Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-02-12
LETTER FROM DOVER.
p0ndenes Of ne Journal and Stafesnan.

Witnessesln Courts-. Collection Of the Oounts
Idres-Tns Election Of School Commits.
sIoners-1he Deldware Central Railroad
Donation Of Che Public Lands accepted
Deldtodre College at NsDark promoted as The
location Of SehOol-iStdte Treasurer and
Auditor-A Dio0rce BIZ Defeated and Re
onstdered-Some Of The Lottery Money
The Annual Ball, &c., 60.
DovRR, February 0, 1867.
The bill concerning witnesses, introduced
by Mr.. Allderdice, was called up for con.
sid0ration on Wednesday. and several amend
ments were offered and adopted. One of the
amendments, offered by Mr.. Reed of Kent,
intefpolates the word "whte," in the frs
section. The bill is an important one, al
though it only adopts what has been in opera
ton in number of the States for years. The
following is a copy of 1t:
Be IL enacted By the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of the State of Delapare III
General AsSembly met.
SECTION |. No white person offered as q
witness shall be excluded from giving evi.
dence either in person or by deposition in
any civil proceeding In any Court or before
any person having authority to receive evil.
dence, by reason Of incapacity from interest,
but every person 30 offered shall be admitted
10 give evidence, Notwithstanding he or she
may have an interest in the matter in cues.
ton and said interest may be shown for the
purpose OF affecting his or her credit.
SECTION .. Parties to any civil suit or pro.
ceeding at law or in equity or persons fol
whose benefit any such suit or proceeding IL
brought or defended, may testify in open
Court and may be compelled to testify OF
depose in such suit or proceeding, as other
Witnesses: PrOoidod, that when an original
party to the contract or cause of action ia
dead, or when an executor or administrator
10 party to the suit, the other party NAV be
called as witness by his opponent. but
shall not be admitted to testify upon his own
offer, or upon the call of his co-plaintiif OF
co-deiendant, otherwise than now by law
allowed, unless nominal party merely.
5RcTIoN 3. Nothing in the preceding two
Sections shall render the husband and wife,
during marriage or after divorce. competent
to testify for or against each other, otherwise
than now by law allowed; nor be applicable
codicil.
SECTION 4. The interest of a witness In
the event OF the action or proceeding, or his
conviction of crime, may be proved by an
examination OF such witness or otherwise.
and his answers upon such examination NAV
be contradicted by other evidence.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Reed, in rela.
ton TO the collection OF the County, Road
and Poor taxes, is exciting some comment,
and opinions differ as to Its being any I'M.
provement on the old mode of collection.
II each county had Receiver of Taxes fol-
the whole county, and not Collector fol
each Hundred, the public would gain some.
thing by the change. The bill is as follows
SECTION 1. Be il enacted 6y the Senate and
House Of Representatives Of Tho State Of Del
aodre In General Assenibly met: That all
persons who shall pay their County, ROAD
and Poor Taxes. or any part thereof. to the
Collector thereof on or before the first day
OF June, 1867, and on or before the first day
OF June annually thereafter, shall have anC
be entitled to discount Of five per cent
from the tax or taxes 80 paid: And all per
sons who shall pay to the Collector thei
County, Road and Poor Taxes, or any par
thereof, after the first day of June, 1867, AMI
after the first day of June annually thereafter
on or before the first day of September, 1867
and on or before the first day of Septembe
annually thereafter, shall have and be en-
titled to discount Of three per cent from
the tax or taxes 80 paid
SECTION 2. And be II further enacted b,
the authority aforesaid, That ali person
who have not paid their County, Road AM
Poor Taxes to the Collector, on or befor
the first day of September, 1867, and on o
before the first day OF September annual,
thereafter, shall pay the full amount of M,
County, Road and Poor Taxes up to the frs
Tuesday of November, 1867, and on or befor
the first Tuesday Of November annual,
thereafter. And all persons who have no
paid 10 the Collector their County, Roa,
and Poor Taxes, on the first Tuesday q
November, 1867, and on the frat Tuesday q
November annually thereafter, shall nav n,
additional tax OF five per cent. month Of
the tag or taxes unpaid until the same shal
be paid.
SECTION 3. And be II further enaoted h,
the authority Aforesaid, That il shall be N
duty of the Collector of the County. Ron,
and Poor Taxes, to appoint at least one al,
IN each month before the first Tuesday 8
November Of each year after the dupiicat
shall come into h. hiA hands, to meet the tax
payers IN each Of the prln.,,"'al towns o
places OF business In his Hundred bv do.
usemept in hqndbill form. and in ~ S r,',l
PapeI 81 ms county, setting forth his dav
ana places, when and where he NAV x,
ioundi and If he shall fall TO meet ths11 ~ ~
the Time and at his appointed place Of nraa,
ing, or appoint an agent to attend for hin, -
ms place In his absence, to receive the IA Voc
he shall forfeit his per eeptaRe on ali monsn,