The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-20

Arrest tAc Raseaisl
Our nelghbor, the Every Evening is
engaged in pairing down the decision
of tho Supreme Court of the District
OF Columbia in the Newton c1se to fit !
the Republican committee OF this city !
who paid some legitimate money for
legitimate taxes in the post Office in
our city. The Federal statute in the
case reads thus:
That no psrson shall in any room or
building occupied la the discharge of
Official duties by any oficer or EN-
ploye Of tile United States mentioned
In this act, OF in any navy yard, fort,
or arsenal, solicit IN any manner what
over or receive any contribution of
money or any other thing OF value for
any political purpose whatever
In the case referred to man named
Newton Of Virginia in 1855, wrote let
ters 70 government clerks ut Wash
ington asking for contributions of
money to help elect Malone Governor
OF Virginia. lie WAS indicted and his
demurrer has been oyerruled and he
wiil probably be convicted.
Our neighbor is Justify calling upon
United StsteG District Attorney Beniah
Watson to prose cute Postmas, er Dan
lei H. Stewart, United States Marshal,
II. G Mahalfy, Private Secretary Bach,
and ex tax Collectors Mckee and
pougherty for having metin the Office
Of Postmaster Stewart and there nego.
tiated the payment OF S4dl6 for some
1860 men who owed that amount in
taxes to New Castle County. The evil
dence Of Messrs. Bach and Mahaffy be-
fore the Levy Court investigation com.
mittee is given in full to show that the
taxes were paid in the postoilice, and
therefore it must be criminal oiiense.
This is indeed the drowning man
clutcling at straws orer again. WHAT
has the payment OF legitimate taxes
got to do with demanding contribu-
lions FOR political purposes? ...
Did eX-tax Collectors Mckee and
Dougherty demand contributions for
political purposes? If they did they
would have hardly gone to Republi-
can committee for contributions,
There is mighty big difference be.
tween paying Il political subscription
and paying legitimate taxes. Newton
wrote letters demanding contributions
for political purposes, bat the vii.
mington collectors went TO the Post
office and told Mossrs. Stewart and
Manaliy that thsre were taxes cilarg
cd On their duplicates against large
number OF members of their political
party and wanted them to pay those
taxes. As the charges were honest
debts, Messrs. Stewart. Mahatfy, and
Bach made arrangements ana paid
these tax debts, taking receipts Tor thS
same. To say that legitimate taxes
could not lie paid in Federal govern
ment building is to say That honest
debts could not be paid there.
To say .hnt the collectors could MOI
60 into government building ant
got the money owing for large mum.
Dor oil taxables on their duplicates Is
to say TINT they have no right to gt
into that building and collect Mi
Stewards personal tax alone, and t,
say that Mr. stewart had no right 10
pay number OF taxes In his Office i,
10 say that lie has no right to pay hi
own tax in the post oilice. Ourneigh
Dor is very hsri pushed FOR compari
SONS, indeed the Newton nasa and tllt
Wilmington case do not compare a
all
The only real meaning Of the Every
Evenings opposition Is that 1t shoul
be Il criIlinal offence to pay Republi
can taxes and it is doubtful whether
will ever recover its equanimlry from
the shock it received when It diseoy
cred that the t2X-colleet0rs Tor one
had actually collected all the Rapai
Hcal poll taxes IN the city, Snmothin
which sheHld have been done ever
year but which had never D,eu don
before. The great crime OF the time
In the eyes OF out neighbpr is thi
payment Of Republican taxes whtc
threatens the thirty years supreme
OF the Democratic party We haril
know what to reeOHned IN the ca 5
But ii United States District Attorne
Watson turns a deai car aud shuts Ii
eyes to the complaint our ueiehb0
still has the remedy within his hand!
There is nothing to hinder 1t frou
making complaint before Commii
sioner Smith, and having warrants i,