Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-12
WILMINGTON, THURSDAY, APRTE ~,
unlawful claims Against tho County.


Much comment was occasioned by
the appearance, in tho county auditors
report OF county finances for the year
1893, of allowances made by the Levy
Court to Mayor Evan q. Boyd of New
Castle, amounting to 50, 055. 20. 1t was
regarded as much Of mystery how
the chief executive OF little city like
New Castle could pile up such an enor-
nous bill Of costs against the county.
A local article printed elsewhere in
this issue explains how this remarkable
bill of costs was conceived by Mayor
Boyd of New Castle, and also explains
another bill Of the same character, now
pending in the Levy Court, amounting
to about 81, 400, and which staggered
the court to such an extent that two
or more secret sessions were held for
its consideration. The article also shows
how this expense is supplemented by
costs paid TO the sheriff of New Castle
county. and how, by following an. evil
precedent established in the mayors
Office at New Castle years ago, the
county has been mulcted to the extent
of many thousands of dollars, for the
payment of which, or the charging of
which by the parties involved--the
mayor of New Castle and the sheli if of
the county there does not appear to be
the slightest warrant in law. Altogether,
it forms most astounding imposition
upon the taxpayers of New Castle
county.
So far as can be ascertained by inves-
tigation, these enormous charges have
been made by eXacting for ordinary
dodgers at New Castle jail the same
fees as are allowed by law for prisoners
committed to the custody of the sheriff,
and for the keep Of prisoners under the
latter's care. Men who went to the Jail
simply for nights lodging we're listed
and the names sent to the mayor, vino
made out commitments for them the
same as though they had been pris-
oners. And for these ordinary dodgers
the county has been paying commit
ment fees to the mayors of New Castle
and fees aud feed bills to the sheriff of
the county for several years.
To. make comparison that will
clearly show not only the irregularity
but the illegality, of this procedure, it
can be said A justice of the peace in
this city would have Just as much
right, through an arrangement with
Chief of Police Dolan, to have commits
ments made out each morning for the
names on the roll Of police station
dodgers, and charge the county for
these commitments at the regular legal
rate; and the chief would have Just as
much right to make a charge for the
feeding of these dodgers. In other
words, the county has been called upon
to pay commitment fees for men who
were not committed, and board bills
for men who were. not prisoners at the
jail in any sense of the term.
We do not fwonder that the Levy
Court felt impelled to assemble in
secret session for the consideration Of
Mayor Boyd's surprising bill. Let il
now take step further, and, in oper
session, resolutely vote to strip it o.
every dollar charged for the commit
ment of dodgers to the county jail. The
sheriff's board bill should also be parec
in the same manner. The payment O.
these outrageous charges in the pas
has been gross imp ,sition, and ther,
should be some plan by which th,
county could compel the refundine O
these illegal payments. At any rate
the Levy Court can, and should, SO,
that not another dollar of the publ,
money is squandered in this manner.