The Odessa herald. (Odessa, Del.) 1888-1892, 1891-05-02
Vicious Party Legislation.

At least one Republican ewspaper
in this County has severely criticised
the amendment offered by Represent
alive Higgins and sustained by all the
delegation from this county in regard
to retaining the collectors and county
treasurer until the levy court is abol-
ished in 1898. We know personally
that each Of the seven representatives
were strongly in favor Of three or
even five commissioner bill, if it had
been drawn in the interest of the tax
payers Of New Castle county, but the
present bill is not such a bill; it is
drawn entirely in the interest of one
faction of the. Democratic party. The
county has been geremandered SO as
to secure three districts for that party.
The worst part is the continuance
of the delinquent feature of the old
law, merely setting the time of return
from March until May, thereby losing
thousands of dollars to the county
and depriving one or two thousand
men from qualifying to vote. 1t is
not reform the Democratic lawmakers
are in favor of; it is securing the
United States senatorship two years
hence.
The amendment to continue the
present county officers until the levy
court is abolished in 1898, was emf
nently proper and we honor the Rep
resentatives from this County for Their
moral courage 10 opposing q measure
SO full Of hypocrisy and infamy.
The bill has some good features in
it but they are overbalanced by the
bad. Ninty per cent. of the Republic
cans who pay property tax in thii
county-and they pay three-fohrth'
OF it-sre in favor of a three commits
sioner bill provided it is framed in the
interest of reform. But to separate
the present arrangement Of levy cour
and collectors in the middle Of fisca
year, under the guise of reform is toe
transparent to deceive even the hon
est Democrats.
Mr.. Higgins amendment merel.
postponed the election of Treasure
and Comptroller until the Count,
Commissioners are elected in 1885,
But Comptroller has been foiste
upon the tax-payers at an expense Q
$4,000 for doing just what has larsel
been done by the levy court, or wins
could have been done by trust com
pany or an expert accountant for le'
than one-fourth the amount, and i
all probability have been done muc
~sbetter than the average comptrolle
appointed by the Governor VIII do
As a matter Of economy the con
trast between the two plans will b
about as follows: The County Assess
ment, in round numbers will be abol
100000, which would cost to collet
Il y the present method of 6 per cent
in the city, and 5 per cent. in tt
hundreds, about $4,000. Under IL
present plan, $4,000 will avail itse
of the 5 per cent. rebate, which wou
be 81, 800; Treasurer's salary, $4,000
Comptroller's salary, $4,000; 10 p'
cent on 5O,0O0al allowed collectors $500
salary of levy court commissions
over county commissioners, $1,000
making $21, 800 in ala net loss
the county of about $4,000.
This is an excellent illustration
Democratic reform by a Democrat
legislature under the dictation
Democratic bosses in the interest of
Democratic candidate for Unit
States Senate. And this followed
Democratic Registration law, W
make up the full measure of Dem
cratic infamy and fraud.
Again, all honor to the Republic
members of our legislature who e
pose and place upon record their Co
I demnation of such vicious par
legislation.