The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-02
THURSDAY july 2. 1891.
Those -Four Thousand DelInausnt..

to the Democratic papers we might
suppose that great crime had beon
committed, that the laws Of the State
had been llagrantly violated, and that
somebody ought to be made to suffer
oil the punishment Of outraged JUS
tice. Why, what is all this about ?
Simply this and nothing more: The
Republican members OF the Levy
Court ordered placed upon the asscss-
ment and duplicate textbooks Of Will
mington, the names Of over four thou
sand poll taxables who had been re-
turned as delinquents, though they
had paid their taxes and held receipts
for the same. Is there anything wrong
about that2 Oh yes, the law provides
TINT no additions shall DO made to the
assessments after the last day OF
March, say our Democratic friends.
That Is true, but 1t is generally suppos-
ell that the laws have been complied
with and everything honestly trans
acted. 1t was not known nor suppos-
{ ell that over four thousand voters had
bssu left off the lists in the March term
OF court In direct violation Of law.
1t was not known that the money
OF these voters Ind been collected by
the collectors, aud that between re-
turning the money to the county as
collected. and returning the voters
who paid it as not having paid that
money the latter course was pursued.
This was not known until long after
the return was made and when known
the course to lie pursued was hard to
bc determiucd upon. With tho return
OF these four Thousand persons wrong
fully said to be delinquents came the
loss OF about nine thousand dollars to
. Iii coanty-a county with o floating
debt of sSS 900 and permanent bond
ed debt OF about $3.50, 900 more. Should
an attempt be made to collect this
$1,000 or not, and should an attempt
be- made to do justice to and re-enfran-
cllise these voters who had been
wrongrully and fraudulentlys dlsfpn-
chiscd Or not? Any action vitiated by
fraud it is generally understood never
holds In law and is OF no &C couut ex-
eept to DO used In the punishment of
those who committed the fraud. Then
should these four thousand taxables
were stricken from the assessments
which by fraud, be kept on the as.
eessnent? Fair minded people will
most unhesitatingly say no.
The Republicans OF the Levy Couri
have not pursued rash course in this
matter. When they got to thoroughly
understand it. they set about trying tc
right the wrong that had been com.
mitted. Amongst those who had paid
his poll taxes and had been disfran
chlsed by tho means stated, was Philip
Q. Churchman. Esq. He did not pro-
pose to remain silent under such 0
fragrant act OF injustice, and made ap
plication to the Levy Court to have hi.
r name replaced on the tax duplicates
The Levy Court, having due respee
for the law, did not comply with thai
request Immediately, but referred tn,
matter to higher court and presse,
All Immediate decision. The Court o
Errors ard Appeals saw proper, Will,
deciding another case of pressing i'm
portance, to postpone decision II
Nr. Churchman'S case until the mex
regular term of the same court. Tn
Levy Court then resolved to act 10
itself, which it did on Tuesday last
nj tltnt.n u a
names to be placed on the assessment
and tax duplicates, with the under
standing that IL the Court Of Error
and Appeals should decide adverse t
Mr.. Churchman'S application, tn
names are to be stricken on again. w
cannot sec wherein The Levy Coui
has not pursued a straight forwart
honest course In the matter, and fC
tho life OF us we cannot see why the
should DO subjected to such n Who'll,
sale volley Of Democratic ncwspapt
criticism.
1t Is not denied that the action wi
entail more labor on Clerk Of tho Peat
biggs; that some changes will have [
DO made In the footing up OF total
and that 1t will delay the collection {
the taxes few days but these thing
eannot be helped very we'll, a MOI
strous wrong has been committed an
the Levy Court is trying to correct thi
wrong. We are told, in fact Colloctc
Dickey told us personally, that /
would never collect the taxes fro
persons put on his duplicates in tn
manner. Well, that is MIR. Dickey
business. He can collect it IL he wi
II he will not the county will be los
Z 20 that extent, and that is all there
In 1t. The Republican Levy Court hi
done whatit believed to be its du
anyhow.
Now the police force is full, tho y
lice commissioners are In the saddl
and things are moving on as usnt
We guess the police force ia as got
In morals as any other force we ev
had whose efficiency is yet to be teste
One thing Is certain, every officer W
have to perform his duty or his lif
police life, will he short. Is 1t n
time now to stop grumbling, and
the new force have fair trial.
Sufferers from ohills and fever, wi
have used quinine as remedy, W
appreciate Ayers Ague Cure. III
preparation, u taken according TO.
rections, is warranted a sure euj
Residents In malarial districts shou