Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-05
MR. JoLLs ON TAN REFORM.
Directions in Which the Taxpayers of
the County May Save Over 100000 An
nually--A Big Relief to the Farmers
ana business Men.

Directions in Which the Taxpayers OF
the County May Save Over S5O,O0O An
nually--A Big Relief to the Farmers
ana business Mon.
In the course of an informal con.
versation, yesterday week with John
w, Jolls, chairman of the Levy Courts
finance committee, representative o!
IHE GAZETTE questioned that gentle
man in regard to his recent notable pub
LEGATION in which certain measures OF
financial reform were indicated. The re
porter asked Mr.. Jolls in what definite
directions he would suggest financial
saving to the county.
This important matter, it is well known
is special hobby with the chairman OF
the finance committee. lie said, in effect
that it is possible to make d saving OF
about $4,000 to the county and this with.
out 70 any degree interfering with an
effective administration of county affairs
Mr.. Jolls said: "ln the commencement
with proper assessment If county prop.
erty-which in the city of Wilmington is
llnder-assessed anywhere from $2,0OO, OOC
to 5000 ,OOO-there might be an addition
To the county treasury of $4,000. This, OF
course, is upon property that has been
missed in assessment simply through the
carelessileSs of the asscSsors, and which
property is as properly liable to taxation
as any other. Whole blocks of houses in
wilmington have been entirely over.
looked. Upon horses and such taxable
property the county has lost 10 or so per
cent of its dues.
The sum of 100000 should be CON
tributed from the direction of the Jail by
inc prisoners being caused to work for
their subsistence. 1t is simply a scandal
at the present time, when, in every direc-
ton, from business men, merchants and
farmers there is cry for relief from the
burden Of heavy county taxation, that
these tramps and criminals be Slpported
IN life Of greater east than the decent.
law-observing citizen, and at his expense.
he 2OO or more prisoners at the Jail could,
ny methods prlcticed in other county
JaIls, and which have gone beyond the
stage OF experiment, be soon taught to be
seli-supportng. Under experienced super
vision, Il sum of 81, 600 might be added to
the county treasury and thus constitute
another relief to the taxpayers
In connection with this point il was OBJ
served that the Ball Tramp law, which is
now an expense to the county, could he
developed into some share of its rightfui
value. in financial as well as moral help to
the community.
Another definite financial REFORM"
Mr.. Jolls continued. lis that the assessors
should be put on salary and the fee system
be entirely done away with. The PAYMENT
ny inc county of items by names is an
abuse that calls for immediate attention.
Here saving of from ST, 600 to possibly
$1,000 might be made, were this custom
dropped in the various county depart-
mems. The experience of the Levy Court
during the past election sufficiently de-
lnonstrated this to everyone.
Another most important and valuable
saving of thousands of dollars could be
most readily effected tbut this by legisla.
tive enactmenU. in the adoption by the
Levy Court, for county taxation purposes,
Of the annual municipal assessment of
wilmington, thus saving cOmpletelyto the
taxpayers the expensive, and, in all ex.
perlence ineffective assessment of the CITY
for county taxes. The point here is that
the citizens are visited twice for iden-
teal information; that is 10 say, the county
pays twice for the same ascertainment of
facts"
MIR. .Jolls expresses himself also very
strongly in favor of measure compelling
the recording of all property transfers in
the county records, for the obvious pur-
pose OF correct basis of checking of
county assessment, and by which a simpli-
iication OF the accounts. and the preven-
tlon OF the annoying reduplication of as
sessments, may be assured. The trouble
and expense caused by the latter feature
IS one Of the most cOndemnable in the
whole experience Of the Levy Court and
calls for immediate reform. Unless some.
thing be accomplished in this line there is
little hope for acknowledgement of the
mixed and puzzlihg condition of the
records.