Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-08
Again the Commitments TO Jail by the
Mayor of New Castle.

OF which the sum of 81, 80. 20 was for |
the board Of prisoners at the county |
jail.
The allowance to the sheriff for the
board Of prisoners is 20 cents per
prisoner per day. The regular popula-
tion of the Jail is lass than 200 per day,
on very reasonable estimate. For this
limit the allowance to the sheriff for
one quarter, or 80 days, would be $500.
The balance of his claim for the board
Of prisoners-at least 81, $40. 20-is for
prisoners temporarily committed to his
charge.
These commitments, according to the
count OF the county comptroller, num-
berS. 100, and of this total the comptroller
says that at least 5000 were issued by
the mayor Of New Castle.
Here we come back to the old ques-
tion Of the numerous commitments to
Jail made by the mayor of New Castle.
The comparison of figures is incredible.
At least 5000 from the littls city of
New CASTLE, and only about 700 from all
the rest Of the county! Why this
enormous prepondersnce in favor Of
New Castle?
1t ~ true that The Gazette has dis.
ussed this matter OF commitments by
he mayor Of New Castle in the past,
and that his last bill of costs for this
item has been hung up in the Levy
Court, even after it had been materially
reduced, by reason of the refusal of the
county comptroller to approve of the
warrant of payment authorized by the
Levy Court. The latter body has not
yet allowed the claim over the comp
troller's veto. The late chairman of
the Levy Court, Commissioner William
A. Scott, also refused to approve this
amended Boyd bill. But with these
matters the public is familiar, and We
do not propose to discuss them in de-
tail COW.
The presentation OF the sheriff's bill
Pr the board Of prisoners, however,
affords a legitimate opportunity for an
investigation of this mysterious matter
OF the commitment to Jail of prisoners
from the city Of New Castle, and the
claims Of fees for such commitments by
the sheriff OF the county and the mayor
Of that city. 1t has been going on for
years, and the county paid thousands
OF dollats on this ACCOUNT before the
extraordinary proportions of the bills
submitted by the mayor OF New Castle
attracted public attention. Now that
the question is fairly before the Levy
Court once more, let it be subjected to
a full, fair and impartial Investigation,
in the manner provided by law.
This is a duty devolving upon the
county comptroller, and he should take
advantage Of At. The law under which
be may act is found on pages 81 and o.
OF the Revised Code, and his authority
Is thus defined;
And Ii shall be the duty OF the sale
comptroller, before countersigning an,
warrant, to inquire into and CAREFUL,
investigate tl1s transaction in relation
to which any such warrant shall hay,
been drawn; and to this end he shal
have power TO issue summons and com
pei the attendance of witnesses an,
the production Of books and paper
pertinent to the said transactinn 4
administer oaths and alfirmatIons; ant
ascertain the truth OF the transaction
30 to be inquired into.
All bills shall, before allowance by sal
Levy Court Commissi oners, be audite,
md marked correct by the said conn
troller, and no bill snail be raised b
the said Levy Court Commissioner
without such endorsement. In case tn
comptroller shall refuse to allow an
item of expenditure, or 10 coun lersig
any warrant, or to endorse any bill O
aforesaid, he shall forthwith transmit
to the Levy Court Commissioners hi
ressuns therefore in writing, who
shall Ehereupon be- duly considered, an
II this action shall be over ruled by
vote OF a majority of the Levy Cour
the said comptroller to allow the .,
penditure, or countersign the warrant
or endorse the bill, in conformity wit
the Judgment of the. said commissions
expressed as aforesaid, In which cal
he shall be- exonerated fiom any Il
sponsibility in the premises.
The authority hereby conferred /
law upon the comptroller is ample t,
the purpose. The sheritf's bill for II
board Of prisoners 10 now officially b,
fore him. together with the charges 4
the $3.50 commitments, more thl
5000 Of which were issued by Il
mayor OF New Castle Let him scr,
tinize these commitments most rigid
and with special reference to the Ia
bearing upon the subject. Let him s
il the law has been complied with,
taken advantage Of. Let him prol
the affair to the bottom. and in b
event that his Investigations prove th
the charges are unwarranted, let hl
SO inform the Levy Court, and wit
hold his approving signature from t
claim. And, in the event that {
Levy Court should pass the bill ne
withdrawing his objections, let hi
z..k.s.,.a fnraaxsnaks1n a.. Al r.