Middletown transcript., 1897-09-18

and kept. It appears. however, that the
managers Of the bill when they got sie
| into the room CT the enrolling clerk
undertook to cheat Senator Pyle out Of
his Wilmington appointee by provid
| ing that only one man should be named
in that city. It is ialso evidt n that
this fraud was discovered at once by
those Democrats who were opposed to
the bill, for the Levy Court on the fol-
lowing Monday, in the face of the terms
Of the statute, appointed two collectors
for Wilmington, naming John P. DON
ahoe, for the Pyle faction.
The second ''error" is found In Sec
tion So which provides as to how these
collectors shall be paid. The section as
it passed both branches provided that
the salaries of the several collectors
should sbe fixed and determined by the
Levy Court Commissioners at least five
days prior to the appointment of such
collector" etc. This act was passed on
Saturday, May 20, the.last day of the
session. Section of the same act, and
this provision was not changed by the
enrolling clerk, provided that these col
lectors should be appointed "during
the month of May in the year 1897"
etc., and here arose the dilemma of the
conspirators. The Levy Court was
compelled to appoint the collectors dur
ing May, of which month only one day
was left, the Monday following; but
they were also to fix the salaries at
least five days prior" to that appoint
ment. The conspirators found that
their act would fail them in the end,
and thus they resorted to the fraud Of
changing legislative enactment.
They struck out the phrase: sat least
five days prior to the appointment of
such collectors" and on the following
Monday the Levy Court met, fixed the
salaries and appointed the collec-
tors.
What is going to be done about itP
1t is clear that the collectors of taxes
do not hold their offices legally. 1t is
clear that it was impossible for the
Levy Court to put into effect the act
as it passed therefore that which they
have done is illegal, and void. 1t is a
matter for immediate investigation,
In the meantime no taxable should
pay one cent to these alleged collectors.
It places the bondsmen of these collec-
tors.in peculiar and dangerous position.
They had given bonds for the faithful
collection of money by men who have
no right at all to collect that money.
Have the collectors drawn any salariesP
They should not be allowed to draw
another cent. If orders are issued by the
Levy Court, the majority of whom are
in this conspiracy, it becomes the i'm
perative duty Of the Comptroller of the
county to refuse approval Of the same
and of the County Treasurer to refuse
the payment thereof. If the Levy
Court Commissioners prove shameless
in this matter, as they probably will, the
safety of the taxpayers must rest sole
ly upon the Comptroller and the Coun-
ty Treasurer. The act is no act. It
is null and void. It is fraudulent in
two particulars, so admitted and set
forth by the Secretary Of State. Who
knows but what it is fraudulent in its
other d etails. The county can return to
its old conditions. Receiver of taxes
RetteW can collect the balance of the
taxes. In Wilmington two men are
coll Getting poll taxes when the statute
pro vides that only one shall do thatwork
Here is conclusive reason why the
poll taxables of that city should not |
pay any taxes as they have been urged
to do with much force and rea son.
The finances Of the County are in
pitiful condition and there is wonder |
no longer. They are in the hands of a
pack of conscienceless scoundrels who
evidently stop at nothing in their pur.
pose to retain power and office. They
borrowed S150,000 last summer to
cover up with it their incapacity and
rascality. 1t is time that halt was
called, and the duty rests imperatively
upon our fellow townsmen, Mr..
George D. Kelley, Comptroller Of the
County, to sound that call.