Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-03

Councilman oberiy Wants the Collectors I
Refund Tax Money Pad the Second Time

Councilman Oberiy Wants the Collectors to
Refund Tax Money Paid the Second Time.
The meeting of City Council last
Thursday was enlivened by discussion
over the refunding of overpaid taxes.
The finance committee recommended
that the following amounts be re.
funded, at the request Of the respective
claimants: NJ. E. Miller, IS. 49, Mary
.. Ryan, So; John Filiben, S13. 80;
NJ. Edith Pussy, sl6.75. After the
report of the committee had been read
Mr.. Oberly called for the reading of
the communication asking for the re-
funding of the respective amounts. His
request was complied with and it being
shown that the Filiben and Ryan COM
munications asked for the return of
money which, through errors, had been
paid twice, Mr.. Oberly made motion
that the money due them be charged
to the collectors; that is, that they be
| required TO pay it ont of their own
pockets. Mr.. Smith said even if tho
money was collected twice it was all
deposited to the credit Of the city and
Council should refund the money if,
through mistake it had been paid
| twice. IF the collectors keep that
money" he said, this body should be
enlightened. Mr.. Oberly called upon
| Auditor Pyle, who was present, to
make an explanation, but Mr.. Kane,
who is chairman of the finance com
mittee, objected, saying the auditor
could explain at the proper time, and
the auditor remained in his seat, Mr..
Smith was not disposed to pass from
the main issue and he again arose and
said he considered it Mr.. Oberly's
| duty, if he had knowledge that the col
lectors kept money for their own use to
| prefer charges against them. Mr..
Oberly gave no intimation that he had
any such intention in mind, but made
tine explanation that the final settle-
ment shows that the collectors are
charged with the money only once
This caused Mr.. Smith to ask: "Is
this money that is paid the second time
kept by the collectors or deposited in
the city treasury?'' sit is placed in
the treasury" Mr.. O5erly replied.
WELL" Mr.. Smith remarked, Fit is
the duty of this body to refund it, -
AS there was no telling when the dis
cussion would end or whether it would
terminate to the satisfaction of Coun-
Gil, it was decided, on motion of Mr..
Fisher, seconded by Mr.. Smith, to
postpone action on the Filiben and
Ryan claims, the ones under discus
sion, until the next meeting and pay
those of M. Edith Pussy and M. +.
Miller.
Mr.. Kane presented a communication
from M. 2. Satterthwaite, secretary and
treasurer of the Board of Trade com.
mittee which is arranging for the
electrical convention, asking the CO.
operation of the Mayor and Council
and inviting Council to appoint a com.
mittee to cooperate with the com.
mittee of the board or confer with the
latter committee and report back tc
Council the proper means for CO
operating. The communication was
accepted and Messrs. Kane, Mousley
and Stewart were appointed com
, mittee by the chair to cooperate with
/, the Board of Trade committee.
City Treasurer Hannah reported
!. balance in the Union National Bank tt
the credit OF current expenses amount
ing to S180, 69e. 80 and a fund of SIT,
! 534. So for the purchase of park land
/ also the following receipts during tn,
week: From Tax Collector Sayers
/, SAB, 800; Collector Lewis, S63, 967 ; De
linqueDt Tax Collector Mitchell, $3.50
Clerk Adams of the Municipal Court
s436. so, fines, fees and costs for June
The following payrolls for July wer
allowed: Council, s275.26 Police De
partment, s6,032. Ia; miscellaneous
4 S3,074.7 II. The Board of Education wa
q granted $40, 900, its annual appropria
. tion for new buildings.