The sun., 1898-06-19
THE SUN WILMINGTON DELAwARE. SUNDAY. JUNE 10 1898


been settled, and the others were closed.
The foar open accounts showed balances
on January 4th, 1898, oi Sl9,275.59, as
iollows Due from James G. Townsend,
Appoquinimink hundred, 1875, S7Sl.63;
Duval Gibbs. Appoquinimink, 1883, 81.
O5l so; W. b. Biggs, st. Georges, 1880,
1854; John j. Dougherty, $l6,353. 43.
Since that date the account OF John J.
Dougherty, one of the collectors OF Will
mingtor hundred, has been settled for
Sl4, 900. So far as could be learned the
balances due from the other collectors
cannot be realized.
very large sum OF uncollected de-
linquent taxes for the years 1891 to 1894
inclusive, appear in the comptroller's S
books and are set out III separate state
ments submitted with the report. The
uncollected county and poor taxes for
these years amount to $44,066. 2l. The
accounts of tue collectors for 1891, 1892
and 1898 have been closed by credit
OF the balances against them designated
as "uncollected." The accounts for 1894
have been ordered closed in like manner.
The uncollected property taxes for
1895 and 1895, so far as they may be con-
sidered an asset of the county, are of the
same character as the delinquent taxes
for former years, except that they have,
by act of the General Assembly, been ex-
tended as lien until 1899. These taxes
made an aggregate on January 4th, 1898,
of $62, ,26l. "a, divided into county and
p ,or, S41, ,l55, As; road, M,566.73 negro
,hoo', 5, ,926. As; dog, 81, ,6l3.2S.
The condition of the accounts of the
collectors for 1898 and 1896 is shown by
statements. Credit has been allowed for
taxes levied on poll assessment. The
balances due are understood to be subject
to deductions only for errors in assess
ment of real estate. 1t has not been the
practice TO make formal allowances to
collectors of delinquent taxes for errors.
The comptroller and treasurer have been
advised, and so informed the committee,
that these collectors are not required to
make full accounting of all the taxes
placed in their hands, but only to return
such sums of money as they may receive.
The committee desired to examine the
collectors bonds to ascertain the condi-
tions thereof and the liability of the col
lectors and their sureties Hereunder,
but were unable to obtain possession Of
the bonds for that purpose. The COM
mittee were informed that the bonds
were held by the late receiver of taxes,
by whom the collectors were appointed
and to whom thev bonded.
The conditions Of the accounts of the
receiver of taxes and poll-tax collectors
!or Wilmington hundred and the ac-
counts OF the collectors of taxes in the
several hundreds for 1897 is shown by
separate statements. The total of all
taxes appearing due tor 1897, on January
4th, 1885, was SlO7, 1883. This amount
is subject to deductions for uncoilected
poll taxes and errors in assessment of
real estate, and will be materially re-
dlced in final settlement.
The attention of the committee was
called to a balance Of road tax amount-
ing to S339.46, shown by the report of
last year to be in the hands Of the late
county treasurer and which was t.
tanned by him for settlement with the
road commissions of the several hun
dreds in which the tax was collected.
1t does not appear on the books in the
county treasurpr's office. The committee
has been assured and believe that in AL
except one case, involving less than ~,
the settlements have been made as de
sired.
The committee would recommend that
the time for making the annual inspec-
tlon OF the comptrolers and treasurer's
books be changed So that it may close
| with the connty'S fiscal year on june
Both 1t would then be possible to OK
anime the accounts and report their CON
d!tirn more cOnCisely t!an under the
present arrangeme nt which npcpssitatcs
Il partial examination for two successive
years and prevents the compilations Of u
compete report and statements uf tie
transactions Oi the office for full fiscal
yar.
Among the disbursements III the wear
! were he following: For officers Of the
court $40, LOG 80; court EXPENSES, SIS
OI.4O; assessors salaries, rural New
Castle, $4,4liSl; salaries of tax cullcc-
tors, S},SH0 SO commissions to poll tax
collectors, $11449; commissions to CO.
| Iectors Of delinquent taxes. S7l7S.54 !;
salaries, S2l l.o63."o; magistrates and
constables' fees, $7.So4.30 coroner
anl physicians. Sl,245 81; rent of
uorgue, 5000; salaries OF Warden+ at
cou.hv prison, Sl,12326; Jail commits
stones maintenance Of county prison.
~ A3S. T.; board OF prisoners, $l6,236. 20;
convict labor, 81 2O4.3G; Trustees of the
Poor, S}2, ,T9o.sS; appropriations OF $500
each to the Delaware II spital, Ilom,ra
pmhic Hospital st. Peters Orphan
Asylum and st. Michael's Day Nursery,
Ferris industrial School, $1,000; Indus.
trial School for Girls, $l50O; mainten-
ance Of causcNays and bridges, First
district, SlO,6G6l; Second and Third
districts, Wilmington hundred. $50, l5l.-
~; Fourth district, $1,36l.ll: Fifth dis
trict, So.264.2l; st. Augustine Canseway,
S4,o1l .O5; interest on bonds, sd ,lO2. -.
From comparative statement of eX-
penditures it appears that for 1885. the
disbursements were S241. .l93.32: 1896,
S2T7, ,s4l.25; 1897. $3o4 ,077.o4.