Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-19

:"
ton the present method of collecting
county taxes in this county and to sug-
gest any plan by which the affairs of
the county could be put on more
economical basis, respectfully report
that the county taxes collected outside
of the city of Wilmington amount
approximately to $4,000; that these
taxes are collected by ten collectors,
one for each hundred, eight of whom
receive 81, 600 each, and two $500 each
per annum amounting to $4,000; in
addition is the road tax which amounts
to, about $50, 600, and is collected at u
cost Of s, per cent averaging about
81, 900, total cost outside of Wilmington
$4,000 being over 10 per cent. The
expense for collecting the county tax in
Wilmington is included in the salary
Of the county treasurer, $4,000, out of
which he pays an assistant. Tho
amount collected is S203, costing less
than 3 per cent. Two collectors arc also
appointed for tho Adams tax at
salary of $1,000 each.
1.-THE committee recommend that
three collectors be appointed outside
the city Of Wilmington, one for each
Levy Court district, in conjunction
|
shall be to collect all county and poor
taxes and also the Adams tax, the col
lectors outside the city to collect the
county poor, and road taxes, aud that
the committee be authorized to have d
biliprepared embodying this plan.
',For the further reduction in the OK
penses of tho county, the committee
recommend some change in tho system
Of prison government, and that bill
be prepared and presented to the Legis-
lature, directing the purchase of u
CURRY ON one OF tho lines of railroad,
and the erection of sufficient buildings
| and machinery for the quarrying and
| manufacture OF stone to be used by the
| county for the improvement of roads
in order that the labor of the short
| term prisoners may be utilized. Also
| that the county be authorized to make
q sufficient loan to carry out the afore
said PLAN"
10 SAVE MONEY IN SALARIES.
After the reading of the report,
Patrick Neary of the committee said
that it was satisfied that there will be
considerable saving in The amount of
salary by appointing three collectors,
one for each Levy Court district. He
i
| three men to collect all the taxes
outside the city, the law being very
| stringent as to the collection of county
taxes, as the collector can levy on per-
1 sonal property and secure judgment
froma Justice of the peace and can sell
/ realty or any. portion of it to get the
tax. The only thing needed is to
enforce the laws ON those points.
On the subject of prison reform, Mr..
Neary approved the proposition tc
make short term prisoners break stone,
suggesting that the proper thing would
be to buy quarry and build stockadt
there and have guards for the prisoners.
The latter would quarry the stone anc
it would be crushed by machinery tt
be secured and delivered to the severa
road commissioners. 1t would b,
necessary TO see that the stone wa.
properly distributed and according tt
system. 1t would be too expensive tt
return the prisoners to the Jail every
day, SO that the cheapest way woult
be to have houses,at the quarry within
the stockade and keep them there al
the time Of their sentence. Mr.. Near,
thought this would result in falling
off in the number of prisoners. HI
suggested that the law might apply t,
all prisoners with terms of six month
and under. 1t would relieve tn,
crowded condition of New Castle iai
and would not compete with any bust
ness.
To carry out The plan it. was sug
gested to have a commission of tire
appointed by the judges to put the Law
into effect,
J Calvin l. Swayne spoke of the excel
lent result of law requiring convict
to crush stone in North Carolina. The,
go ~ in gang and have portable
crusher. They clear the stone from
the top of the ground, crush it an,
place it on the road in the neighbor
hood and then move on to anothe
place. The improvements in the road
is very marked.
1t was announced that there are nov
in New Castle Jail 200 prisoners, o
about five to a cell.
One of the members stated that
: number of gentlemen headed by Chic
} Justice Lore were interested in pre-
ject to build State penitentiary
: which included similar plan as tina
suggested by the committee, an
thought it would be well for cor
; sultation so that the two bodies woul
not be running counter to each Other
: The committee will confer wit
. Judge Lore on the subject.
Frank Woolley thought there woul
be q saving in not buying u quarry an
referred to the plan pursued in Cheste
0 county, where the townships hav
. charge of the road work and use port
able crushers, taking the stone fror
y the surface of the ground. He sus
9 gested that it might be we'll for TIL
. county to start off with that method
q Mr.. Mullen stated that the committe
Q had considered the whole matter an
n hope to have the project condensed S
ny to save money to the county.
r The report was accepted and tn
o committee continued and empowere
! to drsftg!a bill to be presented to I'll
7 Legislature.
ff Installation OF Officers.