Milford chronicle., 1917-03-16

FROM THE general condemnation
which has followed the appointment
Of members Of the Board of Assess
ment Of Sussex County by the Levy
| Court Commissioners at their meet
| ing Of March End. 1917. the people
feel that a mistake has been made,
which viii go far to create distrust
OF the purposes Of the majority mem
bers of the Sussex Levy Court, to
work out real reforms in County gov
ernment. The people without regard
to party afiliatiOn in Sussex County.
believed that the new laws creating
a new system Of assessment-a new
system Of gathering taxes, and
Three-Commission form Of county
government. would bring higher abil-
ity. more efficiency and economy in
all departments Of Sussex County
in fact. a business method of a po-
litical administration Of public af-
fairs. II was deemed wisdom to
make a few amendments to the assess
ment laws. and so the legislature
provided that the three members OF
the Board Of Assessment should be
appointed by the Levy Court for two.
four and six years respectively and
thereafter one shall be appointed ev-
cry two years for a six year term.
Il is now asserted that political in
huence has been active in naming the
new Board of Assessment, and be-
cause Of this. many in Sussex county |
condemn the appointments as made
by the majority members, Messrs.
Valiant and Holloway, and intimate
that political pressure was too strong /
for them to withstand. Il is true that /
four years must elapse before anoth-
er general assessment for Sussex
County will be made-and that be-
fore that time comes the immutable
laws of nature may have made
change in the personnel Of the Board
Of Assessment; but, the importance
Of having strong men physically as
well as mentally to put into effect the
new revenue laws which will be Gre
ated by the legislature, will not be
lightly passed over. The difference
between success and failure in the
operation Of the new income tax laws
will be in the earnest effort of the
Board of Assessment. An "aggres-
sive" policy will mean success, while
a passive" method Of conducting the
duties laid down by the laws must
mean failure to get a just and square
result from the laws. or what the
people expect It is unfortunate that
this political glory of the majority
members Of the Sussex County Levy
Court. should be so soon overshadow-
ed by even a charge of suspicion that
the confidence of the electorate Of
Sussex County in this new admins
trative body was misplaced; and, that
the old poison Of partisan
politics may ruin the reform hoped
for. The conditions resulting will
have serious effect upon legislation
for Sussex County. Already this is
evident by the amending Of the bill
to permit the bonding Of Sussex
County for one million dollers with
which to build good roads Since the
public criticism of the Levy Court, a
strong opposition has developed
against permitting the expenditure Of
a million dollars for good roads in
Sussex County. IL is now proposed
to have a Highway Commission to
take control This plan has been
evolved by citizens interested in Sus-
sex County without regard to party or
political Affiliations. The men back
of this matter are looking to the fut-
ure, and fully believe that no chances ,
can be taken in so important an is
sue. 1t is unfortunate that the sit
uation has arisen, and especially is
it unfortunate that the now Levy
Court should have to come under the
of its appointments at the
very opening of its history. It may
not have been so great mistake as
some think-for, it may not be one
for which cruciixion would be prop ?
er punishment. The members are
new and inexperienced in political {
methods; they are also earnest and
jealous in desire to accomplish re-
form and economical government, and /
we hope have deep rooted purpose to
carry out the will of the people, re-
gardless Of partisan pressure.
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