Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-20
WHAT is OWING THE City /?
CounciImen Claim the Amount
is About 100000.
BULK OF THE SUM IN BACK TAXES
Statement Disputed by Collec-
tor Sayers.
He Claims That the Uncollected Taxes Will
Not Amount to Anything Like That Total
Amounts Owed the Street and Sewer
Department Water Departments Collects
Everything.

Not Amount to Anything Like That Total |
Amounts Owed the street and Sewer |
Observation-Disclosures Departments Collects |
Everything.
According to members of the finance
committee of City Council, there are
unsolicited taxes amounting to some
thing like 800, 600, which, in addition
TO other obligations. make about 5000,
GOO owing the city from various sources.
According to Tax Collector Sayers of
the Southern district, the uncollected
taxes do not amount to anything like
800, 600, so far as he is able to tell, not
having added the books for the years
for which settlement has not been
made. MIR. Savers last settlement was
for the year 1895, and now he is pre-
pairing to settle for the year 1896 From
what can be learned, the uncollected
taxes in his district for 1896 amount to
something like $500, from which the
error list of probably "a, 600 is to be de-
Quoted. For 1896 the amount is about
$4,000, less the error list. No estimate
can be made for the years 1898, 1899,
1900 and 1901 AS fact, taxes for 1901
are being paid nearly every day. and
settlement for the last two years cannot
be made for some time Collector Lewis
began to collect taxes July LIST, 1888,
and has made no settlement, but his
books for the year 1898 are to he footed
up to ascertain what is due. 1t is
thought the amount will he something
like ST, 500, from which the error list
is to be deducted. No accurate esti-
mate can be made of what is due from
the Northern district until the books
are added.
1t is said that about S11, 600 is due
Eu,f fs.xr IL Il ,3r..
but the owners of the poles have until
July in which to pay. not becoming
delinquents until after that time The
p, W. d B. Railroad Co. has paid its
pole tax and it is expected that the
other companies will pay shortly.
There are some matters in litigation,
including the right of the city to tax
the beds of railroads and railways,
which, if decided in favor of the city,
would mean considerable amount
But that is in such shape that it can
not be counted on at all. All of the
above moneys, if collected-and it is
believed all can be collected except the
roadbed tax, which is an uncertainty
will go to the current expense fund of
the city, which is at the disposal of
City Council, and the finance com
mittee of Council intends to make a
determined effort to have the money
collected, even if it is becomes neces-
sary to sell properties to do so.
The question naturally arises: Why
have the taxes not been collectedi
y Collector Sayers gives various reasons.
In some cases, he says, the collectors
have been loath to distress very pool
people, and the tax on some lots has
not been collected because the owners
cannot be found. The owners of some
properties have resisted payment fol
various reasons, which have brought
w on litigation. But, as Council has de
Seided that all back taxes must be paid,
regardless OF the consequences, it i.
the purpose Of the collectors to proceed
according to law and sell propertie,
the owners of which refuse to pa,
without making such course neces
sary.
On the books of the Street and Sewe
Department there are sums owing thu
city amounting to about s45 GOO, in ad
dition to the bill Of $50, 600, part o
which has been rendered. against tn
Peoples Railway Go. As to that bill
the company disputes it on the grount
that it has been charged for materia
for which it is not required by it
franchise to pay, and it is likely tina
the amount will be very materially re
duced. 1t is now in process of adjust
ment between the company and th
department.
The remaining $45. 600 represent
sewer, curb and sidewalk liens, whic
have not been collected for variou
reasons, but which appear, accordin
to representative of the department
to be good and collectable. As in th
case of some taxes owing the city, som
persons to whom bills for liens hay
been rendered have resisted paymer
for different reasons. Some lay til
ground that they are not bound to pa
because of amendments to the sews
laws, while. others give reasons whic
require investigation. The departmer
has been lenient with some very poo
people, and it is believed that a lars
proportion of the back liens are IL
result of leniency. The law empower
the department to sell properties fl
liens, but the mayor must first al
thorize such sales and it is questie
whether the mayor has any option
the matter. The board has not resortt
to this course except where it was al
solutely necessary.
There has been much speculation
to the finances of the department
When Secretary Wiley was asked Fl
day whether the department hi
an actual balance, he replied in Il
affirmative. He stated that the balan
is something like $1,000, but to offs
\ that there is bill for about s., O
which is due for the pulsometers /
Gently purchased for the new Sou
Wilmington sewer. So far as he know
there are no other obligations, exec
for the ash contract, which is payat
in regular monthly instalments.
The department will have to exerci
the utmost economy, as it will ha
bills for light, in addition to salari,
and will not receive its next amt
appropriation until August Liens /
being collected continually, and it
expected to add considerable amou
each month from this source
The Water Department is probaI
in better shape than any other city
partment collecting money. 1t |
collected all money due it up to il
uary 1st, 1902, except an item of abe
S25, which will be paid before the G
of the current year.
There has been agitation from ii
to time relative to the erection o
new City Hall, and members of Coun
are quoted as saying that ii they CO..
get in the money which is due fr
taxes they would seriously consider
proposition to have new public bui
ing erected. OF course the Street a
Sewer Departments money could
be used for that purpose.
GRAND MASTER SUSTAINED.