The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-13
MONDAY JULY Is. 1891.


and pointedly and the Sunday Star
yesterday, more at length and in de-
tail, gave the whole truth to their read
ers in regard TO the Republicans pay
ing to tax collectors Mckee and Dough-
erty the taxes Of some four thousand
poll taxables belonging to the Repub-
ncan party In Wilmington, and which
poll taxables the same collectors re-
turned afterwards to the Levy Court |
as delinquents. Still we suppose the |
Democratic papers will keep on mis-
leading the public and telling that
they are fraudulent receipts issued for
a fraudulentpurpose.
On the part OF tho Republicans 1t
will be seen that there never was o
falrer nor more legitimate transaction.
On the part OF the collectors, honest
and fair minded men OF all parties
must be the judges of their motives
and their. actions. The confidential
secrecy that surrounded the matter
was alone for the protection OF the
Democratic collectors from violent
abuse from their own party for the
performance OF an act not inconsist-
ent with their duties as county officials
and as honest business men.
The Republicans with injury to them
selves bore with tho dishonest criti-
cisms and accusations OF hostile and
partisan press, not that they had any
thing TO lose by full statement Of the
whole tranaction. but to keep faith
with tax collectors who had been I'M
faithful to them. They paid their
taxes honestly, got their receipts legl-
titnately, suffered Acknowledgement ig-
ANONYMOUSLY by being returned as de-
hnqucnts, before they turned upon
them and DISTINGUISHED them.
The affidavit of collector George W.
Mckee stating that during the month
OF january he did not issue more than
a hundred receipts to poll taxables all
told and that those purported to be
Issued that month were fraudulent
was tho last straw that broke the cam
els back. Only until then did the Re-
publican committee feel at liberty to
make full statement OF their part in
the transaction. II tho exposure hurts
the collectors 1t cannot lie helped,
they, especially Mr.. Mckee, brought 1t
upon themselves.
No fair-minded man will blame the
Republicans for tho part they took,
and we sincerely hope our Democratic
contemporaries will investigate for
themselves, gather tho fucLs and pub
fish them far and wide.
Then TO the facts which bear con
densed repeating. The collectors in
December, were short in money. They
had payments To mako to the County
before the first OF March. How were
they to get the money TO make thcse2
The thought struck them that here
were four thousand odd Republican
poll taxables unpaid.
II they were paid 1t would bring
some $4,000 into their hands and &c
that far towards making ends meet
They knew it WAS no uso asking tn
Democrats TO pay for their poll taxa
bles because they were not used t,
doing SO, and oven if they would con
sent, they would only give their Oh
legations which would not be wortl
as much as the ready clsh of the Re
pnblicans. And then besides, the 10
publicans who had in the past me
with great difficulty In their taxes pal,
/. owing TO the obstructive methods o
these same collections would be glal
TO accept the opportunity to pay 10
their poll tlxabies in bulk. and hay,
In their possession tho receipts thai
would Insure them vote in 1899.
Full OF this idea, the collectors cam
themselves TO the Republican commit
tee and made the proposition to ueccr
the taxes due from these poll taxable
In bulk, II they would raise the mono
to pay for them. They even offered t,
aid the Republicans by sending ther
lists Of all poll taxables on their du
plicates and they should make froT
these lists other lists of Republican
alone, whose taxes the collector
would receive and for which the
would issue receipts.
Can anybody blame tho Republican
for accepting sueh an ofTer2 They di
secept it and they paid over to collie
tors Dougherty and Mckee, $500.
for which they hayo the receipts
those gentlemen. sl59Oof this none
was paid as early as the third of Jan,
airy In advance as the receipt show
Notwithstanding the affidavit OF NJ
Mckee, which he now regrets no mad
, And In TINT affidavit Air. Mckee swea
that these receipts issued in Januar
are fraudulent. Those tell-tale +,
eeipts backed up by other receipts &c
the money in bulk are rising up /
judgment against Mckee. No wond
he now regrets he made the affidavit
The sooner he can wash his soul
This sin the better will 1t be for Ia
peace of mind.
We leave the collectors In the hant
Of Justly indignant public, only
say that the Republicans have dol
nothing Of which they are ashame
rneir transactions are as straight as
shingle, honest and legitimate. Tn
the county has not got the $1,000
eney paid the collectors for poll tax
which Is not their fault. That the
four thousand poll taxablos for who
they paid those taxes are retnrnnd