Evening journal., 1915-03-15
NEW CASTLE COUNTY lew COURT
HARD HIT By THE LEGISLATURE;
CHANGE IN SUSSEX'S SYSTEM

DON Ittf .Dcls Mditu lo.-Ibi ibl~
sideration only OF the general appro-
priations and claims bill, the Legisla-
ture reconyened this morning and Is
expected to adjourn sine die tomorrow.
When the members were called TO
order at noon today drafts OF the
omnibus appropriations and claims
measures had been prepared by the
committees OF Senate and House. Fol-
lowing their session all day Friday ard
until early Saturday morning the
members came back refreshed by the
Sunday vacation
Generally, most of the members were
satisfied with the result of their delib-
eration5 since January s. although
there were some disappointments as
might be expected In the closing
week of the session the Republicans
were Handicapped in the House by the
illness of Representative Warrington
and the accident to Representative
Evans. of Newark. who broke his leg in
getting of a moving train at Dover
station Absence OF these members de-
prlved the Republicans of control Of
passage of any bills thai were regarded
by the Democrats as partisan meas
ures.
Two y the bills that the Republicans
had hoped to pass, but which the alb
sence OF Messrs. Warrington and
Evans forestalled. we're Senator Bar
nard's to reorganize the Kent county
Levy Court and also to reform the tax
collection system of that county.
When the Republican control of the
House passed away il was deemed
useless to put Senator Barnard's Kent
county bills through the Senate, and
they were allowed to die on the Sen
ate calendars
Sussex COunty's Change.
Sussex county will get a complete
change in its governmental system as
a result of enactment by the Legisla-
ture. Four important bills affecting
that county that were passed will
abolish the present ten-member Levy
Court two years hence and create a
three member body to be elected from
the county at large; will abolish the
Office of tax collectors in the ten hun
dreds of the county and vest the tax
collecting authority in the newly-cre-
ated official known as Receiver OF
Taxes and County Treasurer, who
must visit all sections of the county
j to receive tax moneys; and also
will provide that the Levy Court shall
have control of road-building opera
tions and shall use State appropia.
tiOns and hundred road taxes for tho
i .f fol "
between towns, thus doing away Will
the haphazard road repairing anC
building. A new assessment system
also was provided for in a bill passed
} The legislation placed by the Re
publicans for Kent county was alOn!
similar lines, but was opposed vigor
| ously by the Democrats. Reorgani
zation of the New Castle County Lev,
Court and adoption of a new tax col
t lection system and assessment sys
tenn for the upper county also wer
i contemplated. but owing to the deter
D mined opposition concentrated o
e. rural New Castle county members @
O. the Legislature by the present Lev
! Courtmen il was found that a bill {
abolish the present Levy Court an
! vest the county's government in thre
n commissioners could not be pu
r through and the bill never was pre-
3. scented.
c Representative Letherhury's bin {
$ provide for a new assessment and Ia
r, collection system in New Castle couI
3, e. was defeated It was voted dow
by the Democrats in the House, nc
d SO much because they were oppose
- to the merits of the measure, but be
:. cause of their displeasure towar
s, Mr.. Lotherbury it is believed II
IS bill was regarded as one Of the be
before tho Legislature, but NJ
y Lctherbury had incurred the al
y taeonism of his Democratic colleague
d, because of his independence on pcni
lie ing legislation. He refused 10 Sc
Ie politics in many bills that the Dem
lf Gratis lined mp solidly for. and vot'
S. as he pleased on them. This aroIs'
ct the other Democrats in the Hous
Ia and the climax was reached last wet
rt when. in a conference of Democrat
a. members Of the Senate and Hous
m Mr. Letherbury refused to bind hir
self 10 vote against the Hickman b
n TO rcorganize tho State Board
I'd Health. He could not see where
r was a political measure. That w
es the parting of the ways, and Wit
I'd Mr.. Letherbury's bill for reform
I'd tho tax collection and assessment sy
nc TENS of New Castle and Sussex cou
tics was called for a vote. IL was &
t. feated by Democratic opposition.
8, That the bill had merit and that
g. was defeated because Of Democrat
~ retaliation against Mr. Lctherbury
evident when it is stated that later
m