Evening journal., 1909-02-06
Saturday, February6, 1909
COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN KENT.

T N the appointing Of county Office holders for
Il Kent county, the Dover Index calls upon
the Levy Court to select only the best men for
the positions. The Index adds: 1--WE do not
hesitate TO recommend that in some cases, es-
pecially in the appointment of road overseers,
where the public interests will be best served,
Republicans shosild be appointed that is where
on a section of the road there is no very well
qualified Democrat for the position but well
qualified Republican, the Republican should be
appointed The one object should always be
kept in view, to get the most capable and honest
man for the office The new Levy Court will be
Judged more by its improvement of roads than
anything else, and it will require honest over
seers, who will not graft the money and ntelli-
gent ones who will know how to use the money
TO the best advantage.
All this is true, but is not the system of road
overseers defective and would il not be better
to appoint a capable road engineer in Kent
county as we have in New Castle county? AS
we have often said there are many complaints
about the system OF caring for the roads in the
lower counties. Only recently the Milford
Chronicle said that enough money was spent on
The roads in the lower counties to give those
counties fairly good roads if the money were
properly spent. No matter how efficient the road
oversecrs may be, they are not so competent as
road engineer would be.
What is the result? In winter many of the
roads arc impossible. In summer, the clouds of
dust are so heavy that travel is almost unendur-
able.
The general spirit of the Index article, how
ever is correct. The best men should be placed
in county Offices. The mass OF the taxpayers are
interested more in good county and state gov
eminent than they arc in seeing that one political
party has the advantage over another. The po-
itcal party Will be successful that gives the best
government The Republicans of this State rode
into power because the people had become
weary OF the inefhciency OF the Democrats. The
Republican majority in this county has been
practically undisturbed because the Levy Court
and the county officials have given good adj
ministration OF the affairs Of the county. The
Index statement is right in urging that capable
men should be appointed.
The Republican Levy Court in this county IN
times past has appointed Democrats to posi-
tions in the lower part Of the county where there
were no capable Republicans desiring the of
fees.
The road question. however, is one that enters
directly into the every day life of the residents Of
the rural regions OF the lower counties. The
overseer system is to be continued judging by
the statement of the Index but we think il
would be far better il the engineer plan should
be adopted
is amusing to notice the efforts of the Demo
cratic papers to hold the Democrats OF Ken
county to the straight line. The Republican
management of the Levy Court Of Kent and tn,
the same management in Sussex were severed,
criticised as a part of the Democratic tactics dur
ing the campaign, but when the matter is site,
down our Democratic friends are not so sure tina
their party control is going to make thing
better
The Republican Levy Court in Kent, as ad
mitted by the Democrats left affairs in a very goo
condition The money ofthe taxpayers hadnot bee
frittered away Alleged irregularities Of som
Republican officials were investigated by the Re
publican Levy Court The Republican Lev
Court in Kent county contained many conscier
tious men.
The Republicans OF the county are now place
in the position of critics of the Democratic mar
agement of the county and they WILL no doub
watch developments as keenly as the Democrat
watched the Republicans. All this will be for tn
best interests OF the taxpayers.