The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-14
MORE TAX COMPLAINTS.

lax uecelvef DicRey MAKES an EX-
PLANTATION - He Says He Forgot e.
Sign Taxes for Colored People and
Send to Mill Creck-The Five Hour
Limit Interferes at Newark-He VIII
Not be Bought Nor BuIldozed.
Reports have been coming in from
the rural hundreds where Receiver OF
Taxes John L. Dickey has been sitting
by his deputy for the receipt of taxes,
that he has Disseminated against lpoll
taxables especially II they were colored
people. The greatest complaint came
from Marshallton, in Mill Creek Hun.
bred and from Newark, In White Clay
Creek Hundred.
The complaints specify that his dep
uty had no receipts signed for colored
tax payers at MaIshallton,a and at New
ark the books were shut.
A representative OF this paper, not
wishing to condemn MIR. Dickey with
out first seeing him and getting his
version OF the story, called on him
yesterday afternoon. The reporter
found Mr.. Dickey busy in the second
story OF his large clothing establish
ment asserting clothing, and said to
him:
'Mr. Diekey, you are accused of dis
eliminating against colored poll taxa
bles out in Mill Creek hundred in re-
fusing to receive their taxes
'Its blank, blank, blankable lie."
said Mr.. Dickey, ''and you can just
say that much for me-"
well, the best plan Is to beard the
lion in his den about the matter and
then there can be no mistake, but it is
reported that your deputy had no
signed receipts for colored taxpayers
and that was his excuse for not accept
ing their taxes at Marshallton," said
the reporter,
Yes" said Mr.. Dickey, that Is true,
and it was an entire omission on my
part wholly ulintentlonal. The re.
ceipts for colored taxAbles had run out
and had entirely forgotten to sign
more when Mr., Fink went out to
Marshallton, That was my fault. ]
take the responsibility and regret
that it happened. But / will see to II
that it does not happen again"
But" said Mr., Dickey, had / been
at Marshallton instead of my deputy
and should have had plenty OF receipts
with me. / would have refused to give
q eolored man receipt to be taken by
some white politician and put in his
vest pocket. / will give no receipts 10
crowds of negroes driven up to the re-
ceiyer's Office by politicians, as was
the cGse at Marshalltou and Newark.
/ do not know who am giving receipts
TO when white Republican Is along
with them prompting them what to
say and perhaps giving them assumed
names"
Nv ould you know them any better
II they We're to come aloneg' aske d
the reporter.
mo, wouldn't know them any bet
ter, but would have better oppor-
tunity to question them in regard to
their names and residences said Mr..
Diekey. Il want it distinctly under
stood that every colored man who
owes IA tax will he given an opportu
nifty TO pay it, but he must come per-
sonally and pay 1t; no crowd headed
by politicians need come.
allow about the complaint at New
ark?n asked the repoI ter.
well, you know that we are only
requested to sit five hours in day,
which is long enough. There crowd
OF negroes were marshalled by white
Republican official, and they were con-
tinually pushed in before the property
Taxpayers in waiting, some of whom
were ladies. Iii caee like that the
preference of course was given to the
W. o. HiiHA tAASl
hour OF closing came number of me-
gro poll taxalIles were shut out, and
that was all there was in that.
Mr. Dickey, then said in substance
intend to carry out the law to the
letter, and everybody that owes taxes
will be given ample opportunities to
pay them, but nobody need suppose
that can be bought or bulldozed.
have my simple duty to perform and
intend to do 1t, regardless of eonse-
auences as the law provides that shall
do It.
''Nobody wants to buy you, Mr.
Dickey," yentured the reporter they
simply want you to collect the taxes
oh yes, they would buy me IL they
could and bulldoze me too, but l am
not made of the material for either"
By this time Mr. Diclley and the re-
porter were passing down the stairs
to the first floor of the store, when
he said again. Having no receipts
for colored people at Marshallton
was mistake, an omission not intend
ed on my part. regret that, and will
see that such mistake is not made
again."
The reporter, thanked MIR. Biekey
for his frank, topen talk, ard telling
him that lie wanted his statement that
he might do no Injustice to him or any
one else in what he would publish in
The REpuDLIcAN.