Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-07

Editor Gazette d. Journal: / wish you to ex-
plain for the instruction of thousands of
interested readers, including the writer,
how Mr.. Dickey proposes to collect, in the
time given, all the taxes that the men and
women of Wilmington expect, to pay
between now and next November Sth.
There are fully 5000 property taxes due
now. three-fourths of which will be
offered in order to get the per
cent rebate during this month and
August. There are in addition fully 5000
bona flde poll taxpayers in this city who
1aust pay their taxes in order to vote in
November. The requirements of the
statute are four hours day for the sitting
of Mr.. Dickey. How many receipts can
he issue an hour2 About 20 is said to be
his record, or at the rate of so per day
There are % days in July and Mr.. Dickey
adyertises to sit here six days in August.
1t may be presumed that he will sit here
six days in September and six days in
October, or all together AZ days.
As shown above there are about 10000
taxes to be paid in Wilmington of which,
probably, 1900 will be offered in the time
stated; but how are they to be paid in 43
days Of four hours each Is Mr.. Dickey
compelled, personally, to devote 20 days a
month during August, September and
October, to the country hundreds? Does
not the law empower him to send deputy
there? Was it not the purpose of the trainers
of the statute that the tax office should be
opened every day in the year in this city,
excepting on sundays and holidays? Is
there anything in the statute prohibiting
Mr.. Dickey from pursuing this business
like method? Ought he not to provide all
the means possible to give everybody a
chance to pay his tax previous to Novem-
Der Sth? Ought he not to sit here daily
until election, at least six if not ten hours
day and have a deputy to collect the
taxes in the country?
Your answer to these questions will be
of great interest to all your readers.
REPUBLICAN,.
WILMINGTON, DEL, July LIST, 1892.
On the receipt of the above letter rep
resentative of THE GAZETTE called upon
Mr.. Dickey, at his office, on Saturday.
After waiting a few minutes, until several
taxpayers had been attended to, the above
letter was shown to the official.
at is quite true" Mr.. Dickey com.
mented, THAT four hours q day is the
law.
Il can issue 100 poll tax receipts an hour.
But the difficulty is with the property tax
receipts. All the items have 10 be made
out for these bills. For this l have had no
time whatever. The books came here only
yesterday and now here is your core
spondent expecting that hand out prop.
erty itemized bills as fast as the poll taxa
| Dies receipts.
Everyone who is at all cognizant OF
| what goes ON in any tax office under the
circumstances in which the duplicates were
handed to me knows that the applicants
must take their turn aud fall in line. In
| the line of the poll-taX men come the
property holders. The latter takes three
times as long as the polls. Then all be.
come impatient at the detention.
81 am inclined to receive property taxes
in the morning during July in order that
the 5 per cent rebate be gained by the citi-
zens-and this although the law says they
shall be received between the hours of
9 to and to S p. M. But as said the
polls would interfere and keep the prop
erty taxpayers waiting and there would be
another kick from them. | will receive
taxes from every properly taxpayer who
will come in July. | notice that ladies
come here principally to pay the small
| property taxes for their husbands who are
at work during the day. We customariy
attend TO them first and those who wait go
home and criticise the Office for that also.
ITO be sure | can employ deputy, and
| am willing to take property taxes in the
morning if the polls will stay away until
the afternoon. That would suit me. but
that is not for me to arrange. If the
public will do SO, will meet them on my
part in order to facilitate the receipt OF
property taxes and afford additional OPP
portunity for all who desire the advantage
of the per cent rebate to get it"