbursement OF county
money, The system Is therefore continued
notwl hstandIng, the fact that John S.
Rossel and John II. Dandy have reported
that after Il thorough study Of the system
Of county accounts they have found 1t i'm
perfect and misleading.
The story is based on facts from the re-
port Of Messrs. Rossell and Dandy, COM
nttee appointed to inspect the books and
accounts gof the County Comptroller and
Receiver of Taxes and County Treasuser.
Those officials are mere side charactersin
the story The Democrat Levy Court of
this county is the leading character Of the
story and it has played its part well 80
well in ft CT that the County will soon be
bankrupt. AS a matter OF fact we are
bordering on thst condition today. only
last week the Levy Court held up q $o5, 900
bridge contract becau.o the county did
not have the money to put into the bridge.
This statement does not deal with the
facts which arc to bs cited here, however,
but it is appended to prove the contention
that business has been con ntracted for when
their wa, no money In the treasury to
meet actual expenses.
To begin with an uncalled for expense
Is shown in the disbursements of 5000 for
n Court House innitor, us appended facts
will prove. 1t may seem like drawing the
line of economy too close when 1t /: said
that Court House jantor is an unncces-
sary appcndags to county pay roll But
one is in this case. Janitor Scott, accord
ing TO the report, WIS paid 5000 last year
for service rendered. Just what this se:.
vice was other nan keeping chair warm,
is unknown to the average minded map,
every official in the Court House declaring
that they pay So each and every month
to man other than the buildings janitor
for keeping their Office clean. Ih" report
docs not ses out In plain terms az least'
that this extra expenditure . met by the
county,
But not only does this ''janitot' receive
5000 annually. He is down IN the report
under sundry heads. For instance no was
allowed ST., SO and second $40 Tor some
thiur No,sJs RuSsnll and DANNY Knew
not of, or at least their report does not IN
form us OF tho fact Again we nnd that
he was allowed $l3o under tho head OF
''repars and Improvements, ETC. just
what tho "etc. means IS NOT known out
1T certainly covers multitude OF extras
in Janitor Scotts case. ire total hehres
shows that no was paid s76'' sfO9 OF which
amount was paid him for dom; WORK tno
officials OF the QUILTING wero phlu ioF' VINO
would not 10 county Coart HOUSE JAM
tor
Inc paying Oh "ithess ices W s'''o "e-
''''i'os "i''' oh oou'0 "u" % ""o'o'
ohc Oh 'hose unnecessary eApohseS "h''"
the report setsout' ifue these men re-
ceivcd little last year, In TACT sucn
small amount that mention OF che matter
is hardly worth space, but 1t serves to
prove that there Is no telling bow large
bill the county may havs to pay for this
paticulnr item. The men holdihg THESE
positions are each paid $i,ooo ahnuaiiy'
and are allowed expenses, while serving
subponoas out OF the state but in addition
tnt tboir Las In utnta than, fhnu
come in for divy OF the county's funds
rs the report shows For witnessing before
tho grand inquest last year Walter Wit
sil received $40; Bernard McVey received
81.
The report also shows that the position
of Chief OF Police of wilmington is a pay
ing one. Chief Dol 10 is paid s, 200 by tho
clv. Tn addition to this salary he was al
loved SIS Inst wear for appearing before
tho grand Jury. Bat this was not all he |
cot under the hca,l of the mugi ,trato and
o,,s..hles fecs. tho renort shows that tho
cbcf was paia $3.50 30
Ro,nrr,r, tn the c,urt bou,e expendit-
ures wa tukc Il, tho position and nay T.,
Ar,m,nsbip John +. Campbs,l Il tho
bo,dor of ,h,s pos,tion and an industrious
man he is For performins his duty ns fire.
man of tho buildinrMr. Cnmpbell r, &C ves
ar animal salary Of 5000 but the pu5,ic
b,s n ,isbt to demand that payment OF
,orntv fn,ds to him shall stcp when this
b.s been reached But the report
does not show this to have been tho case
,,.. uoor 1r,1er the ho,d Of .misccllan.
oous" he rccciyed sli. while for 'repairs,
i M movements etc" ho recsived sS..5l in
cr,ns,no his emma, salary to s7sa5O.
And now for that hardest of Court
uouse ncsitlons-Clock regul q or. Hor-
,c, v. Frist ia tho man who holds the posi-
tion and the report shows that 10 received
s7,os salary A small salary it is true but
the axtr,s' have made this position one
-, rrao, nrof,t NC the clocks in the tower at
-, -. ,oi,. ,,d in,rora |