Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-29

way OF payment Of taxes wazrh have not
been accounted for. If, as against GO
names so selected, there should be pro.
duced, we will say 30 or 70 or 90 genuine
receipts under the seal of the tax collector,
Mckee, then there is an end to doubt, and
no reasonable man could expect this COM
mittee 70 undertake TO produce every re
ceipt called for by this list No. 8, nor is it
necessary in the lenst to produce every
single receipt. Why? Why the evidence
is already full and clear as to the
amount which was paid the collectors.
Now the only possible question that can
remain IS for what purpose or upon what
basis did the collectors receive the money
SO paidf When you produce receipts for
one half or three-fourths Of the 81 selected
names going to show that Mr.. Mckee re-
ceived the money as taxes, and not in any
other way or upon any other basis, you
establish the principle and substance of
the case just rs firmly and unalterably as
you would by the production of every one
OF these receipts and therefore, would
unhesitatngly recommend the adoption
OF some such test as that now suggested.
THE RESOLUTION.
The following resolution was adopted
Rcsolyed, That, In order to remove any
doubt that may exist in the mind of any
member of this committee upon the ques-
ton whether or not money which has been
testified to AS having been paid to George
W. Mckee late collector, was so paid to
him in payment of taxes, the minority
members of this committee, or either OF
them. be requested to select any SO names
on list No. 8, as finally compared with the
assessment and delinquent lists for the
year 1890, such selection Of names to be
made either from any particular ward or
wards in the Southern district Of the city
! OF Wilmington, or generally from said
Southern district, as the person or persons
making such selection may desire, and
that list of the said so names so selected
be handed to the chairman of this COM
mittee in order that this committee may,
with all convenient speed, produce, or
cause to be produced, SO far as Is practic-
able, tax receipts for the year 1880, duly
signed and scaled by the said George W.
| Mckee, late collector, corresponding with
said list OF names.
The resolution was passed by the fol-
lowing vote: Yeas, uutchison, Jolls
and Clark; nay, Hickman.
Mr.. Eliason the fifth member of the
committee is still detained at home by
| illness.
Mr.. Hickman's firm opinion is still
that the tax receipts should be produced
compared and that they alone can fur
nish the legitimate evidence that other
than $1,000 was paid over by Messrs.
Stewart, Bach and Mahaffy for county
purposes.
The committee then adjourned to 10
o'clock Thursday morning,
The Levy Court investigating COM
mittee met at 10 o'clock q. IN. Thursday
and recommended its work of compari-
son. All the members of the commit
tee were present. Chairman Hutchison
was asked when the committee would
make its selection of the so tax receipts
under the Bradford suggestion.
"The minority of the committee" he
replied, "can select the names whenever
it desires"
Among the visitors at the committee
room on Thursday were ex- x-Couneilman
John w. Hawkins, Levy Courtman
Robert B. Simpler, DR.. Ellison, City
Court Attorney Charles NJ. Curtis, ex-
Collector George w. Mckee.
The Fifth ward investigation was
completed and large share of the
Sixth. Among the delinquents of the
latter ward are Senator Anthony Higgins
on poll tax of 81 1000, and two colored
men named Ulysses S. Grant and Horace
Greeley.
The committee adjourned at noon to
meet at 1.30 p. m.
Mr.. Bradford's so names suggestion
was acted upon by the Levy Court COM
mittee, or rather by the Republican
majority Of it Thursday night, and it was
found that 81 receipts tailed with the
legend on list No. 3. Quite number of
"a rSNaifNfc n1 n1 an. h. -.
session Of the owners.
The action on the resolution was quite
a surprise to all present but those who
accomplished the work. The impression
was that the interesting little sensation
of "first view" of even part of the now
notorious 1000 receipts would not be
accorded to the "outer barbariansn until
the guardians of the contraband of war
got good and ready.
1t all commenced, however, quietly
enough. Comparison of the Sixth ward
was completed when Levy Courtman
Jolls read the 80 names resolution of
last night. This was obviously for the
benefit of Mr. Eliason, who was not
present when it was passed last night.
At its conclusion Chairman Hutchison
remarked:
81 was in hopes Mr.. Hickman would
be here this afternoon"
Turning to Mr.. Eliason the chairman
asked:
"IIaye you any objection to this
plan"
81 feel about It," replied the member
from Pencader, "as | felt at first, that
these tax receipts should be produced.
They arc the only evidence we can
legitimately recognize. Outside of the
receipt for 81 800 which bears the sigma
lures Of the collectors there is nothing
else in our hands. The check by which
Mr.. Stewart drew the balance of the
money from bank is no evidence. 1t
does not, as the receipt for 1900 does,
bear the collectors signatures or any
thing TO denote that the money was paid
for county purposes.
The chairman-"It was sworn to by
Stewart, Bach and Mahaffy, that the
money was paid for that purpose"
Mr.. Jolls then cited, as persuasive
argument, the custom of selecting at
random one wheat bag of the wagon
load as a test of the grade of wheat in
all the other sacks.
Mr.. Eliason-",rhe suggestion of the
so might at this moment save time, but
think you have most Of the taz re-
ceipts"---
Mr.. Clark-"I think so, too, but"-
MIR. Eliason-"If you produced the
receipts, you could prove all. think
it is the only straight way, and think
so still.n
Mr.. Clark-"We have nearly all of
them now. But it would save time. 1t
would take until Christmas to make the
comparison"
Mr.. Eliason n-"As / told you at first,
you could have done it at the com
mencement and could have called off |