The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-12
MONDAY OCTOBER IL. 1891.



umns, that they are sincerely on the
honest side OF political reform, or at
least evinoe strong desire to be there,
and yet they do not seem to have
caught on to the correct idea In regard
to the much talked OF s46l6, paid for
the taxes of 5000 Republican poll tax
Rbles OF Wilmington. We regret to
zee that they look upon the transaction
as sale OF tax receipts by the collect.
ors OF Wilmington, and not as pay
ment of taxes, which these men owed
to the county OF New Castle. Our
friends OF the Ledger have been dl-
recting their criticisms of the trans
action to the Morning News, which by
the way is quite able to take care of
Itself, but we hope our friends Of both
those papers will pardon us for be-
coming a voluntary third party in the
discussion for the time, simply to
show our friends Of the Ledger that
the term selling tax receipts is not
applicable in the case, simply because
no tax receipts were ever sold in that
particular transaction at least. We
CLEAN first from the Ledger:
1.-THE Morning News in sickly way
condones the acts OF Mckee and
Dougherty, and unbushlngly says
that the purchase of tax receipts on
the part OF Bach, Mahnlfey Il Co, was
a legitimate business transaction. The
News idea OF right is believed in by
itself solely"
As we have already said, the News
is able to take care of itself, but II 1t
ever did say that Messrs. Bach, Mahaffy
u Co., purchased tax receipts from the
collector 1t was wrong. II it did not
say so then the Ledger is wrong. Not
a single tax receipt was purchased
from The collectors. The Second quill
from the Ledger is as follows:
1.-THE Ledger never condemned any
honest man for performing the func-
tions OF his Office, but we do condemr
the Republican party who approached
tho tax collectors and corrupted them
There Is no law in this state giving the
tax collectors the right to sell tax re
ceipts by the Thousand to any one maj
or dozens OF men. And why shoulC
the Republican party be so sollcltious
about paying all the taxes OF a large
majority OF voters in Wilmington
Was 1t because they wanted to save the
county so much money or to elect the
men named on their ticket!'
To the first paragraph Of this clip
ping we would answer that the Ledger
has placed the cart directly before til,
horse. 1t has not been shown that
single member OF the Republican
party ever approached the collector
to corrupt them, unless the Ledge
means that paying tho legitimate take.
OF other people whether they be
dozen or thousand is corruption.
Is on sworn record that the collector
went to the Republicans and aske
them to pay tho taxes which these 39d
poll taxables owed the county of Ne'
Castle, taxes charged against them o
the collectors duplicates. ...
The Ledger should correct itselR i
this respect To the next paragrap
we would SIMPLY say THAT the co
lectors did not "sell tax receipts
singly or "by the thousand to any OIL
man or dozens Of men" The I.edg,
should correct itself here il it wants
give potency to its honest intention!
A word further on about SELLING tn
receipts
Tho Ledger asks; "And why shoI
the Republican party he 81 soicitur'
about aging all the taxes of Il lars
majority vi voters in Wilmington
We can onlNIeply that We reckon
II because the Republicans want I
their men qualified, TO aid them
carrying he election. 1t is nOnsen
10 urge any other reason. But Til
qualified them by paying the lcgitimu
taxes they owed the county NOthiE
wrong In all this, is there? The I.edg
would lie entirely in the line OF no
est consistency If it would adyi
the Democratic party TO go and
likewise. Oar Ledger friends In u
last paragraph, permitted the free pl
OF words in their honest intention
They use the words paying all t
taxes Of large majority, etc" W
did not our friends say, purchase
the taxes, etc, they would then ha
been In accord all through. If hon,
thoughts are given free flow they v
Sulminate in honest words. Yes,
Republicans paid mot bought (
taxes OF these voters. The Ledger
correct this time. But here IS anotl
and winding up qullp:
Has Messrs, Mckee and Deughe
the right to sell tax receipts by
thoueand to the Republican or Der
trattc party for Political purpUs
What say you, News
Tie News Of course will have
answer, but pardon Us for chipping
We have to say again that Mr.. Mel
and Dougherty have no right 10
tax receipts to either Republicans
Democrats. We do not know whet
they sold any to the Democrats orr
but they never SO Id a single receip
the Republicans. They did issue ;
receipts for that many persons '
owed the county in the aGgreg
1866. Is that selling receipts? S
pose one hundred persons owed
Ledger one dollar each for subsc
ton Tor that paper. They all pay t
subscription and the Ledger wri
out receipt for each and every 8
scribel Would that be selling recelT
a Nonsense! Our Ledger friends wo