Evening journal., 1892-02-26
THE ASSESSMENT OATH.
No One But the Clerk Of the Peace
Can Administer It,

NdH ADMINISTER II.
Democrats Throw Another Bomb Into the
Republican Camp Republicans Put on
Illegally By Mistake The Deputy
clerk Of the Peace Has no Right to
Swear a Voucher.
Sensation follows sensation in quick
order IN the Levy Court room. There
was another big one sprung by the Dem
ocrais this morning. They info med the
Republican me ority Of the Levy Court
that no one but the clerk Of the peace
could swear the voucher Of a man who
wanted to be placed on the assessment
THE LAW GOVERNING THE NATTER.
Section 9, Of Chapter 800, Volume
XVI. Laws OF Delaware, says:
"That II shall not be lawful for the
Levy Court in either Of the counties or
this state. or any member thereof, 10
take from the assessment returned 10
the said Levy Court by any assessor. q Q
name Of any person legally appearing
thereon; nor shall IL be lawful
for such Levy Court. OF any
member thereof to add 20 any
assessment returned as aforesaid the
name OF every person, unless the party
himself personally appears before the
Levy Court, accompanied by some re-
respectable freebooter Of the county, who
shall make oath or affirmation In the
form prescribed ia Section Of this act,
said oath or Affirmation shall be
made in open court before
the clerk Of the peace, who alone Is
authorized to take an oath or affirmation
for that purpose. and 1t shall be unlawful
for the Levy Court to accept
the oath or affirmation of any
one taken before any other
person than the clerk Of the peace OF the
county in which the party applies for
assessment; and an application made In
any other manner than prescribed above,
shall be refused.
KNOWN BY THE DEMOCRATS.
The Democrats have known Of the
provision for week or two. They
further knew that II had always been the
custom fer the deputy clerk Of the peace
TO do IL.
Several Of the Democratic workers put
their heads together and decided to let
the Levy Court follow up this proceeding
with regard to the putting on Of Re
publicans, but whenever there was
a Democrat to be placed on the list to
get Clerk Of the Peace Bggs TO do the
swearing. Nearly all Of the names
80 placed on are Republicans, therefore
things went on In the even tenor Of their
way. Deputy Clerk Eliason admin
istered the oath and Republican after Re.
publican was placed on the list.
REPUBLICANS KNEW THE LAW.
The Republicans knew what the law
provided. Two Of the members went "a
Attorney Bradford day or two ago. He
told them that the Democratic claim
was undoubtedly the law, but for them
to travel on precedent until the question
was raised.
THE CLIMAX REACHED.
This morning Jesse S Kennedy, 4
Democrat, Of this city, who used to live
in While Clay Creek hundred. went e
Register OF Wills Cooch, ant
; wanted him to vouch for him
Mr.. Cooch agreed. he walked int,
the Office Of the clerk Of the peace ant
asked him to &C into the Levy Cour
room and administer the oath TIT
} clerk Of the peace looked surprised, bu
went in with them and administered tbs
oath
This unusual proceeding attracted th,
attention Of Commissioner Simpler Hl
turned to Commissioner Jolls and asked
what it meant. Together they went L
Chairman Buckingham and asked wha
the new departure sgnifsd. He wa
as much out at sea as the others. Clerk
: Of the Peace Biggs was asked for. an ex
. PLANTATION He said;
8 The Democratic lawyers contend that
r sm the only man who can legally admin
r. lister the oath. "
e There was affected CONSERVATION 70
9 some minutes, Mr.. Bradford was consul
h It'd; he supported the Democratic claim
d and ultimately it was conceded on bot
j. sides that the law was very plain.
J. DEPUTY CLLRK ELIAsON MAD.
The only really mad man in the roor
was Deputy Clerk Eliason. He SCENE
to take this action Of the Democratic Law
yers rs a personal insult. In this Oh
p lawyers claim he Is In error. They simpl
took the step to conform to the Law
3 MIGHT SESSIONS TALKED OF.
There is another question involved.
is said that the Republican manager
e have instructed the Big Six to hold nigh
= sessions during the month OF March {
order that they may get their men OF
II they do this action o
70 the part Of the Democratic lawyers wi
II prevent such high-hsnded proceeding
q as Clerk of The Peace Biggs lives In MID
x dletown and will not stay here nigh
after night for the accommodation &
n Corruption Hall.
j. COURT HOUSE GUARDIANS RE ELECTED
10 Levy Court reassembled at o'eloc
= yesterday afternoon.
On motion OF Commissioner Jolls th
o following attaches Of the court were r'
elected:
u John Levy. ianitori John T. Spring
J. fireman; and John 7. Rogers nigh
Waterman.
The revision Of Assessor Whann'
bird district was completed Il wa
!. found that 300 names on his lists ar
y duplicated on the Office record.
- The Republicans Immediately lost sigh
= OF Attorney E G Brsdfordes $1,000 70
n legal advice. and jumped the sssessmeH
a laws because this duplication will cos
the county $57, at 10 cents a name.
> Court then adjourned until 10 oeloc
Z this morning.
3 HAS SUTTON THE RIGHT
= "The Morning News misrepresent
"a me-" said Levy Court Commissions
4 Sutton Of New Castle hundred, thi
= Uorning. II dou't object {