Evening journal., 1901-08-15
SHERIFF OF COUNTY
HAS GOOD DEFENSE
Records Of Comptroller Kelly Show That
Cost Of Tramp Maintenance
Not Unusually Large
PAID FORMER SHERIFF $35,OOO

From recent publications and COM
ments ON the cost OF the county for COM
mildng and maintaining yagrants in
the jail at New Castle people who are
unfamiliar with this item Of county
expense. toubtless have concluded that
il is exorbitant and uncalled FOR, but
a comparison of the cost OF tramp de-
tention for the first three months Of
the present year, as indicated by the
money allowed Sheriff Samuel A. Nc
Daniel by the Levy Court recently,
with that allowed by the county to
John E. Taylor, late sheriff, for the
corresponding period OF two years ago,
is not so exorbitant, nor indicative
that the tramp is becoming a more ex-
pensiYe ward Of the county than here
tOfore, as has been cOntended
The subject Of tramp arrest and the
expense growing therefrOm, is one that
has caused the law-making bodies OF
this State for many years back much
concern. The problem has been solved,
however, but whether the solution
meets present conditions is a question
for future determination. Undeniable
it is that there is ample law on the
statute books TO commit every vagrant,
tramp or other unemployed person
found on the streets or roads OF the
cities or towns of the county, and so
long as these laws exist just SO long
will duly appointed officers of the law
perform the duties imposed upon them
under these particular statutes.
To return to the question OF expense
TO the county growing out OF the re-
cent arrest of tramps here: While
John E. Taylor was sheriff OF this
county, from January !, 1899, TO De
cember 81, 1900, he was paid the sum
OF $35, ,S49.01, OF which amount $l7,-
29S.2O was for board OF prisoners dur
ing the first year OF his term OF office
The remainder Of $1S,550.S1 was the
last year receipts from that source
Divided into quarters it is seen that the
Levy Court paid Mr.. Taylor an average
sum OF s4.32455 per quarter for
. the year 1899 This result compared
with the sum OF s4,Sl0.2O, as paid
Sheriff Mcdaniel by the Levy Court
shows that instead Of the tramp cosi
growing exceedingly burdensome il has
increased only to the amount Of $3.50
65. A perhaps better showing grows
out of a comparison OF Sheriff M0Dan-
iels recent allowance with that OF Mr.
Taylors average quarterly allowance
for last year. The total cost Of feeding
prisoners for that period was SlS,55O.-
81, as before Stated which when divided
into quarters shows that the feeding
of prisoners that year cost the county
on an average of S4,637.9O or but Sll2.5l
less than allowed Sheriff Mcdaniel fol
the last quarter. 1t is admitted by for
mer sheriffs that in the quarter from
I 4H.a fc cIfrl..
iected to the greatest expense by the
tramps, because the period includes
the Winter months, during which time
/ the vagrants place themselves in posi-
fion for arrest 1t is recalled that tht
weather for the first three months o.
this year was unusually severe, and tC
that fact. in a measure, is attributed
the seeming increase in the number oi
tramps during that time. Moreover il
4 is granted that the number OF cOur
prisoners for that term was large
than for several years; fact that alst
contributed to the expense account.
AS further evidence that the traml
is not the subject of greater expense Il
the county to-day than heretofore, eX
tracts from books in the office o
County Controller Kelly show that TO
the second quarter of 1900, the Lev!
Court allowed Mr.. Taylor the sum o
IS ,637. go or S3,82740 more than was al
lowed Sheriff Mcdaniel for board o
prisoners. 1t is explained that por
ton of this amount represents the COS
of maintaining prisoners the proceed
ing quarter. What the amount Of th'
bill for the first quarter of that yea
was. is unknown, information on thi
sentative of the Evening Journal by al
official in whose office Mr.. Taylor
bills are.
County records show the following
as all the allowances Mr. Taylor re
ceived for board Of prisoners while h
was in office: April 4, 1899. 81 ,239. go
September, 5, 1899. $S,472.60: OctObe
8, 1899. s4,64S; January 2, 1900, S4,9SS
April 3. 1900, S2,245.61; October 3, 1906
SIS, ,637 so; October 16, 1900, $3.94S.20
December 81, 1900, S3,71940 Examin
alton of these figures will show tina
twice in Mr.. Taylor's term of office o.
January 2, 1900 and on October 8, @
THE same year, was he allowed NOR
money for the board of prisoners tha
twas Sheriff Mcdaniel; another evi
denee that the tramp nuisance is nc
increasing.
Aside from these allowances to MI
Taylor for the maintenance Of prison
PRS. the county records show that h
was given the following amounts
April 4, 1S99 court expenses S2,476.3O
B5O. under Ball tramp act; August
n 500. 81, ,113.45, for officers of the court
september 5, 1899, $291,21, court eX
fbenses; $50 Ball tramp act; October
500, S930.54. for officers Of the court
s4O9.SS court expenses; $50 Ball tramp
January 2, 1900. S1,OS491, for officers q
he court; S317.50 court expenses; S.
BAN tramp; April 3, 1900, s2342O, 70
fficers OF the court $50 Ball tramp
october 3. 1900. S735.64 for officers c
ourt; $22S, court expenses; $50 Bai
ramp; October 16, 1900, s430.30. off
ers of the court; sS5s.6O, court eS