Daily Republican., 1889-12-21

Now then, as there is so much
danger in giving out receipts 10 Re
publicans In blocks OF five or more,
suppose the tax collectors stop givlul
them out. II they will bind them
selves up under bond to give out nc
tax receipts except to those who apply
In person for themselves alone, we
have not the least doubt the Republi-
cans will accede to it, They want nc
privileges Tor themselves not granted
TO others, but they do not want to be
debarred from privileges that are freely
granted to others. The tax collectors
have promised over and over that they
would not issue receipts for taxes to
any body unless they applied in person.
But does anybody believe they are
keeping this promise? Stand Tor q
week in the tax office and you won /
see one Democrat a day come in 10
pay his poll taxes. OF course at this
rate they are not getting them paid
and If they have not paid by March
they should be returned as delinquents
and their names will be stricken from
the assessment.
This will all be done If the collec-
tors are honest and will be governed
by their oath of Office. But is there
anybody verdaut enough 10 believe
that this will be donei In round mum.
beers the Democrats polled al the last
State election 5000 votes, the highest
they ever polled. 1t would be fair to
say that they can and will pol 0,000
votes al the next election, at any rate
let that be the number for comparative
purposes. OF that number there are
1890 property holders who will have
votes anyhow, for there is no such
thing az returning a property holder as
a delinquent. He has to face the tax
music all the time. The less poll
taxes are paid the more property taxes
have 10 be paid. Property taxpayers
know all about that. Well, then 5000
less 2,2OO property owners, leaves
$500 Democratic poll tax payers. An
even 5000 OF these have not paid yet
When are they going to payY As
there are not more than 60 working
days from now to the first OF March to
pay 5000 taxes, ii would take 80
day.
The Republicans have at least as
many poll taxables US the Democrats.
which would increase the number to
100 per Cay. Does anybody honestly
believe Tor one moment that the col
leotors at the rate at which they have
been Issuing tax receipts could begin
10 meet this requirement. How utterly
preposterOus and dishonest the claim
set up in the reply Of Collector Dough-
etiy 10 the petition of the writ OF
mandamus that there was yet sufficient
time tor the payment OF taxes between
now and the first of March, How
appropriate and true the reply Of
Senator Higgins. that like another
Bluebeard he only wanted the chance
TO cut OF the heads OF thousands of
Republicans by returning them as de.
linquents next march,
II there were any honesty IN the
gauzy pretences OF the collectors that
no poll tax payer should have u receipt
for taxes paid unless they came in per.
son aud paid them, Republicans could
well afford to await the result, and
there would have been no cause for
these mandamus proceedings Demo
cratic leaders themselves smile at the
prepOsterous idea that 5000 Demo
cratic poll tax payers will be returned
as deliuqUents. They know 1t will
not be done, and The smile grove
broader when they think that 1900
Republican poll tax payers are sure to
be returned as delinquents II the ulan O..
damus asked for Is not granted.