Daily Republican., 1879-01-16
The Assessment and CoilectiOn nj
Taxes.


needs special attention, and that is the
question of the assessment and coller'
ton of taxes. Mr., Dean we know is
200 close and too intelligent an observ.
-r of every thing connected with State
and County government, not to know
that a great reform is needed in this
res p-ct, and while he is engaged in his
present undertaking of reforming some
of III. abuses which emanate from a
laxi.y of administration by the Levy
Court, We would not crowd too much
labor upon him, but We confidently ex.
peet him before the session closes, to
lead in an attempt to secure law
which will compel the County colloc-
tors to call upon every assessed taxable
and collect the taxes. The present law
might we'll be styled "a law to ch-a'
the State out of taxes and citizens out
Of votes" and the working OF the law
was exe,npif-h at the last Election
when not more than half the vote OF
the State was polled, aud when Sussex
Coanty pollci a. many votes as New
Castle did. There can b- no doubt
that the present: to was passed for parti-
san purposes. but can the state afford
to l- cheated every year out OF thou
sands Of dollars o. taxes. simply that
party may b- k~pt continuously i'll
power! We presnm" there will lie no
dissent To- tine idea that taxes should
b. levied and collected to pay the eX-
ppn-"S incurred III carrying on the gov
4rnnrnt an that every per should
be- made 10 bear an equitable share
in paying thos. EXPENSES. If this then
| i, true. the question arise, why are so
many men not assessed, and not even
ca led upon to contribute towards pay
ing the EXPENSES Of the State Govern
m-nt? At the late election in this just
about halt the vote Of the State was
polrd. What WAS the reason "f this
Simply BECAUSE one fourth OF the vot-
abb, population was disfranChised
through the operations Of the present
law providing for the assessment and
collection OF taxes, or providing rather
for the non assessment and non collec-
ton of taxes, except from owners ofr"al
estate whose taxes are necessary III
paying the salaries Of state officers, the
interest on the debt of the State and
other EXPENSES. This laxlty on tn"
part of coll-ctors to collect from those
who pay simply poll tax has created
an Indifference as to the payment OF
such tax, and rather than take the
trouble to call upon the collector at the
; risk Of hong iDsulted, the result |.
: tho-r who are only Assessed a poll tax
: let 1t % by default and they become
. partly by their cwn action disfranchis
: I'd, and when one fourth of the people
D are dlsfranrhisrd another fourth whit
: possibly may have paid the taxes as
a sessed TO them become indifferent alSC
= and do not vote. This is the way /
works in some of the Southerr State
l specially III Georgia and Mississippi
D where Congressman were elected at thu
last election by about 1000 votes, while
' in vigorous healthy district wher,
l there IS 40 discrimination, intimida
ton. or Vaccinations, it takes gener
t allv about ~ .0UI votes to elect Con
gresham.
Though the proportion of voters II
= Delaware at the last election was great
: cr than i'll Georgia, yet with one posi-
II bic exception there was never such
IS 80 years, and that exception was when
e during the war, Hon. n. b. Smither
l. was elected. by unanimous vote, til
u Democrats in body Oh account Of IL
y military at the polls refusing to vote
l. II We mistake not Mr.. Smithers at tina
I" election received about II 600 votes
d which was about half the vote Of til
y State at that time. But we think al
will agree that there can be no health
e er condition of state than when ev
% cry body who ha, right to suilrag
. votes. Every citizen then feels tina
d h. has some interest in the Stat
Il Government and is cJnseq ucntiy to tina
o extent a better citizen. 1t is certainI
s a great mistake TO place distractions i
! the way of suffrage and make it differ
& cult and expensive to obtain. The wa.
to the ballot box should be inOb:truct
- ed plainly defined and straight, tina
go the way cannot be mistaken. It j
e needless for US in this already long al
a ticIe, to point out these obstructiors il
u the road to the ballot box. All intelli
gent men know them, and it is no cred
- it to the legislation Of til" State tina
y they were placed there for an evider
1t partisan purpose. Nobody is bette
IS informed upon this subject than tn
Of members Of the Legislator" who are il
10 teIIigcnt gentlemen and who We beliey
q IN. IL .unspd 70 not hnurstlY and inna