Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-14
The COUNTY GRANGE ACTS
Calls on Authorities to Inyesti--
gate Levy Courts AFFAIRS
STRONG RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
Stirring Speeches by Proml-
nent Members. rs

Tho Action, Which Was Unanimous, Fp,-
pbasizcs the Necessity Of the Authorities
and All Good Citizens Taking steps to
Ascertain just How the Money Raised by
Taxation in Now Castle County is Spent.
The farmers of New Castle county
are determined to have the affairs of
the Levy Court Investigated by the
proper authorities. II BY making public
their feelings In the matter they can
bring about such result. The move
ment among the farmers of the county
looking toward nm investigation, which
was started by West Brandywine Grange
ut its last meeting, was unanimously
endorsed Thursday afternoon by the
Pomona Grange of New Castle county,
at Its quarterly meeting, which WAS
held at Union, near Mermaid. The
county arrange not only added its
approval to what the subordinate body
had done, but asked, ms the reprsser TIA
tive body of the farmers of all Of New
Castle county, for an investigation, In
the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, Public Office Is public
trust, public officials bcing but the
servants OF the people by whom they
are elected, and the people having the
same right as tho private employer to
expect and receive the full, faithful,
conscientious and honest fulfilment Of
every service and duty connected with
any public office; and
Whereas, II appears from tho auditors
report as submitted by the auditing
committee appointed by the resident
judge OF New Castle county to audit
the accounts OF the Levy Court Com
missioners for New Castle county for
the year ended January ID, 1900, that
large sums OF public money have been
allowed and ordered paid by the said
Levy Court to near relatives and closely
associated business connections OF said
Levy Court commissioners, as we'll as
additions to aud increases in certain
other customary allowances, without
due necessity appearing for such in
creases; and
Whereas, AZ result of this action
on the part of the Levy Court Com
missioners the question has been raised
in the newspapers OF the county, and
largely discussed by the citizens Of the
couoty without regard to political
affiliations, whether the public funds
have been honestly, properly, and
economically applied; and
Whereas, There is universal dis
content and dissatisfaction throughout
New Castle county with the govern
ment OF the present Levy Court Com 4
missioners; therefore, be it Ai9
Resolved, By Pomona Grange Of New |
Castle county, that we, as citizens and |
taxpayers OF said county, call upon and |
request the attorney general and deputy |
attorney general OF the State Of Della.
ware, and the grand jury of New Castle |
county, and such other county and |
state officials as may have the proper |
authority, to make such Investigation |
into the actions CT said Levy Court AS |
may ascertain and determine whether
there has been such extravagant and
improper use of the public funds as |
alleged; be 1t further Us
Resolved, That copies of these reso, |
lutIous be sent to Hon. Robert o. |
White, attorney general Of Delaware: |
Hon. Peter L. Cooper, Jr., deputy
attoi ney- general Of Delaware, and |
Potter A. Horty, ESQ.,, foreman Of the
grand Jury of Now Castle county, and
all OF the newspapers of the county,
with the request that all OF the news- |
papers cooperate in the matter.
The meeting WAS one of the largest
and most enthusiastic hold by the
grange for some time. Delegations
were present from Brandywine, Chris
tiana. Mill Creek, White Clay, New
Castle and st. Georges hundreds,
the entire gathering numbering some
thing like 200. The meeting, which
was held in Union schoolhouse, was
presided over by the master, William
A.. Talley of Brandywine hundred.
1t was known that the Levy Court
matter vas to be brought up, as Every
Evening had announced that West
Brandywine Grange was going to re-
quest the county body to cooperate
with it in making 40 effort to bring
about an investigation, hence the I'm.
usually large attendance.
The request Of West Brandywine
Grange, referred to above, was sub.
mitted, at the opening OF the meeting
in the morning, to the committee on
revision of labor, of which Arnold
Naudain of Stanton is chairman. mi
the afternoon tho committee reported
resolutions similar to those printed
above, with the Recommendation that
they be passed. The secretary had
scarcely finished reading the report,
when several members simultaneously
moved the adoption of the resolutions.
Many others eagerly seconded the
motion, and in doing SO expressed
themselves in the matter. Speeches
we're made by Mr.. Naudain, Thomas
Day OF Iallsyville, Richard g, Bucking-
ham OF Union, w. P. Peach Of Mer
maid and others, and all we're heartily
in favor Of the grange taking the action
which had been recommended by tho
committee-passing the resolutions ask
ing for an official investigation Of the
affairs of the body governing the
county. The general trend Of the re-
marks was that If the conditions are as
has been intimated and any member or
members Of the Levy Court have been
guilty OF nalfeasance in office, he or
they should DO punished; if not, the
commissioners should be indicated
Members from all of the hundreds
represented were askad what had been
done by the Levy Court in their re-
Spoctiye localities and each replied that
he did not know of any work of much
consequence; generally slight repara.
About all of the members appeared to
DO of the same mind, and those who
did not make any remarks listened
Httentigely to the others and gave
assent when an opportunity was
offered. ~
Mr.. Peach, in the course Of his
address ON the resolutions, said he
hoped the grange would have the CO.
operation Of the press in its efforts to
arrive at the truth, and on his motion