Evening journal., 1891-11-17


81, 92i 90 together with interest from
June 13, 1891, in addition to the unpaid
balance Of his account as settled by the
Levy Court in March last "
The report concludes by ssying that
In pursuing the investigation. that
Dougherty aud Mckee were given full
opportunity 10 explain their conduct but
failed to do so because they were afraid
of eliminating themselves. That three
reputable witnesses had testified that
they had paid the money and that
documentary evidence proving such
payment had heen produced, and re
commends that the Levy Court take
action forthwith TO have the accounts OF
Mckee and Dougherty finally settled
and determined ia accordance with the
findings above set forth
II Is signed by David P. Hutchison,
John W. Jolls and James n. Clark, the
Republican members Of the committee.
Commissioner Hickman on the Floor.
The majority report was scarcely upon
the table before Mr.. Hickman arose and
formally presented the following report
on behalf of Mr.. Eiason and himself,
constituting the minority Of the com
mittse
TO the Levy Court of New Castle County
The undersigned members OF the com
mittee appointed to investigate certain
charges against George w. Mckee and
John J Dougherty collectors Of taxes
for the city Of Wilmington, respectfully
beg leave to report:
That while we are in fullest sympathy
with the objects sought to be attained by
the investig alton and admit that the
partial examination shows that improper
and corrupt practices in violation Of law
were entered into by the said collectors
in coilusion with other parties, some of
whom we believe appeared before the
committee yet we consider that full
Investigation should have been made and
therefore present the following minority
report.
The Importance OF the matter and the
/ public interest it has exct ed seems to
us to call for the fullest and most com
plete examination into and presentation
to this court Of all the fact and evidence
obtsinable in referesee 10 it To this end
we have uniformly and persistently re
quested that the evidence upon which the
charges against said collectors are based
should De submitted for our inspection
and criticism This evidence WAS shown
to be principally composed of certain
/ persons other than the taxables for
whom the receipts were alleged to have
| been obtained. Our demand was based
upon the rule that the best evidence
that case admits Of should be produced
II seems to us that beyond question
papers themselves which are claimed to
be the evidence of the fraudulent action
Of the said collectors should have been
presented to your committee The
length Of time required for such an ex-
animation should not have been allowed
to prevent such an investigation as the
seriousness OF the charges demanded
"It is not within the province of the
committee or any members thereof to
impute any partisan or improper motive
for the refusal to so produce these papers.
1t is admitted that they were held by
others than the parties whose taxes they
were alleged TO be the evidence Of the
payment OF, and partial examination Of
few Of the said papers revealed such
inaccuracies and differences that a thor
| | ongh examination OF the whole macs o.
receipts IN question was imperatively de
, manded.
1T may not be out Of place to refer te
the method employed by the msjority oi
the committee in arriving at their con.
clusion. A committee representing the
managers Of the Republican party Of
this city appeared before your COMMITTEES
with list called List No. 3, contain.
ing the names Of those persons who were
alleged to have been returned as delin.
quents from a part of Wilmington by
the ssid collectors, and whose receipts
they, the said managers, held. Frou
this list, in answer to our persistent de
I 4
dom 5y the members making the ma
jority report and the receipts for the pay
II ent Of taxes sought for them. Thirty on.
receipts were produced. Then the under
! signed again requested hat production
Of all the said receipts as Henry G. Ma
} haffy had said, previously Ia the levy
court room in the presence OF the mem
bers Of the Levy Court he had them witt
him then in the room. This
request was refused ard at a subse
quent meeting Of the committee wher
J we repeated the demand which we haC
persistently made, we were informed
that part Of the receipts had been dis
tributed Why they were distributed
pending this investigation. we do mo-
! know
Zone hundred names were selected from
the list OF deliuquenls returned by John
j. DougbeIty by the Republican mem
bers of this COMMITTEES. These names
were put into a hat from which forty
names were selected at random and re
ceipts afterwards sought therefor. Thu
by a method of chance not recognized b.
any conrt with which we are acquainte,
was Il sou ght to determine the liability
Of the men whose acts were in question
and govern the committee in this inves
tigation.
The resolution appointing this commit
tee directed us to investigate the charge
against these collectors and to proceed
without delay to collect all monies
fraudulently and unlRwfully retained
We think that the investigation has no
been as full and as fnal as it should hav
been, but in view Of what the partia
investigation has shown we recommen,
that steps be taken TO have the fulles
and strictest justice meeted out to thes
collectors and all connected with them Il
2 the nefarious transactions which we wer
appointed to investigate. which transac
: tions we believe 20 have been the resul
! of conspiracy entered into between th
? said collectors for the furnishing OF ir
regular and fraudulent evidence Of "a
right 90 vote
The minori ty report was rejected an
the majority report adopted by a stric
party vote.
a FALSE CHARGE.