Milford chronicle., 1918-02-08
WEEKLY MEETING OF
SUSSEX LEVY Court
Comfy Engineer Makes A Statement
Why He Selected Road
Supervisors.
Offers To Change Any URder Certain
Conditions.

Tuesday with all the members pre-
ent, and the minutes of the last NEE
ing were approved with the exceptio
of the amount of the bid of the PeniI
sula News for printing, which wa
corrected to read $4,000.
Repairs for machinery was author
lied to be procured by the County Ell
gineer for the scrapeT, rollers am
ounting to about $50. He was ais
directed to buy a carload of CORFU
gated pipe at the bid made last wee
and which was then reported.
The County Engineer was directe
to make a survey of the Aims Hous
farm, and make plot of same
John T. Watson was re-appointet
ianitor of the Court House for the en-
suing year at a salary of $40 pei
month.
The usual bills were allowed ant
ordered paid.
County Engineer Presents His
Reasons.
Mr.. Holloway moved, and it was
seconded by Mr.. Vallient, that the fol-
lowing communication from the COun-
ty Engineer be read and spread upon
the records Of the Levy Court, as fol-
lows: viz;
Gentlemen:-At the regular stated
meeting of the Levy Court on the 29
inst, / submitted list of fifteen sup
ervisOrs appointed by me for this
county, whereupon one of the mem
bers of the Levy Court submitted a
resolution, charging that said ap-
pointments were political and parti-
san, and that my action in making
said appointments was opposed to the
interests Of the citizens and tax pay
ers Of Sussex County; whereupOn the
Levy Court adopted a resolution as
County Engineer, ito explain fully to
the Court at its next meeting to be
held Feb. 5th, 1918, the motives gov
erning me in selecting the supervisors
as appointed by me-"
In reply to said resolution of your
body, / beg to say that was governed
IN making said appointment by one
motive only, and that was to secure !
the maximum of efficiency in my Office |
at minimum cost. In other words. |
l selected the men to be appointed as
road Overseers exactly as l would /
had / been selecting them to render
service to me personally, having in
mind that the County is entitled to the
same efficiency of service from its en-
pIoyees as would be a private corpo-
ration or a private individual.
l might close this report with the
foregoing as it fully and completely
complies with the request of the Levy
Court for information; but the reso-
luton above referred to condemning
my appointments as political and
partisan" 1 feel requires that /
should, in justice to myself make
some reply to said charge, and with ,
your permission, l will reply briefly ]
thereto !
1 wish to say in the first place that /
the charge that said appointments z
were political and partisan" is abso- q
lutely unwarranted, baseless and has Y
no foundation in fact. / am not a I
politician, and know absolutely moth 4
ng, and care less, about politics Mr.. Y
charge that all of said ap-
1ointments except one are democrats a
nay be true, or it may not be; but if a
rue, my first knowledge of the fact h
vas obtained when I read Mr.. Mus |,
ards resolution. l have never in
Delaware, nor anywhere else, thought
y asking any man who sought en-
'loyment as to his politics; my pur-
'oses always being to get the best
'ossible service for the money ex-
ended. a.
Furthermore, all the men named by q,
ne had been employed by me during q
he past year. and in every instance I,
he man selected was the best man / q
ould secure in each locality, to act ny
s road supervisor. They had been 8
ried in the position and had made u
ood." Twelve of the fifteen had been e =
mployed by my predecessor in Office, y
nd were so employed at the time l ~ ~
ecame County Engineer last June, y
nd have been so employed contin- iRSs
ously ever since. Having demon ~
rated their ability, and being better ~ ~
ualified Of course by reason of the ssi
Eperience they had had in road work, ~
felt and feel now, that the interests o s
the County demanded that their SsSs
srvices be retained. 1 deem it pro- J."
or also to add. that two of the best ..
EN- contained in my list, viz; S. N. q, q.
1lVer of the Fifth District, and Dr. -
W. James, of the Sixth District, So
ave served as supervisors during the -,
ist year, and are still serving in the ~
me capacity, without pay, they hav- ~ ~
6 rendered their services because Of pc
cir keen interests in the betterment ao sie'
the roads of the county. ~ ~
A careful reading CT Mr.. Mustard's pO
solution discloses an implication
at the appointment Of these super
sors was due to the suggestion and
OF the majority mem
rs OF the Levy Court / want to say the
emphatically as can that this i'm hel
lcation is not only false but unjust. on
nee l have occupied the position Of L.
unty Engineer neither Mr.. Valiant Civ
T Mr.. Holloway has requested me thi
appoint any person OF his selection Mr.
road supervisor. Mr.. Holloway has Prt
yer mentioned the matter of road sta
pervisors to me. Mr.. Vallient has nu;
9ntioned the matter to me once, and tur
that occasion he suggested with soc
ference to one Of the supervisors, will
II a better man might be secured er,
tnat district. stated to him then, lat