Evening journal., 1914-08-19
Mr.. BURNS EXPLAINS
ABOUT TAX NOTICES
Persons Who Paid May
Have Been Proceeded
Against in Mistake
POSSIBILITY OF SLIP
UP ON TAX BOOKS


yesterday afternoon Commissioner
Martin E. Smith stated that q number
of complaints had been made to him
that action was being taken by Rob-
ert NJ. Burns, delinquent tax collector,
and. former county treasurer, against
a number of taxpayers for non-pay-
ment of taxes which have already
been paid. Mr. Smith stated that these
taxpayers possess the receipts for the
taxes for which they are being sued,
and he believed something should be
done so that it could not happen in the
future He also asked the court to take
some action against the bondsmon Of
a tax collector of Christiana hundred,
| who had held the office several years
ago, and who had made no final set
tlement with the county. He said that
/ the taxes had apparently all been col
lected, but had not been turned over
to the county, and stated that the
amount of the bond was between S4-
600 and $4,000.
No action was taken on either of Mr..
Smiths suggestions at the meeting
/ yesterday, they being laid over until
the next meeting. After the regular
bills were passed the court adjourned
until 10 o'clock Friday morning.
An explanation was made this morn
ing by Robert NJ. Burns, collector Of
delinquent taxes. relative to the
charges made by Levy Court Commits
sioner Martin K. Smith, at the meet
ing of Levy Court yesterday after
noon, to the effect that warrants have
been sworn out for taxpayers who
have already paid their taxes and have
the receipt to show il.
Mr.. Burns explained that il is pos
sible that warrants may have been is
sued for persons who have paid their
taxes, but if so it is due to clerical
errors made al the time the taxes
were collected
He explained that at that time the
two clerks are kept extremely busy
taking in the taxes, and times there
are dozens of people in line waiting.
In this case it is possible that the
clerk might some times take in the
money and give a receipt without
marking the name off the book.
In all cases where the taxpayers have
notified the collectors, when receiving a
notice. that they have paid their taxes,
the clerks have been glad to rectify the
> mistake and cross of the name on the
. book
II they are not notified, however. tho
) names remain on the books, and are
turned over to Nh. Burns for collection,
and it is his duty TO try TO collect them.
In every instance before swearing out
, a warrant before magistrate for a de-
. linquent taxpayer. Mr. Burns has sent
4, out four separate notices requesting
D them to call and settle with him.
d The question arises as TO what be
{. comes of the amount of money tha
. is taken in in this manner, and o
E which the county apparently has nC
: record The question is raised tina
. should a rlan come in and pay hi.
4 taxes and the clerk neglect to cross
. his name from the book, would mo-
q there be an over balance for tha
. amount when the books were audited
: Comptroller Clark this morRing stat
j ed that there would be'such a balance
4 Mr.. Clark explained that when the la
!, collector receives the money he gives
p receipt and notes the number of the re
;. ceipt in the book opposite the name O
!. the person who paid il.
/, The collector, in checking up the bool
- later. makes out a statement TO b
r. sent to the comptroller's Office He irs
2, notes the number in the book opposit
r. a name, and by referring to the GORE
y spending number on the stub in the re
d ceipt book, (which has the number OF tn
j. receipt and the amount paid, but not th
name of the person who paid it), he ca
determine the amount paid by that tax
payer.
Should, however, the clerk negleC
to put down the number of the re
n ceipt opposite the taxpayers nam
in the book, then there is no way Z
determine who paid the money unit
the taxpayer comes in with the re
i ceipt
IS The county, in such case. has tn
D., stub of a receipt showing a certai
o amount of money paid, and they hav
that sum Of money, but they do nc
y know who pays il.
e Mr.. Clark explained that only tn
e statements made out by the colleC
z. tors are turned over to him with tn
e tax book, and as these statements al
If ways correspond with the name
= checked of by the numbers in tn
h book, then so far as his Office wa
d concerned the accounts balanced.
The stubs remain in the hands {
)t the tax collector, however, who turn
r the balance over 10 the county The
t, when a tax payer calls in an
r. produces a receipt his name is checl
E. ed off and the amount of the receiI
is deducted from this extra balanC
r and proceeds through the usual rot
Is tine.