Milford chronicle., 1933-02-24

ing power seriously declining, could
not be expected to yield the funds
for relief such as are now needed
II the needy were to be adequately
and humanely provided for as long
/ as this emergency lasts, the State
must shoulder the burden. TO this
end our Governor called a special
session of the General Assembly. An
Emergency Unemployment Relief
Commission was created. The mon
les necessary for providing made
work and din ect relief were apprO-
priated and this commission is dill
gently engaged in the work set out
Tor it with the best wishes of our
citizens with few knocks from the
politicians.
"In the State of Delaware the eX-
pense of government falls largely
upon the State Treasury and the
crucial problem at present is to find
ways aud means of providing State
money to further supplement the
moneys already being appropriated.
The expense of maintaining school
system from a university to kin
dergarien falls upon the State with
the exception of cases, where the
special school districts are not sat
isiied With the educational plan OF
the State Board of Education, the
members of the local board are per-
mitted TO raise the additional funds.
made necessary by more eXpen-
sive plan. by special school tax.
There has been a material increase
in the cost of operating our school
system since 1929.
"Our State highway system, COM
posing some five hundred miles Of
improved roads and extending by
almost straight line from Pennsyl-
vania to Maryland state lines and
into every city, town, village and
hamlet throughout tho State. was
constructed and paid for with the
exception of few million dollars,
from monies taken from the State
Treasury and is now maintained by
fees from the motorists Of our State
and gasoline tax paid largely by our
own citizens but contributed to by
citizens OF our neighbOring states.
who visit us and are heartily well
come. -.5
= Local governments. outside OF
Wilmington where there is police
court, furnish neither court nor
The counties have no
district attorney and no county
court paid for otherwise than by the
State. The expense of juries and
court clerks is met by the county.
Poor relief, other than emergen-
cy relief as now prevailing. comes
from a poor tau levied by the cOun-
ty upon the real estate of its tax
payers. This fund proved to be most
inadequate before the economic de-
preston came along and to raise
the monies required after this sad
event was impossible in view of the
fact that taxes are hard to collect
at present.
"The cost of elections for local
officials is paid by the local govern
municipal. county or school.
For the election of State officers,
he State pays for the registration
Of voters while the counties pay the
election officers. both State and
county officials being chosen at the
same election.
institutional care is becoming
more and more an obligation as
most of those started as private or
,emi-public organizations soon are
applicants to the General Assembly
or financial cid. This applies to
hospitals, homes for boys and girls,
nurseries for babies. libraries and
wen fire companies. The counties |
ire soon to relinquish the care of
he INDECENT in sO-callcd almshouses |
or a welfare home to be built and |
largely from State funds. |
"Old age pensions and mothers |
PENSIONS arc provided by funds
rom the state Treasury with con-
from the counties.
Police protection in districts out
ide the limits of incorporated cities !
md towns is afforded by highway |
,olice force maintained by the State .
Highway Department and county
iOlice force under the control of the
Jew Castle County Levy Court.
state supervision over local bud
cts does not prevail in Delaware
kept TO the extent that borrowing
{ money must have the approval OF
he General Assembly where the
Orrower has charter from the
tate. Otherwise there is no super
isiOn or control continuing or
Changes in tax rate have not
iken place to any considerable cx-
ant since 1929 but such changes as
ave been made have been in
ownward direction. Taxpayers are
eginning to realize and are con-
lantly reminded that it is their
loney being spent and are demand
lg lowering of salaries and cur
lilment of expenditures.
Deficiency of tax collections be-
w the levy-county and municipal
is probably not very serious i'm
lese local governments except
ew Castle county and the city of
both of which govern
ents have crying need for taxes
unpaid. Drastic measures
II payment of taxes over due are I
lreatened from time to time but
institute more of promise than a I
reat. 4
"The debt situation as now exis-
mt in the counties. municipalities
I'd school districts of our State is
ry satisfactory. No debt are being |
CURED that there is no reasonable ]
,pectation of being able to meet l
hen necessary. The issuance Of {