Smyrna times., 1885-02-11
Collecting TayeS.
\ RADICAL CHANGE PROPOSE

RADICAL CHANGE PROPOSED.
Gundy Brown, who is credited with
belonging to the Wolcou WING of tbc
party, proposed last week in the Leo
Stature a radical measure in regard io
collecting our county taxes that calls
Tor attention, if for no other reason
that it emanates from what is coDsid-
cred the progressive element of the
dominant party. The tendency here
tolore has been been to multiply in
stead of diminish the offices in order
tnat there might be more nubbins to
distribute to the hungry crowd of
Office seekers, and Just here may ba
the rock on which this new venture
VIII most probably be wrecked. The
Dill IS thus summarized by the legisla-
tive reporter of the Erc,y Ercaing:
The title of the bill is An act to
change the present mode of COLLECTING
taxes and for other purposes and See.
ton ] comprises only the abrupt dec
laration that office of collector Of faxes
Is hereby abolished The other seq
TONS OF the bill require the duplicates
now delivered to the collectors of thc
several hundreds to be delivered to
the county tTearurcr, who shall he
charged with the duty of COLLECTING
the taxes, under such official bond ~
IhG levy court may require, for the
colIec'lon OF all taxes on the dupli-
Gates except such as are allowed bv
the levy court as errors and commis-
sions.
Inc county treasurer, as soon MS
Ihe duplicates are received, shall give
notice by public printed advertisement
That he will attend at u certain pIace
Tor at least three days, to receive the
taxes. The first day shall be between
the lst and 10Th of June the second
between the lst and 10Th of Auoust
and. the third, between the lst and
llth OF September. Those who nay on
the first day shall be entitled to n re-
duction OF D per cent; on the second
day, to reduction Of 3 per cent. and
on the third day to Il reduction of Il
per cent Atter the days specified an
addition OF D per cent shall be made to
unpaid taxes. The county treasurer
shall have the same power to enforce
collections as the collectors now possess
and shall be on duty, while receivino
taxes, six hours per day.
The compensation of the county
trcasurers of Kent and Sussex cou1-
Ties snail be per cent. of the taxes
received and per cent. Of those col
lected. The compensation of the
treasurer of New Castle county shall
be the salary now allowed by law $500
per annum), with the addition of 1 per
cent on all collections made after the
tme Tor voluntary payments. The |
county treasurers may appoint deDu |
ties to aid them. The closing section /
of the bill provides that the existing
laws relating to the collection of taxes |
shall remain i'll force to enable the |
present collectors to finish their
duties, and that the new law shall not |
affect the liability of any collector
until his official bond is cancelled.
Mr.. Brown cites as Il strong point
IN favor of the change proposed in his
bill, that it will dispense with small
army Of Office holders and enforce n
closer collection of county taxes. Bv
It's provisions the county treasurers
Will be required to collect capitation rs
Wen as real estate taxes, and thus
large numbers of men now annually
returned as delinquents because they
iall to pay u poll tax, will be com
PEELED to pay, thereby materially in
creasIng the revenues of the resnec-
uYe counties. The bill has not beon
before the House long enough to ex-
cite general comment, so that its
OF passage can not yet be esli-