Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-17
SUSSEX COUNTY
ADVANCED UNDER
NEW GOVERNMENT
Organization Simplified, Costs
Reduced and Responsibility
Definitely Fixed.
VALIANT EXPLAINS PLAN

William II. valiant OF Georgetwon
in hts address yesterday, before the
members OF the Rotnry Club at their
luncheon In the Hotel du Pont. ex-
planned IN detail and In very inter-
estins manner how the method OF
county government In Sussex county
has been changed He is member
of the County Commission created by
recently enacted laws TO bring about
the changes which are now becoming
effective. His was the irst OF series
OF talks on good government which
sre to be given before the Rotary Club.
! Formerly Sussex county was gov
erned by Levy Court elected one
from each OF the Representative Dis
tricts. but now there In commission
OF three elected Mt large and during
his address Mr.. Valiant showed In \
VERY convincing manner the many and
very extensive improvements that
have resulted from this change. II
has srnplined the entire county or
ganizntion. he said, saves the county
money, reduced costs. fixed more def
nftely responsibility and has brought
about such wide spread improvements
that the people OF that section are
Thoroughly appreciatiye OF and In ne
lcord with the innovation.
II wish TO congratulate you." he
told the members. "on your earnest en-
ldeavor to learn through those who are
holding official position in Delaware,
the practical working OF the laws
governing the sevcrA counties; as.
| understand, you are expecting to
have representative OF each OF the
other two counties address you at
some subsequent meeting OF your
club" His address follows
Those of you who were fortu-
nate enough, or unfortunate. as you
may feel about Il, TO have visited sus-
sex county eight or ten years ago,
! and travelled over our roads. probably
remember the fearful condition of our
roads at that time. We who have
| lived IN Sussex realized the miserable
| road conditions more than our visitors
! did. because we lived with them prsc-
ticslly all the time; hut We did not
, really wake Ny TO the necessity OF Inn
, proved roads until our ne.shbor on
the south and west had built a large
number OF miles of frst-cisss roads
and Mr.. r. G, du Pcnt had launched
, his splendid road program.
About the frst OF the year 1914
, there began TO be considerable awife-
, tion IN mos, sections OF the county foi
, better roads.
During May, 1914. good roads
meeting was called by William II
Cook of Laurel, asking a number oi
our citizen. to attend. The object OF
1.-The meeting WAS 10 form an orsaniza.
ltion to start the good roads move.
ment." This meeting was held ~
Laurel on June /, 1914. Those presen
.cre William II. Cook. pr. w. r. Jone,
Arthur s. Hearn. Harvey f. Marve
and Sirman ID. Marvel.
The organization then formed wa,
named Delaware Good Roads Associa.
ton OF Sussex County," and the OF,
, scers elected were: William II. Cook
: president: DR. w. Il. Jones. treasurer
\ Arthur $. Hearn, secretary.
The membership fee was SIS. which
was Immediately paid by all Ave %
those present. OF the Ave gentlemen
present two were Democrats. two
were Republicans. and the nth WAS
lProhibltionist or the officers elected
one was a Republican. one n Demo
!. crat and one Proh'bltionist. With
4 this s25 in hand. the association go
out literature outlining it's purpose
i and appealing for contributing mem
n bers. Within a few months. the as
: sociation had over $50 members.
Is Late in the summer of 1914. pub
: lie meeting was called at Waller
,e Theatre. which was we'll attended from
& all parts OF Sussex county Governo
= Charles r. Miller attended the meet
II ing. and was the principal speaker.
l. a second meeting was held at Mi
= ford a few weeks later under the di
d rection of Hon. George II. Hall an,
n Dr. G. Layton Grier. After this, IN
J. movement began to roll fast; but,
10 became evident that some change
should be made In our methods o
le ounty government, as II was very evi
u dent TO the members OF this associa
N ton that a bond issue for consider
,e able sum OF money. TO improve on
ls roads would not be enacted at Dover
unless our taxpayers had more conf
y dence in the government of the coun
ss ;y. The association became convince
7 that, at least three OF our laws shoul
;. be amended at once; the first one per
;, second one to the method Of collectin
y taxes; and the third being our Lev
J. Court system.
ar Therefore the association employe
IN counsel TO draft these three amend
ments; and, also. to draft bi
n authorizing the bonding of our coun
! ty for S1,00o,000 for permanent In
n provement OF roads The attorney
er employed We're Daniel ]. Layton, Jr
a. and Charles w. Cullen, one Republ
:, can and the other Democrat. Thes
r. four bills were prepared, presented
:, the Legislature at its 1915 session
= and the first three bills were passe
q. but the fourth bill, which was TO bon
- for improved roads was defeated onl
80 TO be resurrected and passed two yeal
= thereafter.
q Assessor Who Couldn't Write.
IT Prior to the passage of these thr'
measures, we had IA assessors in SUI
r. ses county, one from each of the
in hundreds; except in one of the hui
ng dreds, which had two assessors Fac
OF these assessors was elected by II
ais voters within his respective distric
fr. Continued on page 8.
c