Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-23
THE MANDAmus orINroy.
Some Varied Comments by the Press
OF Other Cities.

OF Other Cities.
Philadelphia Times, Ind.
The decision OF the superior oourt of
Delaware in the Wilmington tax cases is
In accordance not only with the laws, but
with sound public policy. lis eG4ct 10
simply that q man must pay his taxes in
person in order to be thereby qualified to
vote.
He may pay his taxes by attorney, II he
please, but the collector is not bound to
issue receipt to any one but the taxable
himself. In other words, the party
workers may not, as they do in Philadel.
phia, buy tax receipts and issue them to
the voters on condition Of their party
fealty.
The chief justice truly Gays that the
rower-ot. attorney scheme undertaken BY
the Republican leaders In Wilmington
would be "a means Of bribery by giving
politicians control of the votes Of citizens
whose taxes they pay" This is precisely
the effect of similar system in practice
in Philadelphia, which our own courts
have often denounced, bat havs not been
able to stop. Delaware ia fortunate in
having the bad practice checked at the
outset.
SEES COMFORT raE R1odIEs.
Philadelphia Inquirer, Rep
The Delaware Republicans have gained
substantial victory in the decision Of
the superior court Of Eew Castle county,
although the petition for q msuda ua
wss denied. The court holds that the tex
collectors must receive taxes from attor.
neys Or taxables, but that collectors can
not be compelled to issue receipts there
for to others than the tazs5leg them.
Eelvea. Il is held, however, that 70.
ceipt is not required to enable the taxapse
to vote, bat that he may prove tbs psJ.
ment of the tax BIZ witnesses.
This Ia all very we'll SO iar 40 il goes,
but 1t does not go far enough. II pre-
supposes faithful execution Of the laws
by the collectors and the election officers.
II is all very we'll to say thRt man msy
prove the payment OF tag by witnesses
on election day, but such & course would
be tedious, and, in case o. partisan
Judges, would practically prevent the tag
payer from voting. We fail 10 see Why
She collector ia not bound to give re-
ceipt for money received from any source
whatever. 1t certainly would work no
injury to anyone and is necessary 70 a
proper conduct OF office. Other wise 1t Is
hord to see how the collector can DE held
accountable for the funds be receives.
But the important part Of the decision
OF the court was that the collectors must
give every possible opportunity to the
taIables to pay their taxes in person, and
the collectors were warned that this must
be done at ones and thst the court would
remain in session long enough TO DEE mat
theJ obeyed. Just what the court means
by available opportunity is rot stated
but they will quickly show when any tag,
able appeals to them for redress.
The whole decision is that every tag.
able must be allowed TO Fay mis- iexes in
person, and that is oil the Delaware Re
publicsns have ever asked for. The hen
orsble judges Of tie court have a reputa
ton for prohity and honesty that insurss
faithful execution Of this decision. 4
collector will not be hereafter allowed &
run two miles TO escape Republican tax
ables, as Was narrated in yesterdays dis
patches.
Senator Higgins and Dslaware Repub
loans are to be congratulated that tht
law has interfered to stop he utter reyo
lutionary methods Of the Democratic tsl
collectors. Delaware may yst purge it
self of the odium attaching t. Ii from
years OF Democratic political debRuchery
PREMATURE caggR.
Baltimore American, Rep
Good Tor the Delaware Republicans
They won tie tax mania !. as case in vii
mineton yesterday. II means the. here
after they Will atard fair show Of gel
ting thais votes aoted. Every fair .minde
person should rejoice with them in taei
victory.
SHOULD PAY THEGR OWN T4xEs
Philadelphia Record
Very properly, the superior court i
Delaware holds to the view thrt Ia
payers should pay their own poll take
and receive receipts Therefor personally
1t has bean decided differently in thi
state; but the decision ID against III
spirit OF the constitution, and hag LED
asgrsnt corruption If the purity OF ele
tionR.
THE DEMOCRATS srsrAfNEp,
Dover Index
The superior court at Wilmington 70
terday unanimously decided again
granting the mandamus asked for by u
Republicans TO compel tax col! etors
accept taxes by powers OF attorney, IL
settles question by which Hepn5Iic1
papers In and cut Of the stats nave ba.
attempting for years to make a false in
PRESTON en- the county in regard to q
justice ard fsirneas of our laws. Tue a
clsion su9tains the Democratic marty
the position which it has always Eisil
tanned. IbiE unanimous decision OF
non-partiHRn court vindicGteg the saces
ness OF tie ballot and surrounds I.
elector with those safeguards nec5ssal
for the perpe,uAtion OF good gcytt
nent The Democracy bas 4 Fight 10 h
iubilsnt and to Congratulate taemFcly
upon their position on this much-ialEo
OF question being sustained by TAG ma.
nous opinion Of the court.
NEITHER ONE THING NOE AEuuzs.
Philadelphia Press, EtiJ,
The declaion OF tho superior court
Wilmington, is neither one thlug nor "
other, but il operates as defeat to
Republicans. The opinion suggests 1.
logic Of that type OF citizen Who
critical occasions is found to be in taFi
Of the law but agRins. its enroroelnuu
The court huldl that Eny cI.izgl las
right to depute another 10 pay his 8
This is the Republican contention. 1!
court, however, refuses TO command {!
tax collector TO receipt for the taxes
the ground that tbs law reauirsS nila
take ths money, but does NOT require III
70 give receipts On th.3 lame and ii
potent conclusion Judgment must
rendered for LIE Democrats
The tax collector OF Wilminrtor ne,
no longer 0acEste himself 10 prevent L
publican voters from PAYNE their taxc
and thereby quSli'{ themselves to vote
the succeeding ii cs,nn. lie may take q
money Rbiou no doubt be will be In
.