Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-03

both law and reason on his side, the
ROrRiHg Nelos, like Devy Crockett's
coon, came down the tree with somewhat
amusing alacrity, remarking: "If the
collectors treat both Democrats and Re-
pubhcans exactly alike there will be no
room for complaint"
Well, this Is what Collector Mckee said
he was doing, and proposed to continue
doing. He would issue poll-tax receipts
only to the taxable in person, be he DEM
oorat or Republican, saving in those ex.
oeptionsl cases, where the taxable was
physically unable to appear, which cases,
he said, were generally easily arranged.
lie said, further, that Democratic en-
pioyers never made application for blocks
of tax receipts for their workingmen;
that such applications came only from
Republican employers. And he further
more said: 81 wish clearly aud distinctly
to say that my course is dictated, follow
ing the fact that it has been decided re-
Gently in the United States court Of
Philadelphia, that no tax collector has
the right to issue tax receipts to any one
but the texaole himself" This struck
the Ne,os os convincing, if not satis-
factory, Of the time, and it proceeded to
do the Davy Crockett coon act.
What has happened since to cause the
Neps to again 60 up the tree and mani
fest an inclination 70 take the tree up
with itp Has it heard of any Democratic
employer going around among his men
soliciting permission to pay their poll
taxes in 'blocks of fven or more ANA to
collect the vouchers therefore, II it has
we trust our neighbor will come out with
said Democratic employers name, place
Of business and any other information it
may have CLEANED concerning him. I'VE
assume, though the NeoS has not SO
stated, that no Republican employer AZ
rogates to himself the authority to go up
to the collectors Office aud demand poll
tax receipts in blocks OF this kind with
ont having previously solicited from his
employees Permission to do so. Per-
haps the Ne'oS will kindly say whether
ehAs assumption ls Cofr6cE.
In the absence, therefore, of any spec
itiestions of change in the situation
since the Ne,oS came down the tree last
Wednesday morning,it is to be presumed
that it has gone up again out OF sheer
restlessness. Or shall we call it philan-
thropyr Shall we picture the News as
overlooking with sympathy for the self
denial of the good men who, fearing that
If left to themselves some of the men in
their employ will either fail to qualify or
make some mistake in voting, kindly
offer to take the whole burden
upon their own shoulders if the hard
hearted tax collectors will only permit
themr Some may suggest-but of
course they would bs only evil.minded
and unduly suspicious men-that this
solicitude does not extend to workingmen
in general, but is confined to those who
may be persuaded to vote the Republican
ticket. But it is somewhat strange that
we do not hear of the MoraiHg Netos, or
OF the philanthropic gentlemen whom it
names, putting forth time and labor and
losing sleep in efforts to assure to Demo,
cratic workingmen the privilege of pay
ing their taxes. Nor do we hear,
although the NeDs devotes much of its
space to discussion Of the similarity OF
property and poll taxes, of their concern
ing themselves particularly over the
payment OF any property taxes their
employees may owe. On The contrary, in
the same breath with the lament that
Republican employers ere not permitted
to enrich the county treasury with the
poll taxes of BubseEyient voters in
their employ, we find these oame Repub-
lican employers commended on their
expressed determination to withhold their
own taxes until the last moment. CON
sidering the urgency for collecting all
these taxes-in blocks Of five" or so to
expedite matters-one would rather sup.
pose the Ne'oS would be delighted in the
cases Of large property holders who ad.
yersise their intention OF not settling
their Indebtedness to the county until
they get ready, to turn TO the Revised
Code, chap. XII, section IL, and read
1t shall bs his Cthe collector's) duty, IL
any person shall fall TO pay to him In ten
days after demand the whole or any part
Of bis tax, to levy aud collect tho same,
with costs, By distress and sale OF HIS
personal property, and pay over the SUR
plus to him without delay.
And then to follow this up by perusaI
of section 10 Of the same chapter:
The collectors oath shall. In all cases be
competent to prove demand for taxes.
Il looks as though our neighbor had
not read these provisions of the law be-
fore peuning the following:
The only hope of Il rational cure lies in
the success OF the Republicans, and 1t Is NJ
order to diminish the chances oil their suu-
cess, nuG thus TO prevent the adoption 81
sensible and necessary reforms, that Col.
leetJr Meh5e i5 making It as difficult III
posstole for county iAxablss to pay their
taxes. Meanwhile there ~ i great deal OF
Significance and some comfort In tho con.
cluslon reached by both MIR. Warner ana
Mr. Bush, the tlrst stating 1t ia this way
1T i5 not politics for me to pay our tayAs
and give you the use OF our money for Il
or ii months, and We will not nav any M
It until We have to-" and Mr. Bush Saying
my own taxes and those Of the firm nav
not been paid. Uader the circumstance.
We think the money might as well be- re
tanned In our business rs to be Ia that d
the tax collectors" Collector McKes mas
. we'll swell and strut and swear and emast
the law which has brought him out OF oil
! scurltY all In pieces, but al any rate he i
LOT in the way OF getting rich out of tx
process.
Here are two Oagea IL will be paAp Z,