The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-23
Rnnrh on tho Conntv

troubles rs It pushed It's way into the
Levy Court and there had the calcium
Hight OF legal criticism thrown upon
the new Five County Commissioner
bill, under which the Levy Court Is
now working and by which ills bound ,
And 1t becomes no trihing matter
either when we see over $4,000 bal
ances in taxes due the county imperil-
ed, we might as we'll say lost to the
county. for that is just about what it
Will amount to.
This is the first real fruit OF the Five
Commissioner bill, drawn carelessly,
when great financial interests were
concerned and where money could DO
saved to the county. but drawn very
carefully to secure partisan advantages
without regard to saving the money
OF the taxpayers. The loss Of eco. 900
TO the county right at the start of the
Five mmissioner bill Is paying dear
for tho Democratic whistle.
The bondsmen OF Collector Dougherty
alarmed at the prospect OF an apparent
shortage in his collections and ac-
counts, took the old remedy under the
old law that ofappealing to the Levy
Courtto have another personappointed
TO collect the balance OF the taxes on
his duplicates, some fourteen thous-
and dollars. When Collector Dough-
orty bonded to collect SOL, ,675 s5, the
amount on his duplicate, ho and his
bondsmen supposed that no would
have the usual two years limit for tho
collecting OF that tax. Tho Five Com
missioner bill entirely changes these
conditions to tho disadvantage of the
collector aud his sureties.
Section IA OF the Five Commissioner
act says very explicitly: "All balances
OF taxes us settled aud determined by
the present Levy Court, as due from
the county collectors, shall be paid to
said last mentioned county Treasurer,
(Johu I. Dickey) within twenty days
SITTER his appointment. Upon default
In such transfers and payments the
said Levy Court shall have tull power
andnuthority to proceed on the official
bonds OF such collectors"
The question now arisss. can n now
act be passed sincs Collector Dough-
erty bonded imposed new conditions
and additional burthcns upon HE sure
ties without lmpairing tho binding ma
ture Of the houd2 These sureties never
obligated themselves to see that Col
hctor Dougherty had all his balances
collected and paid over to this new
county treasurer under the Five Com.
nissloner net by next Tuesday, tho OK
piration OF the twenty days after Mr..
plckey bonded. AS any now condl
lions imposed or tampering with
bonded sureties inyalldatey such bonds
how must It be in the chse Of Collector
: Dougharty's bondsmen?
But here comes the most astounding
part of ALL The nole the Five Com
missioner bill was closely examined
yesterday the more plainly did it 0p
pear that there have becn no county
collectors in New Castle County sincG
April 2Sth. the day upon which the bill
became law. it seemed to have boct
.he intention Of the new law to knock
put the county collectors at all hgz
ards. So intense seauei tho desire o.
the Legislature to kill stone dead in {
legal sense, tho Republican collector!
appointed under the present Levy
Court, that all othercollectors of take;
were included. In no loss than thre,
declarations In the two first sections
OF the act, is tho Office Of county col
lectors abolished.
In the first place Il Is expressly de
elared that '.all trustees of the poor
coHstabies and all other officers an
agents except the County Treasure
and collectors 81 taxes heretofore mp
pointed or elec.ed by the said Lev
Court. whose terms of office have no
get expired and those who may here
after be appointed or elected prior I
taid first Tuesday in january, A d
1893, shall continue to hold, exercis
bnd enjoy their said Office until the
tarns shalt respectively expires.
row provided by law This is on
Bsmplete knock out.
But here are two others: listen t
ssctiou g. THAT the terms and pow,
VI Office OF the county treasurer an
solicitors Of taxes who have been NJ
pointed or elected by the Levy Cou
pf New Castle county since the fir
Gay Of February, 1891, be and Il
same are here by terminated al
ended and tho said offices as now /
law, arc here by abolished
Is anything palmer than this ueede
" show complete knockout OF Ii
sollectors7 But to make asauran
aoubly sure the same section proeee,
and says and from aud after the pa
sage OF this act the said officers
County treasurer and collector
taxes OF New Castle County as nc
bxed by law are hereby declared to
sbollshed." For the third time In tv
phort sections are the coll 1otors kno
I'd sQuarely out. and with them
lhetr sureties, and $50. 600 Of uneolle
! ID taxes. 1t is easy on the colleotc
and their sureties bqts II Is decided
Ough on New Castle county.
Ayers Pills are Invaluable for t