Evening journal., 1915-02-13
Legislators ASK
NEWCASTLE
COUNTY Finances
Investigating Committee
Hears $25O,OOO Will be
Needed on October Next
NO MORE BANK Loans
TO CARRY OVERDRAFTS

lU UHNNl UIbnDnhI Id
Speaker Charles II. Grantland, Repre-
sentative Samuel f. Elliott and Repre-
sentative George A. Hill, committee of
the House of Representatives of the
Legislature to inquire into the financial
condition of New Castle county, held
their opening session in the county
court room in the Court House this
morning. The Legislature desires to
learn the condition OF New Castle
county's finances before it acts on pend
ing bills to issue bonds for road i'm
proycments, Washington street bridge,
etc. and to increase salaries of deputies
and clerks in county Offices.
The outstanding feature of the in
quiry this morning was that the Levy
Court will need $25O,OOO to square it
up at the first of October. Reduction
of the tax rate extraordinary expen-
ditures for good roads, unanticipated
expenditures not estimated in the
budget like elimination of Concord
grade crossing, the purchase of the
Philadelphia turnpike, interest on
Joint building bonds and the carrying
of an over-draft from year to year
have combined to place the Levy
Court IN such financial condition
that it either will have to issue about
S25O,OO0 Of bonds or make a heavy
increase in the tax rate AS the latter
is not desirable, it is altogether likely
that a bond issue of about S250,0OO
by the county. and a stric, adherence
to budget estimates in expenditures
will be recommended.
IL was IL O'Clock before Representa-
tive Elliott, the Democratic member OF
the committee, arrived after his col
leagues and the Levy Courtmen had
waited an hour To give more room Tor
those who desired to attend the hearing,
it was transferred to the county court
room. Aside from Speaker Grantlandi
Representative Hill and Representative
Elliott, there were present Levy Court
men Hollngsworth, Purks, Burris
Groves, Smith, Fouracre and scott;
County Treasurer Charles II. Lippincott
Clerk of the Levy Court G.. Candy Hop
kins, Frank J.. Speakman, counsel foI
the Levy Court; County Engineer
james Wilson, Deputy County Treas
urcr Elwood II. --rown, Comptrol-
Ter Edwin c. Clark and his deputy
George Ball
state senator Harvey Hofiecker and
Representative Albert h Vaughan were
interested auditors.
G.. H. Simons, OF Pennington, an eN-
pert accountant, who is NOW auditing
State accounts, sat with the legislative
committee.
Attorney General Josiah O. Wolcott
spcnt some time iu the room during the
hearing.
AZ the outset, at Ills o'clock, Repre-
sentative Hills who presided, read the
resolution under whicn the inquiry into
the county's financial condition was t.
bc conducted. " William G.. Jones, Jr.
counsel for the Legislature, enumerated
lils for the bonding of New Castle
county, and to increase salaries OF som'
clerks which had been introduced in tho
Jcnislaturc. Mr.. Jones said it was IAN
TO state that the bills to increase th'
county indebtedness had not been intro
dlccd in the Legislature by the Levy
Court but by asscmblymeu at the re
quest of their constituents. As TO bill
10 increase salaries, Mir. Jones said h'
thought that because OF the present de
preston they should be discussed will
The Levy Court which would have t'
provide the increases.
Mr.. Jones stated that the committee
had no authority TO compel tue attend
ance of witnesses, and all who appeared
would do 80 voluntarily.
Mr. Speaknan. as counsel for TN
I.c,y Court, announced that the Lev!
Courtmcn would give all the assistance
they could.
In response TO a question by Levy
Courtman Smith, Mr.. Jones explained
that the legislative committee had nc
knowledge of the cOunty's financial
condition, and would make its inves-
tigation and report back to the Legis
laturc as it saw tit after it had finish
cd its inquiry.
Benjamin A. Groves, chairman o
the finance committee of the Lev,
Court, was the first witness called
He was not sworn, and was ques
toned by Mr.. Jones relative to tho
county's financial condition from thu
end of the 1928 fiscal year to date
Mr. Speakman. counsel for the Lev,
Court, suggested questions at times
Continued on Page 8.