The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-22
DouoHEnrx's noNDsslEr.

the Taxes--The Bondsmen WIN APP
peal.
Considerable interest was manifest
Cd in the Levy Court this forenoon
when 1t met at 10 O'Clock, when 1t was
known that action was to be taken
upon the application OF the bondsmen
for the duplicates Of Collector of
Taxes John ]. Dougherty. One OF the
tlrst movements OF the morning was
tho presentation and reading Of the
following additional plea for the books
offered by John H. Rodney, attorney
for the bondsmeni
To The Levy Court Of New Castle
County.
GENTLEMEN:-The undersigned John
II. Rodney. attorney for the sureties
of John ]. Dougherty, late Collector
OF Taxes for the Northern DISTRICT OF
Wilmington Hundred, respectfully
submits the following statement in
support OF the petition filed on the
10th inst, asking that the said oollec-
tor be restrained from the further col
lection of taxes, etc.
court show that said collector is charg-
ed for the year 1890, with County and
Poor taxes amounting to s61, ,675. .S3.
Negro school tax for the same year,
not ascertalnable from your court
by your books, estimated at $1,000. 90
-S62, ,675. SO.
MIR. Dougherty has made cash pay
ments Of s37. .224.1O.
Errors allowed for 1889. s8i5.27; er-
rors allowed for 1890, S8l07. rs: com
missions for 1890, Estimated" S3297. II.
Total, s47 ,244.32; balance due SIS, 4Sl. =
81.
Mr.. Dougherty had in hand on April
l21st, 1891, county orders not yet placed
to his credit, amounting TO S267 and
may have cash or obligations to turn
over with his boooks which with these
orders will futher reduce his Indebted
Iness.
On April 22d and 23d last a partial
Examination OF the collectors books
was made with his permission by two
accountants selected by the sureties.
This examination showed that there
were items not marked ''paid" aggre-
eating.
For 1889 Qncluding negro school tnx)
"a. .8i9.4 .43. For 1890 (including negro
school tax) S10200,3l. Total Sl4Sl0.-
"a.
From this there has been collected
and paid over to the County Treasurer,
land including In the credit above
given, 81 .225, reducing the face of the
to 1854. "A. Leaving an
Apparent shortage Of sl,S36.T7. Since
1.-The examination OF the books, how
lever, 1t has transpired that certain
items then supposed to be unpaid had
, lin fact been paid. and tho sureties are
: -|apprehensive that other similar errors
sImay yet DO disGpyerad. The shortage
Ihere stated will be augmented by
I,rhata,,a,. n N, n,tnt thnca ntrprss nay no.
Igregate. Moreover, the expenses of
collection Of the uncollected taxes
must also be paid from the amount
flrealized on the open accounts.
Il And, as you are aware, the collection
Iof the large amount due for 1889 de-
Ipends altogether upon tho Willingness
lof the taxpayers to save the sureties
further loss. Any collector appointed
.Iby you would be prohibited by law
Iron receiving these taxes. .
H In view OF the foregoing the sureties
desire to have more thorough ex-
'lamination of the late collectors dupll-
lcates and proper person appointed
Ito close up his accounts; and they.
therefore, respectfully ask that their
lpetition be granted without further
delay. Respectfully submitted,
Z JoHN II. RODNEY,
; Attorney for Sureties.
!, Edward G. Bradford Esq., attorney
. lfor the Levy Court, being present
aIgaye verbal decision in regard to
n the application Of Collector Dougherty
lin which he said that the application
y Twas made unLer the old statute law
eIthat lost its force when the Five Com
y OImlssioner law went into operation and
,nlunder which tho Levy Court was nov
working.
=. Mr.. Jolls then made motion which
!. was adopted, that the farther eonsid
eration of tile application for the book
i he indefinitely postponed.
A communication from Count!
,,,lGomptroller Stats was read. Thl
n 6lComptroller stated that he declined t,
Ltlendorsa any bills passed before he en-
l. tered upon the duties OF his office o
which he had no knowledge. His com
munieation was filed.
The Comptroller verbally asked tn
Isl Levy Court to establish uniform rat
of wages for workmen, TINT he Nigh
S'Iknow how to compute their bills whel
10 :, he came to sign them.
Y Mr. Hickman said this would be i'm
. possible to do, as wages varied am
/ sometimes work had TO be done in I
nlhurry without regard to amounts.
u Mr. Sutton too said that the Lev,
|, court could not set wages. There wa
: mo power in tho State could do that bu
the Legislature.
Considerable discussion arose ais
over days wages due workmen In tn
Respective hundreds. The men wal
tied their money but would have T.
wait TO the end Of month for it unit
/. 1.-THE bills were signed by the Count
IComptroller. To do otherwise woul
reuuirc an almost continual session G
= court The interest in the DouRhert
tax ease absorbs all others. The bond
- men intend to appeal 70 the Court Q
IChancery to see II they cannot be pei
mitted to take tax collector Doughert
books and collect tho balance of th
taxes.
The opinion however Is gaining
Iground that as the Five COMMISSIONS
e-lUill imposes new conditions upon tn
IsuretIes that they did not assum
: under the old dlaw, they canrot be con
PEELED to become responsible for III
balance of the taxes due. As the Lev
=, Court is shorn OF its power to comp'
ii a collection of the taxes by the ne
law, they will let Mr.. Dougherty, b
bondsmen, the new county Treasure
:, aud the county Comptroller, light
y out amongst themselves.
A Pleasant Party.
h-I FfrI.. Uo,,,,. an.,