Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-14
Couuty Taxes and Democracy.

GAlltQ tue HtttubOn VI t1o ASNJ
10 tue fact that the county Is without
money, and legitimate expenses can
scarcely be met. In financial state
ment he sets forth the reasons why theI
treasury 10 empty. The tax levy forl
1885 was in round numbers S237 200,
but OF this amount only $89, 20 have
been collected and paid over by thel
collectors, and here We are within
three months OF the ending OF tae hscsi
year. Mr.. Herbert goes little farther
and shows where there Is the least dis
position TO pay taxes and that distinc-
ton falls upon 81. Georges Hundred,
where very little Of the taxes for 1885
has been collected and whore the sum
of$4. 469. IS for 1884 Is still unpaid. 81.
Georges Hundred 10 one Of the wealth
lest in the county, her farmers are
opulent, and have been rewarded with
great peach crops, as we'll AZ grain
crops, and We. while Brandywine,
Christiana, Min Greek, New Castle and
White Clay Creek are agricultural
Hundreds and without large peach
crops have their taxes well paid up, s..
Georges lays behind.
But in other respects St. Georges
shows up TO q bad advantage when
compared with other parts OF the coun-
ty. st. Georges is really the back bone
OF the Democracy Of New Castle Coun-
ty. 1t has become so, not for the large
Democratic majority 1t gives, for New
Castle Hundred gives larger one, bat
for the large majority OF Republicans
that are kept disfranchised from voting
On fair and full assessment and full
vots st. Georges wouldgive two hundred
and fifty Republican majority. There
has not been day since the colored
men were admitted to the polls when
this majority could not have been
given. list. Georges gave no Demo
cratic majority at all, 1t would still be
the strong wheel horse Of Democracy in
the county on account Of the large mum
Der OF Republicans the assessors and
collectors OF that Hundred keep dis
franchised. The means by which this
Is done are well known to the people.
The in!quitous assessment laws heartily
approved by Mr.. Bayard, and at his
suggestion still farther amended to
make them more iniquitous, work like
q charm in this Hundred, and Just al
the authors Of those laws.intended they
should work. But these assessment
laws have proved double edged sword
in 81. Georges.
While they have been successful il
preventing three hundred Republican,
from exercising the right Of frsnchis,
by cheating the county out Of :he pol
taxes OF that number OF voters, the,
have demoralized the real estate own
ers and they 100 are evidently not in.
clined TO pay their taxes. Who cal
blame them? Is there any justice IL
law that compels real estate owner
TO pay taxes and is 30 worded an,
shaped and understood by Democrat
collectors as not intended TO apply I
Republican poll tax payers?
The assessment laws are bringin
legitimate tzui: in S.. Georges Hundre
and Of late years have brought for,
fruit in Pencsder.
St. Georges has been petted and fo
died and pstted upon the back by Il
Democratic party ever since these di
franchising avs were passed. 1t W
well understood that there was lar
Republican majority In the Hundr,
that could no. be wiped out except
the operations of these laws. T
Democrats were encouraged TO do t
work assigned them by the bestowal
liberal patronage. A Governor "
taken from the Hundred and there b
not been period in many years VIII
the Hundred has not had leadi
office in the county row filled by one
Its wealthies: citizens. The prese
Clerk of the Peace and his deputy {
both from s.. Georges The prese
Speaker OF tie House of Represen,
tives is from s.. Georges aud has
Gently been appointed deputy col.ec
OF Internal Revenue, and leading C,
didate for Governor next term is a
from that Hundred. The Dsmocrs
OF St. Georges have been we'll paid
cheanng Republicans out OF their vol
put 1t Is costing the county v
pretty round sum. Look at the
ures, u, 1881 Of last years taxes
paid and very little OF this year ia
paid. Tnis amount is due from
property owners Of St. Georges.
poll tax payers have been elimina
from the sax duplicates, their ma,
erased from the assessment and {
disiran chised away back in last A,
Ihey were never asked to pay
OF taxes only by vague posted nc
that the beautiful assessment laws
tended should not be noticed by
tax payers.
But the county wants money. G
ty Treasurer Herbert cannnos pay
BILLS w!thou. IL. Bat bad al the CO..
wants money, the names of two 1
sand voters will be stricken from
tax duplicates n April next and
ranchised to- Two years for non.
ment of their poll tax while they
not beeH called upon nor asked pc
ally to pay their taxes Az their n
go I'll the assessment, s. 900 goes
them, that the county might have
The property owners must max
this deficiency. The thumb-scre
taxation are 10 be given another
and the men who own small com
BILE homes with mortgages upon
that they are trying TO pay off a
foot the bill. They are to foot IL
to keep the Democracy in pow
New Castle County. They are
the bill that rich men NAV a
county otf ces. We are not sur
that the properly owners of st. G
Hundred are slow in paying
taxes. Such discrimination am
fairness is enough to make al
slow in paying taxes.
But the Democracy must be /
fhO,,nh h..