Milford chronicle., 1918-08-30

WE WANT to be fair in all things
and especially do we want to be cor
rect in any statement which is made
through the columns Of the Milford
Chronicle. Our attention has been
called to the reading of an editorial
in last weeks issue, which blamed
the Levy Court of Sussex County for
the shortcomings of the Receiver of
Taxes, by reason of failure to dis
charge the duties of his Office accord
ing to the laws as laid down clearly
in the statutes of Delaware. The Re
ceiver of Taxes Of Sussex County is
a Republican, but that has nothing
to do with the fact that the law as
made and prescribed for the admins
tration OF the Office of Receiver of
Taxes in and for Sussex County have
not been complied with. There is no
excuse for failure to conduct the Of
fee according to the methods pre-
scribed by statute law, and for that
reason, the structures which we last
week laid inadvertently at the door
of the Levy Court of Sussex County,
should have been directed at the Re
ceiver of Taxes. or those who are ad-
ministering the duties of that office.
The law clearly prescribes the method |
for conducting the office, and espe- |
cially in the manner in which public /
notices shall be given of the time and |
places for sitting to receive taxes in
the various districts. It clearly states |
that a certain number of sittings shall |
be made at certain times, and due
notice of these sittings shall be given
by advertisement and also by posters.
This the Receiver of Taxes has failed
to do, and the people of Sussex Coun-
ty, as well as those who reside else
where, but who own property in Sus-
sex County, have a right to demand
that the law be complied with. The
Office Of Receiver of Taxes, as admin
istered under the new laws by Mr..
Volley Murray, who organized and in
stituted the new system to the great
satisfaction of the people, worked
well for everybody and proved to be
a great economic system, as well as
a good business proposition. His
successor has not given the time or
consideration to its administration
which Mr.. Murray did, but delegates
to clerks and employees the business
affairs which are close to all the peo-
pie. The laws are plain, and need no
explanation as to what shall be done
and how it is to be accomplished. In
this matter we regret that the Levy
Court was held responsible for an
error, or lack of proper discharge OF
a public duty imposed by law on
public servant. and want it under
stood, that in this particular affair.
the members Of the Levy Court are in
no way to be blamed. Just why men
elected to public Office should per-
nit any discrepancy in the discharge
Of the duties of the Office. we cannot
It is either that they do
not realize that they are only public
of the people, or that they
iail to understand, and do not use dill
lgence in trying to ascertain what the
duties Of the position are, and their
to the people. Every
aaa elected 20 Office who fails 70
ieliver clean business administra-
ion Of that Office. Injuries civil gov
srnment, and is load upon the party
With which he is affiliated. Just how
o get at officials Of this class to com
,el them to give good service, is a
'roblem, which in all probability will
AVE to be worked out through the