The daily gazette., 1881-02-01
THE OFFICE ITSELF.

The abuses in the Tax Office of this
city, and especially the existence of
the Office of the Collector of Delin-
quent Taxes itself, by which a very
large sum Of money, estimated at u
quarter of million of dollais, is an
nually extorted from the people, not
only inspired the present reform and
Independent movement, but are the
only things which give it strength and
which may crown it with success
The original act creating the Office of
Collector of Delinquent Taxes, while
II has accomplished desirable end
in reducing the formerly enormous
amount of outstanding taxes, was
nevertheless conceived in iniquity, and
the popular belief is that it has been
executed in the spirit of its concep-
tion. The act of April 10, 1879, which
increased the powers and emoluments
OF the Collector under the original act
and made rigorous enforcement of
its provisions especially oppressive to
small property holders and poor ten
ants, intensified the popular feeling
against the Office and provoked a
newspaper discussion which is the
cause OF the present popular move
ment for reform which affects both
parties and includes all classes.
This uprising of the people Of Phil
adelphia, if it may be so called, is di-
rected almost entirely against theTax
Office. As Mr.. John Hume er said in
bis letter acceptin. the nomination of
the Committee of One Hundred, they
believe that "the Tax Office and De-
linquent Tax Office must be placed
under the control of ihe voters and
taxpayers, that all the emoluments of
the offices, over and above a fair com
pensation, may be returned TO the
City Treasury" Mr.. Hunter goes
further, and adds that "a man should
be elected Tax Receiver who will, even
without the repeal of the present De-
linquent Tax Bill, conduct the affairs
of the Office in the best interests of the
people, in the most economical, nom
partisan manner, and in accordance
with the spirit and intention of the
new Constitution making all offices
salaried." This is also true, but as
at the same time The Objectionable
features of the Office are sanctioned
by law and were purposely enacted
by the Legislature, they should be
reformed in The same way and by the
same body.
Whether Mr.. Pierre or Mr.. McGrath
or Mr.. Hunter be elected Receiver, de-
linquent taxpayers will still be subject
10 the same exactions, the oppressive
features of the supplementary act of
1879, which are the cause of the COM
plalnts of poor people, will still be re-
tanned on the statute books, and the Of
flee will still earn an income entirely
dispropOrtionate TO the service rendered.
This extraordinary income Mr.. Hunter
would doubtless tnrn into the City
Treasury, out to do so he would be COM
PEELED to rob Peter to pay Paul, by con-
tinuing TO levy the exactions and i'm
POSITIONS Of the law on the delinquents.
Now he TACT is that the Tax keceiv.
er's Office ought TO be legally reorganiz-
ed and that wi hin the next three weeks.
-PhiIG. Press.
The above coming from the Press is
proof of the bad legislation which It's
party has been guilty Of, aud which the
Press sustained until the people became
euraged and revolted. Now, the Press
begs them to bear with the outrage un-
I'll the Republican party can repeal the
law. The best thing the people can do
Is TO vote aga nst party that passes and
sustains such a law,