Evening journal., 1922-06-21
ball DENIES
EXTRAVAGANCES
Says Levy Court Has Tried
to Keep Expenditures at
Minimum
DECLARES BODY HAD
WORKING RULES


finance committee OF the Levy Court
in a statement issued last night
takes exception to the adverse criti
eism directed against the commit
tee in connection with expenditures
x or county funds. Mr.. Ball had ex
pected to read his statement before
The court yesterday, but when cour
took. a recess at 2 o'clock until to-
morrow morning Mr. Ball said h'
would make his formal statement
Ak that session.
q Mr.. Ball denies the report that
the court has been working without
rules and intimates that the new
f combination Of members comprising
( commissioners Buckson. Jones, Lat
tomus and Strahorn are taking
+ credit for economies and measures
which are the direct result of the
{ tefforts Of the finance committee
+ Mr.. Balls statement follows:
4 ~As chairman of the Finance Com
F imHtee. whose membership changed
I .with the adoption Of new rules,
{ 'feel that a few words should be said
,of the work Of our retiring commit
tee. which was named by our Presi-
ident Albert Stetser. and the valuable
.assistance rendered us by our comp
troller, James G Shaw
"Rumors OF the radical overnight
ireforms about TO take place, makes
lis necessary for me TO say that the
Itime and study already given the
budget. for the new fiscal sar be-
ginning July !, by the comptroller
land myself. disclose results OF the
Iefforts of our committee 10 be
Economical
II am not willing that these re-
suits should be the adopted fruits OF
q committee. or Of any one member
of our body We shall share alike
.the adverse criticism. and the glories,
If there be any.
81 believe we should be economical
land II the members OF this court
twho have been with us have observ-
ed wastefui expenditures OF our
I county money. they have been negli-
gent in their duties. by keeping silent
iduring any extravagant period. To
my knowledge no one has advised US
"OA NdrAAAAE lAWMENn -A4ANE III nHNA VI
Executive session. AS a matter OF
fact it has been the effort OF all. 10
imy mind to hold all expenses at
minimum.
"As long as the item Of unappro-
prated funds. set aside for any
sernergency that might arise, existed.
we were the object OF many Of the
scounty institutions for more funds
than specified for them, in the bud
seet as set up Others not included
wished special appropriations; they
were given thought and It is wonder
.fui to note how well they have got
ten on since unappropriated funds
became exhausted. Il would seem
proper then that this fund be reason
ably small.
"Of course we, none OF us know
how a new County rate viii work
out. until items of budgets are as
.sembled. There are many items
over which we have little or no CON
troll.
f'Delaware Industrial School. Board
of Prisoners and Interest on Bonds
and Mothers Pension Fund--the Leg
.islature sets many of these appro-
ipriations as lump sums. or per per-
son allotments and directs that the
/ Levy Court shall act merely as the
agent in providing these funds. In
the flexible items It is our choice to
ieither continue to provide annual
Improvements and road n -intenance
ior to save money by ignoring the de-
,mands for deserving and long ex-
tpected benefits. improvements do
cost money. as illustrated by the
Washington street bridge, which
now requires over s42, 900 interest to
be provided annually. as part of the
Increase of this item OF interest in
ithe budget from 100000 in 1920-2I
TO si60O00 in 1921-22 As the ex-
iample OF a county saving money by
doing as little as possible, we know
lof our neighbor on the south Here
even now we are glad to note the
awakening shown by the road i'm
'provements progressing there. ! be-
iieve that all projects should be con-
sidered on their merits and a reason
able sum annually be expended for /
the accomplishment OF the most /
worthy.
1T has been intimated that an
Increase in the tax rate is favored |
by some members. This is mis- 1
leading. It may be that some have |
in mind particular improvements /
they would like to see accomplished
and, no doubt, If all demands upon
'us. allowed and included in our bud
get, that our rate would be higher
than today. Personally. l favor the
Lowest possible county tax rate. in I
,connection with good business policy l
and from my position as chairman |.
iof Finance Committee. which per- I
mits me 10 be in even closer touch Il