Milford chronicle., 1903-08-28

that end, then the trepidation OF
the Unions plays havoc with their
plaus-no Office, just a salt water
trip.
THE following is an editorial
from the State Srntine1' concern
ing Kent county affairs
"Comparisons are odious.' We
intend them so to be, in this in
stance, and believe that the tax
payers of Kent county will agree
with us that such gross misman-
agement of county affairs-to use
nothing harsher-as has been sad
died on a long-suffering pubic by
the Democratic administration, can
not be other than odious. In the
name of all that is Just and fair,
what excuse can there be for the
following enormous outlay for the
Recorder of Deeds Office in the past
twelve years. In 1890 the records
of the Levy Court show that P.
Spruance WAS paid S2I5o for index
ing Recorder of Deeds Office John
R. Nicholson and r. r. Kenney
are paid $500 each for inspecting
the work, making a total Of $3.50.
In 1898 James Virden was paid
$1,000 for indexing Recorder of
Deeds Office, J. B. Pennington and J.
H. Hughes receiving $500 each for
inspecting the work; total, SI7Oo
under Virden. Then comes James
Lord in 1901 with claims Of $500
for books, $4,000 for work ofindeX-
ing Recorder of Deeds office wv. 7.
Smithers and James L. Wolcott
5000 each for inspecting work; to-
tai 81, 200. Making grand total
spent on that Office in twelve years,
S9,o5o.
Is there auy sane man i'll Kent
county to-day who believes there
was the slightest necessity for this
outlay of the peoples money? The
present administration found those
same records ready to fall to pieces
and were compelled to have them
rebound. The Sentinel has for
twenty years coutended there was
mismanagement in county affairs
but how bad they were we had no
means of knowing. The facts are
simply astonishing. Clerks of the
Peace receiving 81, 900 to 81, 500 a
year more than they should Jus
tices of the Peace presenting bills
for 81 900 to 81, 200 per year; con-
stables receiving the same; sheJiffs
getting $4,000 for one years ser
vices. How could public improve
ments be made? Citizens and tax
payers, we call you to witness, this
is not political 'bombast," but ac-
tual facts that can be substantiated.
You have been "buncoed" for
twenty years or more; your money
has been wrung from you only to
flow into the greedy nav of the
insatiate office-holder.
What are we doing to remedy
the evil ? We have cut the Clerk
of the Peace fees one-half; we have
cut Constables and Justices of the
Peace from 81 900 to $3.50 per year,
or less; we have cut sheriff's bills
from $4,000 to less than $4,000
we have compelled every office
holder to buy their supplies-to be
paid for by the county--through a
committee appointed by the Levy
Court, and thereby save all com
missions for the county, if any
there be; we have allowed no or
6ers to pass the court unless the
funds be in hands If County Treas
urer to meet same, thereby restor-
ing full confidence in the county
ability to meet all obligations; we
have ordered a quarterly statement
of the finances of the county pub
lished and distributed to the tax.
payers; we have rebuilt Martins
bridge, saved the Mahon S road with
a stopping, rebound the county rec.
ords, ,remodelling and putting steam
heat in county building, and appro-
priated $4,000 to County Aims
house for permanent Improvements
we are rebuilding first-class struc-
ture at Silver Lake, two permanent
bridges at Milford, one at Freder-