The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-11
THosn DEI1souEsrA

Collector MeKee's Anadavtt-what the
Republicans Paid the Collectors for
Legitimate Tax Rcceipts-The Truth
About tho Matter.
The affidavit sworn and subscribed
to by Collector George W. Mckee and
presented and read before Chancellor
Salisbury yesterday, In connection
with the Injunction proceedings to
prevent over 1000 names being placed
upon the tax-duplioates, caused the
greatest excitement this morning
amongst those who knew all the facts
In the case.
A representative OF the REPUBLICAN
started out this forenoon and called
upon a few Republican leaders to SEQ
how far Collector McKee's affidavit was
correct. There seemed to be- the great
est surprise In all quarters that Mr.. Nc
Kee should have subscribed to such an
allidavik and on the part of many
there were sincere regrets that he
| should have taken an oath SO much at
variance with the facts.
Without using the names of those
who were prominent In the transaction
but who are we'll known and RESPONSE
Bile and who have no objections to
their names being used II necessary,
there was general hesitancy to give
the information desired, but they con-
sidered that Mr.. Nc. KEGS affidavit
rendered 1t necessary to make a de-
fence. The gisb OF the transaction
then Is this:
Collectors Mckee and Dougherty
away back last December, finding that
they were going to be q little short in
making their payments to the county
by thu first of March came themselves
voluntarily to a couple OF RepublicaA
leaders and made o proposition I'd
them that IL they would raise The
money and pay for their poll taxabids
, In bulk they would Issue receipts for
every Republican poll taxable, black
and whito upon their tax duplicates.
The Republicans, after some consul
tation, accepted tho oiler and went u
work to raise the money. By January
Sd they had 81, 500 raised. which they
paid over to George w. Mckee on
that date. For this money the Repub.
licans hold Mr. MoKee's receipt stat
ing In the body OF the receipt In Mr..
McKee's own handwriting that the
money was for Republican poll-tax
receipts.
This money was paid before any re.
ceipts were issued whatever. OF this
money Mr. Mckee gave Collector
Dougherty $1,000. as he had the greater
number OF poll taxables and kept $500
for his own district
The plan pursued to enable the col
lectors to issue receipts to none but
Republican poll taxables was this
The collectors made out full list OF
all poll taxabies on their duplicates
including Democrats and Republicans
and sent them to the Republican com
mittee. These lists were all gone ovel
by ward committees who by the niC
I OF their block books, put mark to thu
name OF every Republican. The lis
was then sent back to the collectors
who issued receipts for the names
marked on the lists.
Mr.. Mckee says in this affidavit:
Il am informed that most OF tho re
ceipts held now by the Levy Court ant
claimed to belong to men who have
paid taxes and yet are on the delln
auent list are dated january Q, 1891
During the entire month OF january
did not collect poll taxes from oYor i0i
citizens altogether
This Is male very guardcdly. Mr.
Mexico may not have Issued over ion
tax receipts for poll taxables over nne
above the several hundred that he is
sued january o, for the $500 he had II
hand in advance. MIR. Mckee know
the hours he spent in writing out ant
lllllnH up tHOSe Fecei PTS, nAlu no KNOW
that he, or his clerk for him, filled IL
date, amount, name and signature nj
along through January and In Febru
r :fy though 1t Is doubtless true tina
the receipts were not delivered to tn
2 Republican Committee In January,
The Republicans then raised NOR,
J money and paid over to the collectors
: running the amount up to Ss916 10
s which R0pubiican poll tax receipts
4 were Issued, but 1t VAS the first o
/ March before all OF them were delivered
r to the committee.
These receipts were genuine In every
respect. No faint OF fraud was upor
! one of them. The Republicans owe
) the taxes and they paid them whom re-
/ quested to do so by the collectors.
So taras tho Republicans are euncer
, ned the proceedings were lesitimat
/ and they are not making apologies TO
/ anything that they havo done. Neithe
!. would this statement have been mad
/ had Mr.. Mckee not made his start
/ ing affidavit.
a