The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-10
lIIIlllISolRS
BIZ Dun REPORTER.
OFYHE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Collector and Assessor Thomas $. Lewis
n Has Nothing to Fear in the invcstiga-
fion Farce Other Matters.

! The Democrats are beginning to havo
troubles Of their own. They have been
unable TO agree upon tho Chairman OF the
Finance Committee which appears tn be
the bone Of contention. Although five OF
the seven members Of the caucus had
agreed upon Mr.. james y. oberly, Mt;
Dennis Leary appears to think he should
take rrec ,dence Of Mr.. Oberly who was
on the Did Finance Committee and bias
procured the services Of Mr.. 'Ncili to help
6lm out,
This tho Same trouble that Mr.
Ieary madc two years ago In tho caucus
meetings Of his party and one member had
gone SO far as to write his resignation II
Atr. I.eary did not kepp his wo.d or tick
TO tho men nominated for the various POSI-
lions which were made in caucus.
Councilman ONeill insisted upon being
made chairman Of the building commit
tte which was granted, but then was
mot saii fio and now wants to b, Oh air.
man OF another Important committee and
mis- action in City Council on last evening
leaves little doubt how he intends to act
II 10 Is not granted to him.
Tho result Of twenty.ono ballots for
chairman of tho Finance Committee
which was taken in open council last
cyouing does not speak well for tho peace
and harmony which is supposed always to
dwell In Democratic ranks. 1t only re-
aui es the changing OF one vote to
the Republicans to break the dead lock
and thus show that they have bit off moro
than they cnn chew.
MIRO Neil was elected the last time from
the Fir.t ward out Of sympathy, and he
sh, uld know better than to attempt to
block the doings of his party caucus. BY
the actions of him and Dennis Leary the
business of the council Is being obstructed
and Murdered, We arc surprised at their
childish actions
What Is the mai ter TINT Dennis Loary
should set himself up against the appoint
ing Of Mr.. .Iames b, Oberly Us chairman of
the finance committee He is fully compe-
tent Is it the salary Mr. Leary is after or
the little honor which goes with the posi-
tionp 1t begins to look as II he was after
tile salary by the fight he is putting up.
1t is Il surprise to tho friends Of honest
George O'Neill that he should lend his aid
or support to Mr.. Leary in his nonscns!cal
fight for the craftsmanship. He Is tread
ing on dangerous grounds and digging
his own political grave.
Our readers may look FOR the same kind
Of u fight when tho different positions
under City Council arc given out. Mike
Cannon will make the fight Of his life for
clerk of the market 1t will be either
Cannon or Republican. This thing Is
now Il forcgone conclusion and the fun
will be when tho appointments are
Mnde
The idea Of ono or even two men wanting
TO rule their party associates Is ridicul0u
In the extreme and may lead to the delea
s OF several Of the present officials who have
expected TO he re-appointed. No thing
10 SO uncertain ms politics and this will bo
shown when the appointments are made
Cwo weeks from now.
A SILLY CONTEST.
The silly contest for the position of
Thomas s. Lewis collector and assessor of
the Northern district which is scheduled
and which several officials have been sub
Doenael to appear before council will
come TO i,au 5ht. Mr.. Lewis will be able
t,show that hc has been II bonatiae own
ar If ever $500 worth of realty more than
SIX months before he was elected TO the
office which he now holds His bond has
been accepted by City Council, and he is
now receiptiny for all city taxes paid int
the Office In his district. Hei in tho Of
to turn him out. Possession Is nine
points of the law, and III Mr.. Lewis case
b. has nothing to fear from the Demo
Gratis.
The collecting of lhe poll taxes by Re.
ceiver of taxes Horace T.. Rettcw will leave
Collector John L. Donahoe without any
duties to perform as Tax collector fol
which he was to receive 81, 900 Il year. Bo-
sidos the county will be saved sevcra
thousand dollars by the collecting Of tht
poll tax and property Of the city Of viii
inington by Receiver Rettew.
1t is strange that while the county taxe
were b9ing collected by Receiver John L
hickey the discovery was not mnd'
that the taxes were not being collected
and 1t was not until a Republican hat
been elected to collect the same that it
was found collection Of taxes had been a
failure and neCessltated an issue Of on
hundred and fifty thousand dollars worti
of bonds to enable the county to pay IL
debts We say that it is strange that tn
way of collecting taxes was only con
damned and done away with after clgh
ylars trial Of Mr.. DiCkey,
We fail to see whcfc any business me-
OILS were employed in running the Ollie
tina. required eight years to lind out TIN
collecting Of county taxes by Receiver Q
Taxes and delinquent tax collectors fallc
to collect the taxes Still he people ~
peared to be satisfied and showed b.
their listlcssncss they didn care how til
affairs of tho county were conducted. In
day OF reckoning has come the people hay
now to pay tho interest cn the bond
IL ned.