Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-19
"Fho Eyli Intent Of This scneme., J,

which is about to be fought ont in our
courts is attracting more attention from
the press Of ether cities than anything
pertaining to Delaware that hiss turned up
since the senatorial struggle OF last win
Ter. Much Of what ls getting into print
In outside pspers is based upon misap-.
prehension and Munohsussn ism well cal
culated to be read here with mingled
amusement and arlazoment. For ey-
ample, the readers o. one Of the BAlli-
more pspers were seberly told the other
day that thousands Of cisnurods taxable7
had been beaioging the tax office day
after day, and that the collectors had
brought down upon their shoulders q
regular whitlwind Of popular indigns.
ton because of their persistence
in excluding these thousands from
room which could not contain
more than % or SO Of them ct one tins.
OF course such stuff as this carried with
it, mapitestly, its own RECITATION to every
careful reader; but there mas been much
more printed that, while equally unfair,
was not 30 wildly absurd on its face and
was better calculated to DO accepted as
credible by people ignorant of the Del.
aware system of qualifying voters. Amid
30 much OF misconception and exaEgsra-
ton, it is gratifying to come across an
editorial writer who reveals 20 much
capacity to grasp the real merits Of the
controversy as wa and in to-day's New
York Times, The writer to whom we
refer, sums up the situation as follows:
In Delaware the Republicans, under ths
lead Of Senator Anthony Higgins, aratryinH
70 improve upon the Massachusetts practice
OF furnishing money for the payment OF tho
poll taxes Of Individual voters by using
powers Of attorneys 10 pay these taA0s Ii
bulk themselves and to obtain tue rPcelTts
which are evidence OF the Eight 70 YItsi. Tor
future use. Iha assessment lists there arr
IN effect rolls OF the persons entitled "a vofe
after they have been revised By stTtklng OF
the names Of such ns haye NOT pAil thair
taxes within the prescribed tina. The
Democrats finva heEn accused of ahustng
this assessment law to deprive aoicrad a 81
10 considerable nlmeers Of the privilege OF
voting by deliberately negltetlnR to assess
them or by putting Obstacles III tine way Of
their paying the poll tax before tho date
tixed be law TOR the completion Of the lists.
Vhera is no doubt OF the existence Of this
abuse but on the other han2 IL Il GAasgsd
that In the city Of Wilmington last year
there were the names Of 3,0g0 colored men
on the assessment lists as "taxRblGs' and
possible voters, although there are really
less than 1900 colored men Ia the city OF
voting age
The scheme Of Senator Higgins md hts
supporters 10 to secure from the cOlorad
men and others whose names are on the
assessment lists powers Of attorney 10 Day
the taxes for them then 70 make paymsnt
soil In 4t1tIh. Fuk 10
the receiptgi ana when the Tins cf glectiya
comes around to ''vote" the mon whose
taxes they have paid ID blocks OF Ave. OR
Otherwise; at all events to sec that they
yote the right ticket and that nons OF them
get away lhs collector of the county
having refused 60 receive payment On thase
Wholesale proxies and issue receipts 1n the
names, a suit has baan brought for man.
damus to compel him to do so, and the
matter is nov In court with Senator Htg-
gins IS the prtncipa counsel for the Rapln-
lteaa committee that has tee scheme In
hand Whatever muy he decided in regard
TO the legal Right Of men 20 pay their taxes
by proxy BY giving powers OF attorney Ia
others to act tlr them, thore ls no doubt OF
the evil intent OF this scheme. lis snle rGr-
pose is 10 exercise absolute control over a
large body Of voters and practically ID cast
their entire vote for them II here are
names frauduleDtly upon the lists the WAY
would also be open t9r getting in votes on
those natnes BY using tae taS receipts IA
the hands Of mea "saatEcd up anywhere
for the purpose.
The disclosure that there arc 3,Qag
colorsd men on the assessment lists OF
Wilmington reveals the size o. lilo hfri
can in this Higgins woodplie. Lst "a
fgnre up the negro population o. this
city spon this basis. Csnsua ststiatioa
show that .G my ra-F az t,as p,3r,lt 49,, j,