The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-11-06
TALK ON
ADAMS TAX.

AIcSy SouFV Sob Vhoil A"aus on S""'
mOnoy.'
These words. John r. Donahoo declared
to the members Of tho Levy Court yester-
day afternoon were addressed to him by
persons who had raid him their Adams
tax Oh invos!neu is. and now desire MIN
to retain possession of the money SO ho
can refund it directly to them, instead Of
1T being transferred to the Lovy Court to
distribute under tho law declared to DO un
constitutional.
To say that General Donahoe, who was
Il collector Of the-Adams tax. Jared some
members Of tho court is expressing II
mildly. He had u ready reply for every
question pr0pounded, and came out OF the
argument with the impression directly
conveyed that he intends to hold OH to
tho tax money he has; Furthermore. he dc
manded that the present Levy Court re
fund to him So 900 Of the Adams tax col
lections he had advanced to hem,
At the opening OF the afternoon session
of the Lavy Court Mr.. Elliott submitted
resolution which was published yesterday
and as soon as it was read Mr.. Chandler
said he was opposed to 1t. After lively
argument thu yota was taken ana tho res
ointiOn lost.
Collector Dorahoe had boon lettering
around the courtroom III day, just as he
has for several weeks and President Lynn
nanny GUuCeitGu tNEG uo Wbulu uoV I'D
hmiss for Mr.. Donahoe to explain why he
has not transferred his Adams tax coilec
tions into the county treasury.
Collector Donahoe almost jumped at the
opportunity and lost no time In cypress.
ing his pleasure to matls statement to
the court. He said ho had waited Tor tho
chance for many weoks. lie reminded
tho mnmbsis that he had submitted q
written statement OF his position, an1 he
L. tt,tS hi
lions from the court under the advice OF
his counsel, Mr.. Ward
He said that he proposed to hold the
money he hod collected, for the tax payers
were looking to him to return their money
TO them. lie then reminded tho members
that he had advanced $1,000 to the old
Levy Court and hold receipts from them
At tho time ha sevo the money, he said
the court adopted resolution indemnify
ing him and promising to return the
amount when he requested 1t. He had the
minutes referred to- aud they boro out
his statement. Continuing, General Dona
hos said:
All but about $50 OF this money has been
collected from residents of this city. and
500 tho men who paid it oftencr than you
do. and seven out of overy ten Of them say
TO me time and time again as ! meet
them: 'For God S sake don't let this mon
Cy boUlHhO tIio III tuC IstFy Noutt'
! getsici and tired of the poople bother
ing me ahout the money, and had about
concluded to dump the money into tho
Levy Court aud let them and the people
tigh, it out. Before | was injunctoned
au attorney, representing u company that
has sued NE. came to Inc and said; John,
you and ! have been friends for all our
lives. Don't give that money to tho Levy
COnrt until l eau enter suit against you.
t.tnF N-tp Ert Il Ilpht farm
that spectators cnuld not restrain their
surprise and hey gave way to pcals OF
laughter. while some of tho Courtmen
smiled aud looked Significantly at each
other luusmuch as some OF the actions
of ,he court ARC under Investigation by
At!orney.tieneral Ward. they seemed
moro per.iIont than would ordinarily be
expected. ....
you have?" asked Mr.. WiIlit's.
Il wont until l get my money from tho
court be raplod.
well, why don't you refund what you
have and proceed against tho Levy Court
for the SCOOP continued Mr.. Willitts.
what good would that do" asked
Donohoe, '.The Levy Court cant be sued
Then Mr., Willittsi Thought it might bo
good rlan for Collector Donahoo to sur
render his collections to the Levy Court
Identifying bond. II his counsel were
willing he. said he would do SO. He
explained that the money Ia deposited
jointly in his name and that of his sures
ties. ~.
Attorney Knowles, when asked for.
verbal opinion. said there was no doubt.
in his mind that the Levy Court could in
demnify Collector Dohuhoc. 1t was sug
gssted that Attorney Knowles confer
with Mr.. Ward about the money, and MIR
ponahoe said ha had no objection. A
soon as he would get the % coo from tho
Levy Court he would refund tho money
directly to those who paid 1t.
is there any further statement you
would like trom~Tne?" asked Collector
DOn"hnr.
No, we think II have sid enough also
roAHy," replied L oaldont Lynn.
The jail committee submitted the fol-
lowing report; "Iour committee has in
veatgated tho balance Of the sheriff bill
ratorred to 1t at the last meeting and find
that all no prisoner s therein charged for,
were in tho Jail and were lodged and tet
by tho sbe:itf as he has charged and recon-
mend that the sheriff be paid the amount
OF his bill for the board of said prisoners,
We IRE unable to judge whether the act of
1893 does roTon Tho act of 1879 II, sta cd by
tho comptroller, and suggest that the
question Of the legality Of the com nit
,nen,s be deferred for legal opinion there
on. Nc are however, Of the opinion that
the sheriff was justified in receiving the
commitments, as they havo baen recog
nizod Us legal for many years.
Il move that tha bill DO al .owod" said
said MIR. MaEginson.
Another bill for about II, 200 for tho
commitment Of vagrants to Now Castle
jail Is still pending rs 1t had been held
up by the Lovy Court because tho comp
trollur did not approve IL. After tho bill
had been passed yesterday EftsrD oon.
Comptroller kolloy went in search of
William :. Hiiles. bis legal adviser to g ct
advise ns to whether or not he ehoull,slgn
the warrant to pay tho sheriff. Ii the
his sign ture ii would probnb cad :, n
lest OF tho Legality of this action of he
Cour in passing tho bill.
A batch of ILLS was passed by the court
including several Tor magistrates and
constabios. Constable J. 4. Mclaughlin
bill! was for Sa7l.ss. but a deduction of
sl3, II was mnde by Comptroller Kcley,
OH tic ground that there was no legal
warrant for the charge and the revised
bill Of :2J, .OS was allowed. From
Magistrate Prtchetts bill Of sal6t0,
slo.5 was deducted by the comptroller,
making lhe revised bill SaOG 10 Magis.
iate Hollis WAS allowed $.0140 g.
having been stricken out by the comp
troller. Constable Jones was allowed
$3.50 20 $40 being stricken ont by the
comptrJer. Constable Buckley was
allowed tl3D IL no change being made
in his bill. f. l.. Richards u Company
Of iiockessjn nrest ntsd bill for lumber
aud cement, and QUE OF the items was IS
for c,uk.8tove pipe. Mr.. Eliason Of Now
Castle presented n bill for $24i, 20. con.
tracted ly tho old Levy Court. 1t WAS
yrcstn cd In Dcccm bor last, but Commits
sioner Meggnson said it was pigeonholed
1t was pa sod
Tnc court adopted resolution making
the regular yearly assessment Of fifty cents
nlnitnfin tnx and Tho CnlInnL nra 1u.Ara