Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-02
LEVY COURTS FOOLISH MOVE.
1t May Make People Lose the July
Rebates on Taxes.

A Scheme That Can Have But n Partisan
Intention--it VIII Cost the County Sew
erai Hundreds of Dollars and Delay the
Payment OF County Taxes.
The more the action of the levy court In
ordering the names of 1000 poll taxables
claimed to have been returned as errors
after having paid their taxes) to be put
upon this years tax duplicates is ex-
amined, the more foolish and indefenslble
1t appears. There seems to be no valid
reason for such a course. If it is desired
to hold the tax collectors tor the taxes of
those who were returned as errors and yet
paid their taxes, the receipts will be ample
evidence for the purpose and placing the
uames on this years duplicates will
The only plausible explanation is that
by getting these names principally of
negroes) on this years lists will remove
them from last years. error lists and make
them legal taxables for last year. Then,
by means of tax receipts for last year,
dated subsequent TO the last general cleo
ton, all these negroes will be qualified to
vote in November, 1892, the receipts being
good for voting purposes for two years
from date. Only such scheme as this
will explain the desperate earnestness of
the Republicans in having these names
put on The tax books for 1891.
WILL DELAY TAX PAYMENTS.
The most serious feature of the affair is
that it will delay the payment of county
taxes and may prevent the taxpayers of
Wilmington from availing themselves of
the five per cent discount now allowed by
law on all taxes paid during July. The
duplicates are required to be handed to the
county treasurer on or before July l, and
Clerk of the Peace Biggs had them all
ready for delivery Tuesday afternoon,
when this levy courts tonifoolery was
thrust upon him. Now he will have to 60
all over the city books, which have been
footed up and approved by the levy court
committees and add the names OF these
| poll taxables, correct the additions and
turn them over to the levy court commit
tees for second examination. 1t will re-
| quire at least two weeks to do the work, as
the 1000 names have to be first entered
upon the assessment books and then upon
| the tax duplicates, and it may take two
weeks longer for the committees to make
their examination. This will cost consid-
able money for labor, besides the salary
and mileage Of members of the committee
| ment of taxes at q time when the county
is sadly in need of money with which tc
pay its honest debts. The receiver OF
taxes must sit in the hundreds for the re
ception of taxes during the first 20 days Of
| August, and every days delay during this
month is so much taken off the time fol
tax payment in Wilmington, where the
| great bulk of taxes are laid. The fact
that it also depriyes Wilmington taxables
the five per cent rebate allowed on all
taxes paid during July is an outrage that
they are not likely to quietly submit to.
Clerk of the Peace Biggs is Justly indig
nant over the affair. He says the Repub
lican members Of the court knew in Marcel
that this thing was to be done, and ye
they delayed action until the last day il
June, when the tax duplicates were ready
for delivery. OF the 1000 names ordered
to be put on the books, it is doubtful i
5000.
The names to be added to the books ar,
written by typewriter ON sheets OF paper
and only the amount of tax is placed OPP
posite. each, the poll assessment beinl
entirely omitted. Some of the names can
not be found on the assessment of 1890
showing that they could not possibly hav,
paid tax or been returned as errors, legally
but by order of the levy court all will <,
on the tax duplicate for 1891.
The name of Philip Q. Churchman doe
not appear on the list, as he appealed /,
the court of errors and appeals for redres
and it might be construed as contempt TO
the levy court to act in advance Of deois
ion from the bench. Some hold that th
Republican members rendered themselye
liable for contempt OF court in ordering
the other names to be restored to tho as
ssssment, as Churchman's case was only
tentative application, the determination o
which was to affect all the cases at issue.
But whatever may be the result the lev,
court has made foolish and cost,
blunder from which no good can, AMI
much harm may result. And If the tax
| PAYERS Of WilmiD9t are prevRutpd fran
paying their county taxes this month, an,
thereby lose the 5 per cent rebate, the,
can justly thank the Republican member
OF the levy court for their loss.