Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-11
big Wilmington assessment books under

Courtman Hutchison arose and referred
TO the fact that this was the day APP
pointed for the revision of the Whining
ton assessment lists and he asked that
the committee now 60 to work to make
the proper transfers.
Mr.. Hickman suggested that Assessor
Conway's district be taken up first, and
then to go on with the revision making
transfers as the work is proceeded with.
He thought it would be right to go on
with the property first.
Mr.. Hickman added that in Assessor
O'tlara's district there were hardly any
transfers to make.
The subsequent arrangement was that
Committeeman Hutchison acted on the
Second district with Assessor Conway,
Mr.. Hickman on the Third with Asses
sor Whann, and Mr.. Clark on the First
with Assessor O'Hara.
The office records were then brought
in and business commenced. Chairman
Buckingham announced that Assessor
O'Hara was discharged until Friday
morning. II WAS understood that there
were little or no transfers to be made in
the First district.
THE FIRST LITTLE sPAT.
Mr.. Hickman-"I move, Mr.. Chair
man, that Assessor O'Hara's lists now
not in use be placed in the hands of the
clerk of the peace"
The motion was put.
Chairman observation-disclosures in
my hands, I'll guarantee their safety.
When the court says otherwise, III do
so"
Mr.. Hutchison--"A motion was
passed only the other day that the
books be placed in the hands of the
Chairman of the Levy Court"
Dlr. Hickman-"Wha l ask is that
the books be locked up by the clerk of
the peace and be not allowed to remain
lying around"
The question was not put and Chair
man Buckingham bent down and placed
Assessor O'Hara's lists on his desk.
The transfer work then proceeded.
An estimate of the number of transfers
and new property records to be made
was as follows: First district, 6; Second,
about 90; Third, about so. The work
comprised simply the recording of prop
erty transfers and improvements since
the assessors lists were made up. When
this is completed the regular comparison
of the assessors lists with the office
record will commence. The property
will be compared first and then the
poll-tax lists.
The whole mornings work was very
tame and quiet, no incident of any kind
occurring.
At noon adjournment was made to
1.30 o'clock.
Tuesday afternoon the Levy Court
revision committees continued their
monotonous work. The addition OF
transfers and new buildings is not com
pleted in regard to the Second Whining
ton district. 1t is matter of guess
work when the regular comparison
of the lists will be commenced,
that is of course IN reference to the
Wilmington districts. The next one in
public interest is of course the New
Castle list, when the famous Assessor
James Hance will prepare himself to
explain matters. 1t is quite probable
that the critical political question may
arise at that point before the committees
reach Wilmington lists.
There is no knowing, however, when
the match may be lit. A critical ques-
ton upon any name may cause the con-
flagration to break out at any moment.
Both sides, it seems, are prepared
with abundance of law and abundance
of evidence. The only jury, however,
is the Republican majority. Whether
they will undertake to strike out names
or not is known only to themselves and
their advisers.
The only incident of the afternoon
was when Mr.. Hickman arose and ad-
dressed the chair. He explained that
when he made the motion in the morn
ing in regard to Assessor O'Hara's
books that they be taken and locked up
by the clerk of the peace until Mr..
O'Hara's return Friday he was not in
possession of the information that a
motion had been passed on the floor of
the Levy Court that the chairman be
made custodian of the books. He was
not present when the motion was made.
He was sure the chairman would under
stand him and not think he intended
any personal illusions.
The explanation Immediately brought
cheerful responsive smiles on Mr.. Buck
inghams face.
Sunshine pervaded the court room
again as the president courteously
bowed his Acknowledgements to Mr..
Hickman.
Court adjourned to 10 o'clock We'd
nesday morning.
The revising committees of Levy Court
continued work yesterday morning on the
White Clay, st. Georges and Mill Creek
assessment lists.
The transfers on the Second and Third
districts of Wilmington were continued.
Brandywine hundred was commenced
this morning. Levy Courtmen Grub and
Simpler, aided by Assessor Lodge, took
charge Of the work
New Castle hundred will be taken up
this. afternoon and Red Lion on Tuesday
next.
1t is understood that it is quite probable
that the Wilmington hundred regular com
parlson with the Office record will not com.
mence until next week. Mr. Hutchinson
thinks it will take until Saturday to COM
plcte the Second>district transfers.
Chairman Richard G. buckingham
speaks in high terms of the exaetittide Of
the list OF Mill Creek hundred assessment
made by Assessor I.emuel Graves. Mr.
Graves is the gentleman who is credited
with keeping record of every white and
colored birth in his hundred. The chair
man of the Levy Court says that Mr..
Graves is the only assessor who has kept
up tothe strict letter of the law in arrang-
ing his names with the three first letters in
alphabetical order.
Nothing of any importance occurred all
the morning. The routine work of transfers
was continued. There were few visitors
in the Levy Court room, and those came
in only on business.
The certificate of RI Morrison, assessor
for White Clay Creek hundred, was re
ported; 3l7 names and entries and 3Sl dogs
and II female dogs. The report, which
was accepted, was signed by Levy Court
men GilliS and Sutton
STRIKING OFF NAMES.
At Levy Court esterday the fact was
recalled that in February, ls9Q, when the
revising committee were examining the