The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-17

During the late session Of the late
Legislature Receiver OF Taxes John I.
Dickey had the Five County Conmis-
sioner Act changed to suit his own
purposes and everything he asked to
be done in that respect was done, ex-
cept that be brazeniy asked for $500
70 be added to his salary, already
$4,000, hnt the Legislature did actually
condescead to compromises with the
great boss and made the incrsase
$1,000. Dickey asked that he might be
left alonc to select the places In the
respective hundreds where he might
cit to receive taxes and his request
was granted. He asked that that part
of the law DO stricken out that per-
mitiAd taxpayer to sue him Tor ten
dollars II he was not In his office at the
appointed hour to receive taxes when
the taxpayer called. and his request
was granted
He asked that the section Of the
Law which compelled him to sit one
hour at night during two months In
Wilmington for the accommodation
81 the working people be stricken out,
and his request was granted. After
ali this a. we have already stated, he
asked for an increase Of $500 to his
salary and got $1,000. Think OF all
this, taxpayers Of New Castle county.
think OF the brazen eifrontery OF this
man In making such demands as no
other man would have dared to make,
and then think of spineless Legisla-
ture, capable only OF passing partisan
acts, bending Its supple knee to their
boss. lash In hand. and granting his
requests.
What kind OF arguments must the
boss have used to the members OF the
Legislature to have brought them to
his feet Let us imagine. To some
hecouId talk boldly and tell his real
purposes coniidentially. To others
ike Senator Pyle he would have to
use.more caution. To Representative
6pruance he could talk In this man
mer, See here Press, l want this
law changed. You see 1t is too favor
able to the Republicans. For instance
when sit at night to receive taxes
nobody comes to pay but Repuoh
cans. You know / send Democrats
their tax receipts, that they do not
have to come ct night or any other
time to pay taxes, but I don't dc
that with Republicans. and they take
advantage Of the night hour.
..Now. II you will Just repeal that one
hour at night 1t will completely knoci
the Republicans out. You see, wher
they can't come at night to pay theil
taxes they would have to lose TIM
through the day to come. which the!
will not do, for you see l would glvs
the preference to property taxpayers
and the Republican poll Taxpayers
would go away disgusted and no
come back again" The boss and Mr
6pruance are supposed to have ex
changed sundry wiuks ut parting, tn
latter perfectly understanding tn
matter, as he had had some little ex
perience in that line as dealer In Sec
ond ward secondhand tax receipts.
When Mr.. Dickey approached suof
men as Senator Pyle it is supposed
that he talked somewhat in this style
"You see. Senator, that one hour
ehe evening business ought to /
struuK out Of that Five COMMISSIONS
law. Coi!setina taxes ought to
done on business principles, like an
other business. Look at the bank
and insurance offices. they are neye
open at night. the county offices an
city offices are all closed at nigh
why should mine he kept openr {
eourseSenator Pyle sees the questio
as Dicksy sees it. and votes with NJ
spruanoe to repeal the law, and aft
taking that much labor from III
Dickey's shoulders, they vote to gi,
him thousand dollars more salar,
In both Mr.. Spruance and Mr.. Py
Dickey found willing ooadjutors
hitch to his train, but he had to o
proach them in different manner {
get them into the traces.