Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-24
WON'T hRAK INQUIRY.


mined to investigate the complaints made
against County Tax Collectors Mckee
and Dougherty concerning their reluo-
Itance to accept poll tax and issue receipts
therefor. Both collectors have frequently
affirmed that the charges made against
them were entirely Without foundation.
Last week an attache of this paper went
to the county tax office for the purpose
Of paying his property and poll tbx TO
Collector Dougherty. The collector was
not in his Office, but his books were in
charge Of q young lsd-probabiy his son
who, upon being informed of the via
itor's mission, expressed readiness to
accept and receipt for the realty tax, but
stated that he could not accept poll tax.
Monday morning q member of EvERY
EVENINGS local staff was detailed TO go
TO the county tax Office aud to remain
there aud report the business transactions
as they occurred. He was distinctly in
!. sttucted to put down only what he saw
and heard pertaining to the transaction
Of public business, and to so report the
matter that he could make oath TO its
accuracy. Nothing but an exact resume
Of what took place was to be printed.
By this means EVERY EVENING pro-
posed to proye or disprove the renorta
!, concerning the tax office administration.
II was decided to continue EVERY EVEN
[ mos reporter at the tax office for the
week, and to publish each day matters
coming under his observation. He was
20 xono;, .l,ro,ah a.. h,,.;ro,. hor,.,
- A. -, a.. - 20 s.,s
ana 70 report inc NUMBER Oh people
coming into the Office to pay taxes, and
any other business Of public concern !;
the matter to be printed dav by day.
Tha,a wa. M th,n,bt that tba cor,t,
30.
ooheo''i' "ouio en'ef uhy opIeo'ion, anu
the taxpayers surely would not have
done so.
The reporter went on duty this morn
ing. What followed ia given in his own
words;
THE REpoRrEn's STORY.
A. u. ~. =,
,..,s.s, o. o. ~ IN. W .Lonusy 'n4 saA ooi-
,uo - oi. ~, was nv. opon rour mn
a.es s,sel taas noul Een.ie w oa,leu'
,.Ivnat q. snea 90. -. papo's IN uss ns 81,
" ~. insy VIC ~. 49, olaoe
US you oau p". JUG uo~n 40 amotn "
, nnu ~ nos poh WAaoie ehner ne
,nen INJURIES Vi Iho ,opUrter wnN 'ne
'in .1n wssi :, ~ was eAho',y oV4.
y VEIL sne ol,nen i huueu, suppose
.nere IN eAcuse ~, LOT Ineln lthe coiieetois)
LUIS mo.nins. Ahey 70 a''enoihg tne
iuIets a. ..,
u
unueo. 10 no stoou outslue tne looked
uooH iepIehent .no Bas company AND
Sane 10 pay tne properly TAX. ne tnen
ief.. ,
Az v.oo son VI ooiiector Dougnsrty
oai,eu ana rattlea w the TAX olnoe door
Ioek. guess were DUH Aept ous, ne re-
nalkeu' JUST ,hen lhoraas M. ogle ap-
pesreu, leu ,ne iouh Wnnout SUGGESTS
anu steppeu o9Wn stsirs again Witnont
mhAlns remss' EAeotiy az ~ ooioek
one more oi,izen ohnioea the STAIRS, triea
tne uoor anu not gaming entrance walked
uown again withont comment
Az io'oo feter d. foru came running
upstairs anu thunlpeu at the uoor. AFTER
sumo .emarks OF DISAPPOINTMENT ne
HipPed aoWnh'airs again. AS ne passed
ou' VOICE from me street was heafd,
AngDody up thete AT tne same
momeht tne gus company VISITOR sp-
pearen IN toe hght OF tne street doorway.
ne stoppe9 Iora moheht ana tneh passed
On up MarKet street.
ooileotor mehee arrived at iU.sa. see
ing the reporter ne asked, rs no one
mere Rows tnat e no tnen UNLOCKED
tne door. AS IL was opened son OF
ooneotot DouRnetty appeared, ioIoWeu
~ Apnet Z. nailey, member OF Doara OF
Eaucatlon, VINO, however, aid not enter
the once.
After answering some telephone In
qnlrles Oollector dehee turned with IN
curing LOOKS at the reporter, who was
dlyAating himself or LIS oVercoat. On
learning bis mission tue collector replied
tnat ne heu sefons oDlechons 70 the 70
Pofters contihuen presence during tae
any IN me TAX otioe; ne expressed MIN
ser ~ ent!ft'y inainerent 10 tue AMI
luanVsfs'ohs MADE on him ana ooiiector
DougheFty by tue Morning Ne,oS. ''ihey
gre eitogether untrue. ne ga not thinK
Heht that "ateh shouia % SCI npon
MN In hls own olhoo: Ae considered II
hn irnpeftihence ana ne Is very well aoie
TO take care OF himself.
EXCUSE me, collector. IL is not in,
tended to watch you, but to watch what
is transacted insthe cihce, to see who
comes mere, now many, &e.'
Collector Mckee contihued II leave
Il 30 you. what do you suppose IS bes
TO remain IN tue office here continu
iously and collect halt.a-dozen poll taxel
amounting to w. or w o. to go out anc
cSIieot taxes OF t5Qo or $4Oo tell yot
tsa business must DO done. We must gt