Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-16
rHE TAX DUpBIoArEs.

-
They Have Been Finished by the
Clerk OF the Peace-Why the Coll
lectors do Not Take Them.
The duplicates for the county tax COL
leotors Of Wilmington are now lying at
the office OF the clerk Of the peace, prao-
tioaliy ready for the collectors TO take
them to their offices and begin the oolleo-
ton Of taxes for the current year. The
only thing needful to put them thor
oughly in shape is the signature of Isaac
N. Grub, one Of the two members Of
the levy court committee whose duty IL ia
to approve the tax duplicates for this
hundred. The other member Of the
committee, Joseph Roberts, has already
appended his signature.
There is great indignation among Re-
publicans, and apparently with Just cause,
OF the delay of the collectors in getting TO
work this year. They regard 1t as an at
tempt to deprive them Of the opportunity
of paying their taxes In time TO register
next Saturday and thus qualify them
selves to vote at the coming city election.
Saturday is the last day on which citizens
can SO qualify themselves, and IL they
are unable to pay their taxes this week
they will be unable to register and vote.
The clerk Of the pence, this year, made
unusual efforts to get the duplicates
ready in due season, and by hard work
got them completed ut an earlier date
than ever before. Last Thursday the
books were ready, and Deputy Clerk 0s-
borne on that date notified the committee,
MeHsrs. Grub and Roberts. The latter
came to Wilmington on Monday and APP
pended his signature to the duplicates.
Mr.. Grubb has no yet responded to the
notice. This omission, however, is not
regarded as a valid excuse for the oollec-
tors not taking possession Of the books,
as in past years IL has not been unusual
for the collectors to take the books as
soon as they were counted up, while the
members OF the committee signed them
afterwards, at their convenience.
But this year the county collectors,
John J. Dougherty and George W. Mckee,
seem inclined to wait until the last legal
Formally is strictly complied with. On
Saturday last Mr.. Osborne notified both
collectors that the duplicates were ready
for them, but thus far these officers have
not taken them away from the office of
the clerk of the peace. Mr.. Osborne
feels that as far as that office is con-
oerned everything has been done that
the law required, and that the books have
been technically delivered" to the col
lectors. The latter have been notified,
and the books await their pleasure.
Meanwhile, the collectors decline to
take the books until they are signed by
Mr.. Grub. Mr.. Grub fails to turn up,
and the citizens who are anxious TO pay
their taxes in order TO register next Sat
urday and vote at the city election, can
not do so. And so the situation stands,
awaiting further developments.
There is great Indignation among Re-
publioans at the manner in which the
tax duplicates for Wilmington have been
kept ont Of use by the ridiculous dilly.
dallying OF Collectors Dougherty and
Mckee and Levy Court Commissioner
foolish excuses and dilatory proceedings
Isaac N. Grub. They see in thess
deliberate attempt to prevent then
from paying their taxes in time to register
on Saturday next and thus qualifying
themselves for voting at the city election
Many Democrats, particularly those
who are ranked as keen and expert poll
ticians, are intensely disguised at the
senseless farce. They declare that there
are ''no politics" In such babyish pro
oeedings as the intent of the delay Is &c
pslpsble that the silly reasons advanced
by the tax collectors only serve to max,
them the laughing stock Of the DOM
munity. To deliberately prevent mel
from paying their taxes, thus depriving
the depleted county treasury OF sorell
needed funds, Bsvors too much of publi
robbery to the mind Of the average prop
Ill vl. has adj
tional burden laid upon his estate. M
party can afford to countenanoe suol
outrageous tactics and for this reason
many Democrats loudly protested agains
longer continuance of the ridiculoul
farce.
Tuesday o meeting OF the Republics
executive committee of the First distric
was held at headquarters, Seventh ant
Market streets, at which, after thorough
discussion of the situation, the followin
preamble and resolutions were adopted
WHEREAS, By the neglect or refusal Of on
OF the committee Of the levy court, lsaa
N. Grubb, to sign the tax duplicates for VII
mington hundred, the citizens Of this cit
uDjustly deprived Of their right to pa.
their taxes and qualify themselves for regis
tration, without which they cannot exercis
the right to vote at the city election, Jun
LIST. Therefore be It
Resolved, That such action on the par. Q
this member OF the levy court committe
meets with our unqualified condemnation
and we call on all good citizens to aid us I
making such conduct so disreputable tina
1t will never occur again In this commu
nifty.
Resotued, That as citizens OF Wilmington
We demand that those who wish TO pa
their taxes shall have the opportunity :
do 80; and we call upon the press and citi
zsns to make every effort to compel thos
whose duty It Is to receive the taxes 3
give everyone q chance to pay who may 9
desire.
THE BOOKS NOW READY.
Yesterday morning President Grub
OF the levy court arrived OF the office
the clerk Of the peace and attached hi
approving signature to tax duplicates 10
Wilmington. MIR. Grubb's excuse 10
not sooner responding Is entirely vsli
and reasonable. He was away last wee
on visit to Bridgeport, Conn.,, with
levy court committee, and reached hom
on Saturday evening. He was confine
| at home by sickness the next two days
and Tuesdey was detained by press c
business and farm work. He states thu
} he was not in the city on Monday, as he
, been stated.
The books up to noon yesterday wer
lying on table in the office of the cler
|, of the peace, where the collectors ca
get them at any time. Collector Dough
, erty was detained at court as wi
/ ness in the case Of O. Brooks Foster Vi
the mayor and Council of Wilmington
Collector Mckee was ct the tax office fc
, few minutes yesterday morning, but 500
left and went to his place OF business
7 south Of Market street bridge. The CO.
lectors now allege that they need time I
look over the books before receiving take
but this excuse Is weak, as the books al
. complete. containing the name and o.