Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-17

Castle county from January, 1900, to
Dune 30th, 1901, mas been issued in
ipamphlet form.by the Star Publishing
Co. Charles o. Kurtz. who with l..
Scott Townsend, was the auditor, has
copies for distribution at his office, OIL
Market street. They may also be
lecured at the offices Of the clerk OF
Che jeace and receiver of taxes. Citi-
ems, who are paying the high tax rate,
will be interested to read for what rur
poses tine county money has been ex-
pended in the IS months covered by the
report, and to note who were the con
tractors and merchants and Others who
received 1t.
The report is in two parts, the first
covering the year ended January, 1901,
and the second the six months ended
June Both, 1901. All told the pamphlet
makes 126 Iages.
Every Evening has already given the
auditors comment concerning each
periud and the statements of receipta
and disbursements Fer 1900 the report
shows total tax levy of 1858, 9l0.07,
an EXCESS of So, 251. 70 over the previous
year.
The balances in bank to the credit of
all funds or accounts on January I'd,
1900, was $50, o72. 63, while on January
I'd. 1901, the balance was Sl5, S0l.21.
The total expenditure during the year
for county purposes was 1851. 1885, GO.
Deducting, however. s34, 600 paid on
bonds. we find the actual total expendi-
ture to be 1927, 4s9.66 The total ex-
nenditure for all purposes during the
year 1899, was s430, 1862. 80, and IL we
deouct the 100000 for the new Work
House Loan, and the $50, 800 paid on
the Court House Loan, we find a
balance of 1914, 462. 90 as the general
expenses for county purposes fer that
year. thus showing an increase of ex-
penditure during 1900 of $685. 026. % as
compared to the year 1899. This
amount included SS3, $40 43 paid out on
account of the new Seventh street
bridge, Silver Run road, and MARSHALL
ton bridge, for which no appropriation
had been made in the beginning of the
year.
In their report for ths year ended
June 30th the auditors say:
AT the close Of the fiscal year ending
June Both, the cash balance to the
credit OF the general fund was 50, 112. 70,
which necessitated the withholding
from payfsent Of many claims against
this fund, which were overdue and
payable. We could not ascertain the
exact amount of claims contracted and
unpaid, as many OF them had not been
presented, but we herewith submit a
summary of claims which we know were
outstanding and unpaid on June 30th,
1901:
BILLS and accounts. ............ Wy, I0 sS
Warrants drawn, but not cashed. . "a, 1876. 81
Interest on Court House loan. ... 4,s30.0O
Court House loan bond not re-
Iss in Farmers Bank. 10, COO &C
! IOtHl. P o,UOf. IL
"We have examined the bills and
vouchers corresponding with the war
rants drawn, and we find great many
tthat are not on the file We found a
few which were paid, but not approx cd
10 the regular and proper manner. We
also found few hills which had been
overpaid, but which will be corrected
in the next payment to those people, as
the comptroller knew of these over.
payments.
1--WE think it very probable that the
missing bills are corTectt but We deem
it proper to suggest that all bills should
be folded, and endorsed on the back
with the name OF the payee and the
amount of the bill, and then placed
together IN paohaSe lurm'
sit ia net within the province of ouI
duty under the law to investigate the
circumstances surrounding actions o.
the Levy Court or any OF the county
.ofhcias, whose accounts we audit, hui
I'VE can only compare and prove that
tho amounts paid and received are true
land correct as they appear, allowing thu
ipublic to draw such conclusions sat
these figures demonstrate.
1.-THE system OF issuing orders, war
Z. rants, checks, &C., on the treasurer o.
the county 10 faulty, and IN our opinion
liz badly in need of revision. Th
comptroller is not required to atfix hii
signature to orders, warrants and check
issued by the judges, the clerk o
the peace, prothonotary and count,
treasurer, and consequently, he has no
such full supervision and knowledge o
the county's finances AZ he should have
Under the present system there IS nj
one who can tell what il the actua
leash balancs in bank to the credit O
the county at any particular time, with
out going to all Of these various ollioeri
land inquiring what orders, warrants o
checks they had issued. We would
therefore, earnestly recommend that thu
lepisIature = amend the present law al
ito obvinte this manifest inconsistency
I'm conclusion, We would state a.
the result OF our audit ar d investigation
of The county, affairs, that the county !
financial transactions are loosely ant
carelessy conducted; and we feel war
lfHnted in saying that if the SAM
ECONOMY were exercised in the oonduc
'sof the county's business as business
men exercise in their private affairs
ttheie would be material reduction il
THE expenditures land cunsequen
saving that would inure to the Eeneh
iot the taxpayers y
Instead OF giving the amount OF eacl
warrant, the auditors have given th
Total received by each person under eaol
item of expenditure. This enables tn
reader to ascertain more readily hoy
lmuch certain person has obtained il
the oourss of the Is months.
An exception is made in the case o
the "or bearer" warrants, which tn
auditors say, 1--WE accept as voucher
for the bills. as we have no means o
ascertaining or knowing whether tn
money was received by the person o.
whom the warrant was drawn. +" Thes
are for 1900:
paniel Caldwell, estate. ............$ AS
George II. Leach. .................. 200
Lemuel Graves. Observation-Disclosures. 1896
w. M. ErueS. ...........-.......... 20. d
John McCallin. .................... GS.g
flames Sullivan. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1911
John McCailiu... f6.Q
~. b. 0naX. .......-............. Ais2
tPercy B. white. ...............,.... Se.u
VI. Hannum..... ........... Sl.a