Evening journal., 1902-03-28
CITY AUDITOR
MAKES CHARGES
Alleges All Money Collected
Was Not Deposited
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO ACT
Chairman Kane Reports Examination
OF Collectors Books Has Been
Made

NluNA
As was predicted in the EVENING"
Journal last evening, City Auditor
Boughman presented a written report
to City Council night dealing with the
tax collections, the collectors and their
methods. Grave charges we're made
about the collections, the allegation
begin made that money was being col
lected and not deposited in bank.
He also charged that one years
taxes are used to settle that of another
year further back. In this regard he
says the condition was worse several
months ago than at present In antici-
patton Of hearing something eensa-
tional, Council chamber was filled with
interested persons. The report fol-
lows:
Wilmington, Del, March %, 1902.
To the Hon. President and Members
Of City Council.
/ Gentlemen. l respectfully report as
! follows the amount due on city and
school taxes for the years 1896, 1897
and 1898 on March 20, 1902: Southern
district 1896, amount due S5,296.19;
1897 $S,52791; 1898, s9.735.57; North
ern district, 1898. $5,261.S2; total, $685.
S21.49.
On this date, March 27, the Southern
district has deposited to the credit of
1897 taxes the sum Of S400, and the
| Northern district to the credit of 1898
taxes the sum of sl,S34. so the amounts
due on those years are reduced TO the
extent OF those amounts at the pres
ent time AS to the amounts out for
1899, 1900 and 1901, which I have not
had time to give attention to yet.
have figured there is at least $3.50, 900
outstanding.
II On horse and mule taxes as follows:
. Northern district-1S9S. assessment,
1858; amount received, $3.50; amount
deposited. nothing; 1899 assessment,
1881; amount received. $2S2: 1900 as
sessment, $3.50; amount received, 1878,
this day: 1900, no assessment furnish
, ed amount received, 1896; total, 81
242 Southern district-1S9S assess
ment, Sf,O23; amount received, s4S1;
, amount deposited S4S1. August s,
1901; 1899, assessment, $95S; amount
/ received. S527; amount deposited.
$454 February p, 1902; 1900, assess
ment, $1.11S; amount received, $i94;
) amount deposited nothing; 1901, as
sesment. $1.119; amount received,
S415: amount deposited. nothing; to-
tai assessment. S4,21S; amount re-
ceived. $1.917 You will observe by
, THESE figures that very small per-
? centage of tits tax is collected, and
what is collected IS very slow in find
ing its way to the city treasury.
AS to money collected and not re-
turned to the credit of the city / have
' this to say: The collectors cash books
r and deposit vouchers from bank up to
. and including last Thurs1ky, March
n 20, 1902, showed the following:
r Southern district-Receipts from
- the first of September each year-lS96
S42, ,226.77; deposits, s42,250; 1897, re-
ceipts, S44,8S9.82; deposits, $4,000;
1898, receipts, $39,G33.11; deposits, 3d.
375; 1899. receipts $33,17702; deposits
8 S31 $50; 1900, receipts, S26,8ll97; de-
posits. s2G. G.775: 1901, receipts, S6,507.19;
deposits. $4.75O; total receipts, $193,-
= 247.SS: total deposits. S189320; receipts
over and above deposits. $S,92LSS; re-
+ ceipts over and above deposits, horse
/ and mule tax, $9S2; total receipts ovel
and above deposits, $4,909.SS.
p Northern district-Receipts from the
o first Of September each year-1S9S, $685.
4, ] tlo.olf AclbcAA7f F"of'nNf Ao""fh AZ
= ceipts, S5O.6302S; deposits, Sj1 ,291
2 1900. receipts. $33, 1924. deposits, s32
612: 1901 receipts; S9,07124; deposits
S1O. .42O.16: total receipts, $151 ,91S63; to-
tail deposits, ,S15O. .260. .O2 ;receiptso over de
pOsits, S2.9OO61; receipts over anC
Il above deposits, horse tax. S1,242; tOta
= p receipts over and above deposits, 81,
= 9O0.61.
rrta ao7,-os bova oivan ehould with
VI out further comment. dispel any doub
u as to the veracity of the auditor
D. statement made to the Finance Com
ID mittee and other members of Council
r recently that money was being collect
ed but not deposited in bank, a fac
that was disputed by the collector
through the public press. Anothe
D thing you may observe is that on som
=" of the years more money has been dc
al posted in bank than was received
m those years, according TO the cas-
books. and I respectfully suggest tina
such Juggling with city finances shoul
cease. and at once for it is the usin
of one years taxes TO settle that {
" another year farther back. and whi
et on this matter / desire 70 say that th
10 conditions in this regard and in Oh
u amount received and not depOsite
we're worse several weeks ago than ,
present.
The collections and deposits for Il
s- week ending this date. taken from Il
IL cash books and the vouchers, are:
he Southern dietrct-1S96, collection
IS s92O4: deposits, nothing; 1897, cole
en- tioas. s130.23; deposits. $500; 1898, co
ed lections. S110.24; deposits nothinl
d. 1899 collections. S11262; deposits. 81
n 600: 1900. collections. S726.S0; deposit
IN s525: 1901. collections. Sl09.36 d
en- posits. 81 500: total collections. 81
or 261 20: total deposits. S3.425.
Ter Northern distrct-lS9S. collection
n s53.55; deposits. 1884; 1899, cole
tions, S24737; deposits, nothing; 100