Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-29
The County comptrolier Arraisned.

The County Comptroller Arraiened.
The meeting of citizens held at the
rooms of the Democratio League, 1ues-
day night, adopted resolutions which
specifically arraigned County Comp.
trnller George ID. iilley for negligence
in the discharge of his official duties.
One OF tho resolutions rccited that
the county comptroller has "v'olated
the law governing his official actions"
ne defined in the not Of May 2sth, 1897,
chapter 1856, Vol. Xxx, Laws of Della
ware, This law reads as follows;
That chapter GO OF Volume XIX,
Laws Of Delaware, be and the same is
hereby amended by adding to section
IL the following, to wit: "The comp
troller shall not oountersiRn auy war
rant drawn against any appropriation
In which the credit is less than the
warrant drawn, or when the receiver Of
taxes and county treasurer has not
funds in hand for lite payment; in such
cases the Lovy Court shall not have the
power to overrule the action OF tho
comptroller.
No details are given In support CT
this allegation, but sufficient grounds
for making 1t are afforded in the exist
ing financial condition of the county.
The last fiscal year closed with u
deficit, and the amount Of floating
debt left by the last Levy Court was
stated by member of the present
body, at yesterday's meeting, to be
s57, 900 And every dollar of it was
created in plain defiance of law.
The section quoted above is in ad-
dition 10 the general Law defining the
duties and powers OF the county comp
troller, which has previously been
quoted in these columns. The original
law clothes the comptroller with AMPLE
authority including the right to adj
minister oath or affirmation and
authority to compel tho attendance
Of witnesses and the production OF
books and papers-but the amendment
goes further. Under the original law
the Levy Court has the authority, in
the event of claim being disapproved
by the county comptroller, to allow it
over his objection, In which event the
comptroller and his sureties shall be
relieved Of all liability in law. But
the amendment Of May 2sth, 1897,
refers to overdrawinR appropriations
and the creation of overdraits, and not
only prohibits the comptroller signing
warrants which viii cause such over.
drawn appropriations and overdrafts of
the oounty's balance in hank, but
denies to the Levy Court authority to
override his action.
This law only increases the RESPONSE
bility of the county comptroller and
makes the more glaring bis amazing
disregard Of official duty. He has every
power In law that an official could ask
for in standing between a lawless legis.
lative body and an illegal expenditure
of the peoples money. And yet the
county appropriations have bsen over
drawn and money claims allowed that
built up an illegal floating debt. with
out the shadow Of remoustrancs from
the official who by law is interposed a
a bulwark against such illegal anS
costly proceedings.
| During his nearly five years of Office
Comptroller Kelley has allowed thes
things to continue without protest, anG
he has also approved the bills ant
countersighed the warrants for tn
payment of claims OIL account of worth
less tramps committed to New Castl
jail without warrant of law, AMI
lodged and fed at the expense of tn
taxpayers, also in opposition to tn
plain language of the statute. In al
this time he has interposed his vet
power in but one instance-and
recent one which involved claim TO
milk furnished the Jail for the use O
the prisoners, the comptroller YER
properly contending that it should b
paid by the sheriff out OF his allowanc
or account of the board of prisoners.
1t is therefore pertinent to ask O
what use has the county comptrolle
been to the taxpayers of New Castl
county, The Office was designed for
purpose-to be q check upon the ez
penditurss of the Levy Court. TIL
law clothed the Office with every powe
necessary for a thorough performane
OF it's duties. Gould the existing stat
Of affairs have been attained with th
office OF county comptroller filled by
capable, resolute man, possessing th
intelligence to fully comprehend hi
duties and the nerve to perform thei
thoroughly and impartially?
No fair-minded Citizen can give hee
to these things without coming to thI
conclusion; That County Comrtroll,
, Kelley has not performed his duti,
according to the object and intent
. the law, which clothes him with real
! extraordinary powers. And that il b
cannot make an explanation thorough
satisfactory to his employers Il
= people Of New Castle county,
), should resign his office.
d The celebration at Cooch's Bridge
It Tuesday, September Sd, when the mon
j ment marking the spot where the Sta
% and Stripes were first uLfurled In bait
q is 10 be unveiled, will be an event
d great Importance, worthy to take raj
II with tho unwilling of the monumen
70 at Lexington and Concord. For it W
's here at Coooh's Bridge. on the Sd
20 September, 1777, that the 'emhattl
|. farmers stood" with the Stars al
Stripes waving for the first time