Middletown transcript., 1910-05-07
coon Old DEMocRATlc DAYS

tfm6 WUou kn9 COUNTY, was pf@CSiC&ity
bankrupt under the administrations o
the Democratic Levy Courts. Il required
several Republican Levy Court admins
trations 10 overcome the effect Of Demo
cratic deficits and bad financial manage
ment Of county affairs, and the Repub
licans certainly have no intention o
evading their record of county manage
meut and Of substantial bettermsnts iol
the people at large by the recent Lew
Courts.
"Take for instance q glance back tc
the year 1901. In their report TO Resi-
dent Judge Spruance Charles G. Kurti
and l.. Scott Townsend, county auditors
in their report June SOth, 1901, cay il
part:
"'We could not ascertain the exacI
amount of claims contracted and unpaid
as many of them had not been presented
but We herewith submit summary o.
claims which we know were outstanding
and unpaid On June SOth, 1901 They
are:
Bills and accounts. ts..........".....,S4U,1l 1lU %
Warrants drawn, but not cashed q, 426 81
Interest on Court House Loan. 4,830 0C
Court House Loan bond.......... 100 0C
Note in Farmers Bank............ 10000 0C
Total s....s..............s...ss..". Il
This condition Of affairs existed the
first six months after the Republican
Levy Court was in Office.
''From tims immemorial the Democrats
had control except for two years and the
Republicans who served these two years
were ousted By the Legislature.
Continuing the auditors say, we have
examined the bills and vouchers CORES.
ponding with the warrants drawn and we
find q great many that are not on file.
We also submit list of warrants drawn
to the order of some person or bearer.
'In conclusion, we would state as the
result of our audit and investigation Of
the county's affairs, that the County's
financial transactions are loosely and care.
lesEly conducted
"In 1902 the same auditors said /: The
county finances are in o very much i'm
proved condition as compared to the same
time during the previous fiscal years.
'"The methods Of issuing warrants pay.
able to bearer, 60 prevalent during pre-.
Vious years, has been practically abol.
Ished." This change was made under 3
Republican administration.
"The 1903 report says: in general, the
financial affairs Of the county are in
good healthy condition. The members
Of the Levy Court deserve credit for the
condition Of affairs In their charge. Not
only has the reduction in the tax rate
been made, but with practically all bills
paid that were due the balance in bank
June 3Oth, 1903, was $l22, ,3O4.70.'
"The 1904 report says: The financial al.
fairs Of the county ere in good condition.
The balance Of cash on hand in general
fund June 3Oth, 1904 amOnted to $685..
5l2.75.' This was under Republican rule.
"The 1905 report says: The financial
affairs Of the county are in good condition.
The balance June 80, 1905, being s84,.
1924
''In 1908 the balance Of cash on hand in
general fund June 30th, amounted to
$1s,3s64S.
"In 1907 report in the item Of receipts
and disbursements the report shows an
overdraft Of $9,279.94. Gan editorial in
Democratic organ placed the overdraft at
$S9,OOO.)
SIT is interesting to notice that the Levy
Court that came into power on January,
1901, which succeeded Democratic Levy
Court, found the finances in such con-
dition it could not pay their own salaries.
Warrington Street Bridge
"The contract price for the Washington
street bridge was $S5, 900 and 81, 200 en-.
Rineer's fees. Subscriptions amounting to
$l8, 800 we're received and $I5, 600 paid off
by the Republicans so that the Demo.
Gratis found upon taking up the rsins Of
the county $4,000 still due. Then the
Democratic Levy Court went to the Leg
islature and obtained bill and Aoated
500, 600 to pay off the 1900. That has
been legacy from the Democrats and
the Republican Levy Court has paid off
$50, 600 Of that amount.
1.-THE above figures are official. Mr..
Scott was the one that requested com.
mittee Of his Levy Court to investigate
the Washington street bridge. The Dem.
Ocratic committee performed its work and
in its report showed that the bridge debt
was $4,000. Then the economical
Democrats who did 80 much in Great.
ing bonded indebtedness obtained $780,
900, as shown by chapter 565, Vol. 10,
Laws of Delaware.
"The Democrats collected under the
Adams tax Law and the Republicans paid
back to the people $2l, ,76464. That was
another legacy paid by the Republicans.
Bonded indebtedness Of the workhouse
has nothing to do with the Levy Court.
The Levy Court pay 40 csnts . day for shs
keep Of each prisoner, thereby indirectly
helping to pay off the bonds Of the work.
house.
''The Republicans paid Oh the balance
OF the Democratic legacies OF 1883 and
1893, and still are doing business ct the
old stand, ne $l70, 900 has been paid of
and other obligations will be paid off this
year by the Republican Levy Court.
Coed Reads
'sNew Castle county 10 gradually being
made network of good roads. The Re
publicans spent for good roads as follows:
lSOz-3 $500
1904 ,209. IL
19045 III 66
1SO0 DAT. 60
1857 6SZ 81
l9096 IO6. 70
l9089 ....... ,427.6S
$l84, 4,O40.l
Taxpayers Of New Castle county can