Daily Republican., 1878-11-09
Hew the Tax Law Woyhs.

As the result Of the injustice OF the
present laws providing for the collsc-
ton OF county and State taxes, 1t is nc
unusual thing to hear numbers ol
voters say that they intend to pay nc
more taxes until the law Ii altered
Without commencing such q course ol
action, we think that this would be an
edeetual remedy to cure the evil com.
nlain.d Of. Even Democratic property
holders would be apt soon to rebel
against making the real estate Of the
county pay all the taxes II must not
be assumed that the class who threaten
the retaliation referred to intend to
pursue that course TO get clear Of pay
ing the small pittance due To the coun-
ty and State, but simply because Of the
insincerity and injustice Of the law. II
its object was to raise revenue with
which to carry on the Government,
they would have no objection, but
being enacted for quite different pur-
pose, and that purpose a political ons,
they do not feel In honor bound to obey
such = law, which when enforced only
innres to the success of one political
party, and with them 1t is q question
whether they are morally bound to
obey a one-sidsd partisan law. II the
State had been really honest in its in
tsntions to collect taxes alike from all
citizens who are or would be voters II
assessed, it would have provided more
stringent means 70 snforcs the law, and
not have confided the execution Of It to
violent pavtisans who are ever ready to
take advantage Of every technicality TO
further partisan ends. When q person
in any kind OF business has q number
Of creditors, hs uses the greatest
energy snd watchfulness to collect the
debts due him. He does not post two
Or three bills up where they cannot be
seen, telling his creditors that he will
b. found at 4 certain place al a certain
time, to receive what they might have
10 pay him, and then stop right there.
This Is oil we'll enough ss far ss 1t goes,
tut after he has received the debts due
rom those who call upon him, he then
makes those who did not call the espe-
,ial objects Of his attention. He goes
- work and he hunts up the delin-
luents, calling up,n them from time to
line, until he either gets his money or
'ully satisfies himself that his debtors
ire not able to pay him before he trans
or. their names To the loss column in
he ledger. A single thought will con-
Tince the reader that this is the only
honest or REASONABLE course to pursue
BY any person who expects or desires
% succeed In business. The question
hen arises, why cannot the State Off
,ers who are entrusted with the collec-
i>n of the bills due from the State
collect such bills
We have only to say that there is no
eason except to give political advan-
age to the party to which the collector
,elongs. Itis no wonder that people
hould become disgusted with law
hat was evidently never Intended TO
~ lust, nor the enforcement Of which
va, never expected to be entrusted TO
anybody but the strongest partisans
Who fully understood its intent and
Who would enforce. it accordingly. That
he law is overreaching itself in the un-
ust purposes for which it was intended
= evidenced by the determination ex-
pressed by many never to pay any
more tax until tits repealed or changed.
IN Kent County wher- the Republicans
lad no ticket at the recent State election
he State Sentinel Is open in its advocacy
If no Republican paying any more
axes until just law bearing equally
alike upon all is passed and the small
lumber of votes polled in that County
On Tuesday last, shows that the advice
If the Sentinel is being acted upon and
the refusal Of the non property holders
% pay taxes will soon make itself felt
II tn. increased taxation of real estate.
As we have already said, We do not ad-
socate the same course to be pursued in |
New Castle County, though the neglect
,r refusal to pay the taxes imposed by
'uch partisan and Unjust law is one Of
he least crimes that could be committed.
W. would much rather see the people
aunt up the collectors and pay their
axes than to allow themselves to be.
,ome disfranchised and thereby be
placed in position where they could
not possibly have any voice in deter
mining matters of deep interest, when
such emergencies arise. Any time be-
tween the present and the meeting of the
Levy Court in March would be a good
time to pay taxes by those who may
happen to be assessed, as receipt for
tax paid now would entitle the holder
TO a vote in the city election in Sep
,aml,ar 1870 and the city election in