Smyrna times., 1910-11-02

Much has been written and said by
Republicans and Republican newspa-
per relative to the surplus in the
county finances, which was turned
over by the outgoing Republican Levy
Court to the incoming Democratic ad-
ministration. This has been the big
noise" of the Republican campaign,
and some Republican papers have been
harping upon the subject with great
deal of persistency and apparent sat
isfaction.
The sum turned over to the Demo
cratic Levy Court has been variously
stated from $4,000 up to $4,000, and
an attempt has been made to compare
the finances of the county at that time
with the present financial condition to
the detriment of the Democratic ad
ministratiOn.
Let us consider the facts in relation
to this matter. On the first day of
February. A. D. 1909, (the date upon
which the Democratic Levy Court took
charge of the affairs of the county,
there was a balance in the hands Of
the County Treasurer. as shown by his
statement, of SS,7774O OF this
amount, however, $5,7O9.23 (as shown
also by the report of the County Treas
urer) belonged to the good roads fund.
and was, therefore, not part of the
general fund of the county and not
available for general purposes, so that
the amount actually belonging to the
general fund was $3O6S.17. On the
first day of February, 1909, there was
due to the Levy Court of New Castle
County the sum of 81, ,232.O7 on ac
count of Kent COunty's share of the
cost of building Fleming's Bridge
This sum had been due and unpaid fol
some time prior to the date at whicl
the Democratic Levy Court tool
charge and was subsequently paid b.
the Democratic Levy Court. If thi
bill had been paid, as it should hav
been, there would have remained II
the general fund the sum of $S361O.
There were outstanding on FebrU
airy 1, 1909. drafts and warrants whic
had been issued by the Republica
Levy Court to the amount of $6SS.S!
These bills of Republican Levy Coul
were subsequently paid by the Demt
cratic Levy Court. If the Republican
had paid their own drafts and wa
rants there would have been in IL
treasury the sum of S147.21.
If this were the conclusion of Il
matter the facts would entitle the K
publicans to claim a surplus at Il
end of their administration, but the
were owing and unpaid in addition
other things, 500 OH account of S;
aries of Levy COurtmen, $13O on a
count of salary of the attorney of t
Levy Court and S52 on account of I
salary of the Jail physician. all
which amounts were due. owing a
unpaid on the first of February, 19
If these Republican bills had be
paid by the Republican administratio
instead of Il surplus. they would ha
presented a deficiency to the Der
cratic administration of $S34.79, a
this, namely a deficiency of 1884
rather than a surplus of $4,000
$4,000, or any other sum, represe
the true status of the ..nancial affi
as they were left by the Republic
Levy Court and assumed by the Del
cratic Levy Court. Thus fades av
before the light of investigation
fog Of Republican misrepresentation
It is true that the present De
cratic administration has spent con
cradle sums of money, especially
tho hu''ding Of bridges throughout
but this was made necess
from the condition in which
bridges of the county were left by
Republican administration.
New bridges have been built
Leipsic, CahOOn's Branch, Squags
Plymouth, Spring Branch, Kill
Point, Carter's and other places,
extensive and permanent repairs
been made to the approaches
Kills Police Chief