Evening journal., 1898-06-21
DICEEY'S STATEMENT.
HE SAYS THAT THE AUDITORS
HAD NO RIGHT TO SEE THE
PONDS.

HE SAYS THAT THE AUDITORS
GIAD NO RgGEIT TO SEE THE
PONDS.
Ex-Recaiyer Of Taxes John T.
Dickey takes issue witch the county
auditors in their statement regarding
the non-coIlection OF taxes. To re-
porter Mr.. Dickey said the only way TO
close up the books for the years 1895
and 1896 was for the Levy Court TO
pass a resolution ordering it, as was
done in 1891 1892, 1893 and 1894
Prior to 1891 there was what was
known as the error list, and to this
was charged the unpaid taxes. When
the error list was abolished, the Levy
Court, for each year, passed a resolu-
tlon ordering the books closed and
when this was done all unpaid taxes
were charged up" and could not be
collected. If it is desired to close up
the books for 1895 and 1896, this can
be done, although there is consider
able on them which can be collected IN
time; in fact, Mr. Dickey says that he
is collecting each day, and since the
first Of this year has turned several
thousand dollars into the county treas
ury for the two years
Mr.. Dickey says That while there IS
considerable in unpaid taxes in the
county he believes that nearly all OF
it can be collected in time He mas
nothing to do with that part of the col.
Letting, as it is entirely in the hand.
Of the county collectors. All he has
to do is to see that the taxes in the
city are collected, and he is doing thai
right along. The ex-receiver said that
it must be remembered that the past
few years have witnessed very hard
times. In many instances all a man
had was the house in which he lived
and it would be cruel for q collector tc
order it sold to recover the amount O.
the taxes due upon IT,.
Mr. Dickey says that he only knows
about the condition of uncollectec
taxes in Wilmington, as the county cor
lectors make their returns to the comp
uoller and hand in their collections
the county treasurer. For the yea
1895 the total amount Of taxes to bC
collected in the city of Wilmington wa.
$5S, ,43S74. or this amount S37, ,34S.S-
was collected. when the sum Of S16,
3O775 Of extinguished poll taxes is add
cd to the amount it makes $53 ,656.O6
thus leaving s4,7S2.6S in unpaid take
for Wilmington
For the year 1896 the total amour
Of taxes to be collected in the city wa
S61. .116.49. There was in that yea
2,S49 extinguished poll taxes thu
leaving a balance of $88,767.49. OF thi
about SS5, 900 has been collected leav
ing a balance Of about So 600 in unpai'
taxes, which Mr.. Dickey says is quit
small for an error list. He is collect
ing taxes each day, and under a recen
law he has entered htty or more SUIT
in magistrates courts to recover tn
taxes. He has secured judgment %
these suits, and it is entered up agains
the property in the prothonotary's OF
fee.
In relation to the bonds which tn
auditors said were shown to them, M
Dickey said that he has the bonds Q
all the county collectors locked in hi
safe He felt that the auditors ha
no right to see the bonds, as they al
net the persons to see them. All the
have to do is to audit the accounu
Should the Levy Court desire to see IN
bonds they can 60 so, as the court
the only one that has a right to %
anime them.