Milford chronicle., 1903-06-12

]
forth the question of public informa-
tion from the standpoint of business
man;
DOVER, DEL, June >, 1903.
EDITOR OF THE SENTINEL -
The "IndexU "mud-slingern in last
week issue, under the head of Jobs, "
among other things says, 1.-The Clerk
of the Peace has violated the law in
order to give an Addicks mans news
paper of another county a "jOb, and
proceeds to quote law to substantiate
the same. At the time of giving the
'jobsn to the MILFORD CHRONICLE
! was not aware that its plant was in
Sussex county. Knowing the editor
to be a citizen of Kent, the thought
never occurred to me that the plant
was in another county. However, in
the matter of advertisements for bids
on county supplies, or work, of which ]
gave the CHRONICLE several 'Jobs,
there is evidently no violation of law.
Sec s, Chap. -. Vol 81, Laws Of Del
aware, says lin part
"rhe Levy Court shall publicly in
vite sealed proposals for the doing of
such work and for the furnishing of
such materials, tools, implements, ma
chiuery, etc."
There is no specification in this law
as to the mode or means of publicly
sealed proposals." and it is clearly
within the province of the Levy Court
to advertise in any manner they may
deem best. The same may be said OF
the advertisement of discounts allowed
on taxes paid within certain specified
times, of which no provision is made
in the Act, but in the judgment of the
Levy Court il was deemed wise to thor
Oughly diffuse this information for the
benefit Of the taX-paying public, and
by their order said notice was inserted
in two Dover papers mot the "IndeXD
"SmVrna Tines and MILFORD
CHRONICLE. So much. by way of eX-
PLANTATION of these 'jOts."
Now, a word as to the 'jOb' that
goaded the "IndeX" and caused it
pain and labor, is that in reference to
licenses and the time and place of sit
ting 10 dispense the same. The law in
this case is las the "IndeX" says, "that
notice shall be given by advertisement
in two or more papers printed in Kent
county, l claim to have complied
with the law in this case by adveriis-
ing in two Dover papers mot the "In-
deX'') and the Smyrna "'Iimes" three
in Kent county; and for the better
diffusion Ofthe information, in the MIL
FORD CHRONICLE, which | thought at
the time was a Kent county paper also,
but since learned it is not. However,
had / known it, | believe the act justi-
fable from the standpoint of reaching
the greater number of people, as l am
creditably informed that the CHRONI-
Gle has a larger circulation in the
southern part of Kent county than
any other paper published in Milford
This is rot written in a spirit of apOl-
Ogy to the "lndeX;n ! owe it none.
Yet, being a public officer, [ am open
to criticism at all times, and / propose
to administer my office as near the let
ter of the law as possible, at the same
time [ assume the prer0gative of using
a little personal judgment. coupled with
common sense, as to the proper and
best course TO pursue under circum-
stance, existing.
It's amusing to see the Index" do
ing the "hair-splitting' act and go into
cOrvulsious over Jobs" that 90 to the
other fellow. Why all this gagging at
a gnat, when in by-gone days it could
easily swallow a camel? And echo
answers, why? J. V. MCCONMONs,
Clerk of the Peace.