Evening journal., 1911-12-22
CITY COUNCIL
NEEDS MONEY
Ordinance introduced Com
peIling Tax Collectors to
Submit LiStO DeIiquentS
COL. SLOWER
MAKES STATEMENT

That the finance committee of City
Council, which some time ago direct
ed the city tax collectors to get in
all outstanding taxes, means business.
was evident at last nights meeting Of
Mat body when Col Stover. of the
Reventh ward, and chairman of the
finance committee, offered an ordin-
ance which was read twice and re-
ferred to the finance and law commit
tees. This measure provides that the
tax collectors shall twice year sub
nit full list of all persons whose
taxes for each fiscal year or years
previous are unpaid.
Mr.. Stoyer explained that, there is
outstanding in taxes $685., 1874, figures
obtainable up to November 1, this
year. OF this amount $4,000 is due
in taxes from the northern district,
and from the southern district. $44,-
49S, for the present year.
The finance chairman referred to the
present system of tax collections as
something more than a joke, in view
of the fact that only $1,S6S was col
lected by the two tax collectors during
the past week. as compared with the
total sum outstanding in taxes. He
said that the Council would require
$4,000 to meet the demands of ex-
penditures by the end of the present
fiscal year. OF that amount there is
available, aside from taxes on real
estate. $230,000, and in bank at pres
ent, S161 ,203, making a total of 1891,
203, leaving $14S,797. which must be
raised to meet the obligations which
will fall due. He said that the only
way to get this sum is by collecting
outstanding taxes.
Col. Slower read from a statement,
showing the following details of out
standing taxes: For 1908, $2O,O2Sl9;
1904. Sl1 ,965; 1905, $177S9.06; 1906
SS3 ,104.45. for both districts.
190z-Northern district, $12,7SS.6O;
Southern. $3,1l417.
i9OS-Northern, s6,445.41; Southern
Sl1,113.7O.
ern. S12,767.34.
19lO-Northern, SAL, 1,92s.57; South
ern. $40, ,291.53. Total for tho last
four years, Northern district, $50
2S4.24; Southern, S47,2S6.74; aggre-
gate for the four years, S132,570.9S
added to which arc. the collected
taxes 1911. as follows; Northern
district, S75,24725; Southern, SA4.'
4Sq.10. an aggregate of S119,736.44
making grand total of 5000 'l94lz.
Mr.. stovers proposed ordinance fol
lows:
Section I. It shall be the duty o.
every assessor and collector of tbs
citv of Wilmington to furnish to th'
Council during the months Of Janu
ary and July of each year. under oatl
or affirmation, full and complet
list of names of any and all person
whose taxes for each fiscal year o
years previous are unpaid, togethe
with the LOCATION of the real estat
ON which said taxes shall have beel
assessed and the amount thereof.
Section Upon the failure of an
assessor and collector of the city o
Wilmington to furnish to the Council
the list as provided in Section l here
of during the months of January ant
July of each year. then the Counci
shall employ clerks to prepare sat
list or lists from the records OF tn
assessor and collector and charge th
oxnense thereof to the assessor an
collector that fails to comply with thl
ordinance.
section 3. All ordinances and part
of ordinances inconsistent herewith
arc hereby repealed.
Previous to the reading Of the ordir
ance. a letter from Col. Stover to Cit
Solicitor Hastings. asking him for a
opinion whether city taxes, more tha
four years old. can be considers
liens against property, was read.
letter was attached from Mr.. Hasting
citing his opinion that such taxes ca
be considered lien, unless a propert
is sold. The new owner, he state'
can be held only for taxes Of the pee
ceding four years.