Milford chronicle., 1922-03-03
SUSSEX COUNTY
ADVANCED UNDER
NEW GOVERNMENT
Organization Simplified, Costs
Reduced and Responsibility
Definitely Fixed.
VALIANT EXPLAINS PLAN

William E. Valiant of Georgetwon
IN his address yesterday. before the
members of the Rotary Club at their
luncheon in the Hotel du POnt, eX-
planned in detail and in a very inter-
ssting manner how the method of
county government in Sussex county
has been changed. He is a member
OF the County Commission created by
recently enacted laws to bring about
the changes which are now becoming
eHective. His was the first of a series
of talks on good government which
are to be given before the Rotary Club
| Formerly Sussex county was gov
! erned by a Levy Court elected one
| from each Of the Representative dis
itricts, but now there is a commission
of three elected at large and during
his address Mr.. Valiant showed in a
very convincing manner the many and
very extensive improvements that
have resulted from this change. 1t
has simplified the entire county or
ganizatiOn, he said, saves the county
money, reduced costs, fixed more def
nitely responsibility and has brought
about such wide spread improvements
that the people of that section are
Thoroughly appreciative of and in ac-
cord with the innovation.
'I wish to congratulate yOu," he
told the members, "on your earnest en-
deavor to learn through those who are
holding official position in Delaware,
the practical working of the laws
governing the several counties; as,
I understand, you are expecting to
have a 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 it, 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 prac-
tically all the time; but we did not
really wake up to the necessity of I'M
proved roads until our neiShbOr on
the south and west had built a large
number of miles of first-class roads
and Mr.. T. C. du Pont had launched !
his splendid road program.
About the first OF the year 1914 |
there began to be considerable agita-
ton in most sections Of the county for |
better roads.
During May, 1914, a good roads"
meeting was called by William II
Cook of Laurel, asking a number Of
our citizens to attend. The object of
the meeting was to form an organiza-
ton to start the good roads move
ment" This meeting was held i'll
Laurel on June 1, 1914. Those present
5ere William H. Cook. Dr. W. T. Jones
Arthur s. Hearn, Harvey f. Marvel
and Sirman D. Marvel. f
The organization then formed was
named Delaware Good Roads Associa-
ton Of Sussex County," and the of
acers elected were: William H. COOK,
DR.. w. T Jones, treasurer; ,
Arthur S. Hearn, secretary.
The membership fee was S5. which
was Immediately paid by all five of
hose present. OF the five gentlemen '
present, two were Democrats, two
we're Republicans. and the fifth was :
Of the officers elected,
me was a Republican, one a Demo- q
rat and one a ProhibitiOnist. With
his $25 in hand, the association got
ut literature outlining its purposes /
nd appealing for contributing men, 7
ers. Within a few months, the as =
ociation had over $50 members. G
Late in the summer of 1914, a pub
c meeting was called at Walters n
heatre which was well attended from
Il parts of Sussex county. Governor
harles r. Miller attended the meet -
lg, and was the principal speaker.
A second meeting was held at Mil y
ord a few weeks later under the di- -
ection of Hon George H. Hall and
'r G. Layton Crier. After this, the g
lovement began to roll fast; but, it " "
ecame evident that some changes 81
lould be made in our methods of -
unty government, as it was very evil
ant to the members of this associa- h,
on that a bond issue for consider p;
Die sum of money to improve our 81
,ads would not be enacted at Dover,
Mess our taxpayers had more conf Al
,nce in the government of the coun- pc
3. The association became convinced CO
at, at least three of our laws should ~
amended at once; the first one per-
lining to assessing property; the pr
cond one to the method of collecting L;
ZeSi ana IilS lH4TQ DG44AS Jul AShy SC
,urt system. M
the association employed -
unset to draft these three amend -,
ents; and also, to draft bill Al,
thorizing the bonding of our coun- ca
for $1,OOO,OOO for permanent i'm Sc
ovement Of roads The attorneys zMSyl
lployed were Daniel J. Layton, Jr., "
d Charles W-Cullen, one a Republi-
n and the other Democrat. These
lr bills were prepared, presented to =
e Legislature at it's 1915 session, w
d the first three bills We're passed, -
t the fourth bill, which was to bond
? improved roads was defeated only wv
be resurrected and passed two years 7
ereafter. do
Assessor Who Couldn't Write. !
Prior to the passage of these three on
assures, we had IA assessors in Sus- 2OB
county, one from each Of the 13 Y
ndreds; except in one Of the hun far
eds, which had two assessors. Each Be
these assessors was elected by the I
-ers within his RESPECTIVE district. an,
CONTINUED on page seven) old old