Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-31
THE STATE BOUNDARY LINE.
A Tax Assessors Demand Pro-
cipitates the Quarrel.

John r. Johnston of Thompson, Dell,
FIatly Refuses to Pay Tax to a Penn
sylvania County Tax Assessor---He
Dares Pennsylvania With tho Terrors
of the Supreme Court of the United
States.
As lively and interesting q quarrel as
has recently come within view is that
now developing from what has been
decided as the new State line between
Delaware and Pennsylvania.
1t will be remembered OF course that
a Joint committee has been for some
time in existence, appointed by the eX-
ecutives Of the two States, whose duties
were to indicate, by marks and monu-
ments, what the true line is that divides
Delaware and Pennsylvania. That line,
the result of the commissioners work,
has been long made public.
Ii is we'll known too, at least in this
State, that several OF the Deiawareans,
who by this decision have been eXpa-
triated from the Diamond State, and
announced to be citizens of Pennsyl-
vania, have long asserted, and contlhu-
ously so, their opposition to the new ar
rangement.
They claim emphatically that they are
Delawareans, have always been so, and
will always be so.
They will persist in this position for
all they are worth. They will invoke
the aid of the United States Supreme
Court, if necessary, and their status
under the Constitution.
Leading lawyers of Delaware have
charge of their interests, which will not
go a-begging for lack of the best pro-
fessional protection obtainable in this
| State.
The bubble is pricked, in the fact of
the demand by Pennsylvania tax
gatherer of certain taxes from John Il,
Johnston, "a Delawarean of Thompson,
Del, which is part of the contraband
territory.
The following special tells the story:
j WEST CHESTER, Aug. 25.-The following
| is bit of interesting correspondence be,
tween Chester county, Pennsylvania, and
| q resident of the State of Delaware in ref
erence to the taxation of the newly-ac'
qured residents of the State by the chang
ing of the State line:
WEST CHESTER, Aug. "a, 1Sg3-John T. John
ston, E-q.-DEAR SIR:. Yours received. Oul
county commissioners have instructed our as
SCISSORS to assess those persons on the Chester
|
| small personal property tax, SO as to enable
them to vote if they wished to do So.
]. +. HILL,
Clerk for County Commissioners.
THOMPSON, DEL, Aug. 90, lS93.-To the Com
,nissi n ~ or Chester C0unp, Vest Chester, a.
GENTLEMEN; / understand you have ordere
your assessor To assess all persons who hay
been cut out of Delaware by the new line be
tween Delaware and Pennsylvania. We be
leave to mention few facts In the case. W
are assessed in Delaware tor three years, ant
If course are bound for our taxes in Delawar
| and can produce our tax receipts to prov
| payment In the State of Delaware. II would
: useless for me 10 tell you anything about ID
Consti utional law in such cases, as no donl
you are more familiar with 1t than am. III
l matter is now in the hands Of our counsel, an
s we expect 1t will be tried in the Suprem
Court Of the United States. remain vel
: truly YOURS j. n. JOHNSTON.
e Reference, Thomas Mercer, DR.. j. 6. Yves
Kemblesyille, Pa.
1t is very evident that there is to be son
4 fun in the collection of the taxes frol
y these new Delawarean- Pennsy