Daily Republican., 1889-09-25
THE TAX COLLECTORS.
COLLECTORS M'kEE AND
povoHERry INTERVIEWED.

Afterwards Lets Himself LOOSE
what coliscsor Dousherty Has TO
Say-Evcrything Lovely.
called upon Collector McKee yesterday
to receive bis nuswers IN regard to bis
mode Of collecting taxes, or rather his
mode OF not collecting them.
Collectors Mckee aud Dougherty were
both in the officc and both received the
reporter politely. No others were In tho
cfflcc except Mr.. Douphcrty y son, a lad
about 16 years old, though before the In
terview closed Uncle Tommy" Oele
came IN and sat down at table 10 the
rear ONCE, and later some parties came
10 to pay their taxes, and as tho reporter
was about leaving Assessor McClosksy
and ex.Collector Neary dropped III ono
uIicr tho other.
After few common place remarks
about the weather The reporter COM
ntnced tho interview with Mr.. Mckee
with the following questions 10 sub
stance, and Mr.. MoKse's..answers In sub
stnncc arc appended:
aMr. Mckee, seeing that you have te
come the subject OF public criticism In
regard to your refusal TO accept taxts, /
wAnt 70 ask you lew questions relative
to the matter, which you can answer or
not as you SEQ proper; but recollect that
what you ray VIII bs rublished."
Mr.. Mckee II don't think am under
any obligations 70 answer your quss-
Iseportsr--s'Certainly not, but that
will not keep me from asling them.
Qnestion-''Am to understand that
Jou will not receive taxes except per-
sonalIy from tho individuals owing
themf"
Anawer-sT have nothing to say"
Reportcr--"Ali right, that answer will
tie pnbiIahed.n
that Jon will not honor power OF attor.
ney properly executed In the payment Of
| taxesl
Answer--aI have no reply to make. =
Reporter--"That is your answer, and
I win publish that"
AT this juucture Of the interview Col
lcctor Douuherty, probably seeing thi
bad record that Mr.. Mckee was com
mencipg to make for himself, interposet
aud gave tull outline OF the manner Il
which be and Mr. Mckee bad agreed I,
conduct the business OF the Office.
"You see," said Mr. Douglierty, ''thei
has been 90 much trou.ie aud confusiol
heretofore IN the collection OF taxes this
wo have determined to avoid It In th
future, and we have agreed to carry o.
the business upon busircss principles
We have determined that every perso
who owes taxes and wants TO pay ther
must come In person and pay Them"
Reporter Without discrimination
color or politics?
Collector Dougherty- discrimins
tion whatever Any person, white @
black, Democrat or Republican, who's
names are In these books will get thei
receipts when they come forward In pei
son and pay their tares.
/ Rsporter-But do you make no excer
tions In the case OF cripple, an age
person or sick mani
Collector Dougherty--0h, yes, thel
are exceptions TO all rules; but what
mean Is that We will NOT give receipts
those who want them BY the dozen, Oft
! or u hundred at n time 70 be used 10
political purposes. We had several case
whore receipts were given In that way
and the parties for whom they were give
afterwards came themselves 10 pay thei
taxes, and you may imagine the feeling
of thUfs paTtiea when they found tha
their taxes had been paid and the receipt
had not been handed to them. II 10 thi
Two want to guard against. II thos
parties for whom taxts were paid ca,
proper they could lay down two cent
and demand q duplicate, and we woul,
be round TO give It. Then there woul
bs two lax receipts Isl u u for one mar
and both could b. used for political put
poser.
Reporter-ssThen you mean to say, Mi
Dougherty, that this thing In praet:c
heretofore, OF Democrats carrying ol
bundlcs Of Iectipts to DO distributes
where they will do the most good, 10 I
cease, do your"
Mr.. Dougherty ST mean that no Ia
receipts Will be issued except to tn
parties personally for whom they are In
tended, with The rare exceplions to whIc
you have REFEREED
Rsporter--"Mr. Dougherty, II you vii
carry out that resolution there will b
but little cause for complaint All th
Republicans ask Is that there shall be n
Discrimination, but that every man, with
cut regard TO color or politics, shall b
given the same chance 10 pay their take
and qrs Ify 10 vote.
hiT. BOuxutIty Auht - WnHb bnt
will get here, and II their names are nc
ON the duplicates, they will be told thu
, they may baye been dropped In trar
scribDg In the office Of the Clerk Of th
Peace, aud they wi be referred /
that office. Some have gone TO the cler
and got certificates that .hey were as
ssssed and their taxes have been given I
theni."
Reporter--.Mr. Dougherty, / hay
never heard any objections TO you as
fair man In the collection OF taxes, and
believe you mean what yeu say, but II
| to Mr.. Mckee here to whom the mos
objections are made, and the impression
is that he does mot act fairly an,
square y."
Mr.. McKee-"I must be a very danger
, ous maD.n
Reporter-"You are accused by th
Republicans of being very unfair me
4 In the collection Of taxea. -
Mr.. McKoe--'The REPUBLICAN hs
treated me very unfairly, In last ever
|, ing's issue, and much that Is said In |
did not occur; and the reports IN til
> Morning News are yery much distorted
As have commenced to talk. might a
well say more" Mr.. Mckee then sal
that be intended to adhere to the law 1
I 1.-The collection OF taxes, no matter wins
people said, and he would not issue an
more proxy receipts, but every man mul
: apply In person: