Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-10
NIsorILANEoUs REooRR
Wharn thn cltv snffern.

In his communication TO the City Coun-
oil, Thursday night Mayor Wilson called
the attention Of tho taxpayers Of Whining
ton, forceiully and pertinently, 10 the f.
nancial situation Of their municipal gov
enment. And his statement revealed
glaring Iaxity in the matter Of tax collec-
ton which calls imperatiyely for inn
medinte reform.
Roughly estimated, the deficit in tho
city treasury At the close Of the current
Ascal year will be $4,000. The City
Council is prohibited by law from INCUR
nng dollar Of floating debt but, unless
some other avenue Of escape Is afforded,
we presume tho present Council, following
In the footsteps Of It's numerous predeces-
sors. will resort TO tho illegal expedient
Of borrowing money for the purpose Of
meeting the current expenses Of tho city.
On the other hand Mayor Wilson pre-
sents figures showing that there is due the
city uncolleoted taxes amounting to Sll5,-
966.64, not taking into. account the taxes
remaining on the duplicates for 1o05-0.
The collection of these overdue taxes,
il will be seen, would provide for the
threatened deficit OF $4,000 and leavs a
surplus of more than $4,000. Would
il not be the part Of wisdom, therefore,
90 collect these back taxes, instead Of
illegally borrowing money for the purpose
of meeting current expenses
II will well repay the interested tax
payer to read the items and dates Of these
uucollected taxes. For the Northern
district they are as follows.
For the year 1900, S3,S66.5l.
For the year 1901, s5,0i4.4o.
For the year 1902 S6,657.
For the year 1908, S24,isi17.
For the year 1904, s25.4l7.70.
Here are the figures for the Southern
district
For the year 1900, S2,653.4l.
For the year 1901, SO, ,2sl.67.
For the year 1902, S3,67s.4o.
For the year 1903, Sl1 ,l62.4o.
For tho year 1904, s3O.O54.s3.
IL will be observed that these uncol-
lected taxes cover period Of FIVE
years Of assessment and tax levy, not
including the tax year now current The
taxes for 1900 and 1901 in the Northern
district are credited to a collector, Thomas
8. Lewis, who has been out Of Office since
the latter year, and yet. Notwithstanding
he has applied for and has secured other
Offices since chat time he is still delin-
quent to the city for taxes to the amount
Of $3.50 for the years 1900 and 1901.
Why has this unusual olemency been
extended TO this former official
In the Southern district similar state
Of delinquency is shown, the collector
owing the city for taxes back 70 1900
Why is it that he has not been called to
an accounting?
The law in relation 10 the collection Of
taxes is ample, and clothes the collectors
with full powers Of collection. Il makes
taxes a prior lien on real estate until the
8lst day of December Of the year sue
ceeding the assessment, under which lien
the property Of delinquents may be sold
Il also extends this lien, In the case Of
action being taken to restrain forcible
proceedings Of collection, until six months
after the determination Of such proceed
ings. With all this power why have not
the collectors been held to stricter &C
countnbility ?
The city charter also clothes the finance
committee Of City Council with ample
power to compel settlements by tax col
lectors. The latter must appear before
the committee on summons, and submit
their lists Of delinquents, whereupon the
committee may direct the collector 10
pay over the amount Of delinquent tax
within fifteen days, and II such paymen.
be not made may take legal steps for the
collection.
Il will thus be seen how negligent the
finance committees Of City Council have
been in allowing the collectors such lati-
tude. The time has come, however.
when reform is imperative. The city has
need Of the money that is due il in un-
collected taxes. The thing to do is to
enforce stern collection Of these long
overdue taxes, no matter who may suffer
thereby.