Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-12
ROBERTSON TELLS
OF BACK TAXES
Explains What Present Council
Has Done in Effort to Get
in the Money.

James W. Robertson, chairman of the
finance committee of City Council, last
night, commented on an editorial that
recently appeared in Every Evening.
which referred To his statement Mt the
last Council meeting that it would he a
feather In the cap of City Solicitor Bayarti
If nc collected the back taxes due the
city. He again stated that it would not
only be 4 feather in the city solicitor S
cap, but that Council would owe him a
reception If he collected the back taxes
duo the city from the northern district
The matter of the collection of taxes
was refreshed IN the minds of the Council
men last week, when a communca-
tlon sent 10 Robert Adair, attorney for
the Taxpayers League by Mayor Law
son, was also sent to Council. Mr. Adar' 5
letter wanted TO know what Council had
done IN the matter of collecting back
taxes.
Last night Councilman Robertson read
Is list of taxes that were unpaid for the
wear 1916, in which it was shown that
more than $4,000 was due the city
from back taxes for that year. This list
was prepared by the tax office.
MIR. Robertson. in addressing Council,
stated that after his remarks following
the receiving of the letter from Mayor
Lawson, in regard TO the unpaid taxes, a
paper Of the city Undoubtedly referring
to livery Evening" took exceptions 10
bus remarks in regard to the city solicitor
collecting or proceeding against those
who we're claSSed as delinquents The
paper, said Mr.. Robertson, referred TO
his remark as occult, unseen or under a
bllshel basket
Mr. Robertson said he wished to repcat
that it would be feather in the cap Of
the city solicitor If he could collect the
taxes; il would be something that other
caty officials could not do. The chairman
OF the finance committee said the taxes
should be collected and that the bonds
man should be proceeded against,
possible, and before this can be done 1t IS
the duty Of the legal branch of the city
government 10 prosecute that suit.
Mr.. Robertson, continuing. referred to
list of dclinqucnts as prepared by DR..
g :. Rice. present collector for the north
ern district, and which was received by
Council on October 4, 1917. This list
was Of the delinquentS for the year 1916.
lie added that 4 list was sent TO the city
solicitor on October 10. and that letter
WAS sent to these delinguents, over the
name of the city Solititor. urging them
10 pay these back taxes, or he would have
TO proceed against them and secure
Judgment. Until March :, this year,
Mr. Robertson said, nothing further was
done IN the matter except that number
OF the delinquents appeared at the tax
collectors office and paid the back taxes
Mr.. Robertson added that on March ,
Council passed resolution requesting
the city solicitor TO take action against
the delinquents for the years 1905 to
1910; hat on March 8 the clerk OF Council
sent communication TO the city solicitor,
together with copy of this resolution.
and received an acknowledgment OF the
same. Mr.. Robertson explained that
under the law unpaid taxes were not de-
hnquent until after the first OF Nav of
the succeeding year and legal proceedings
would have TO be instituted within six
months after that time
In closing, Mr.. Robertson said. Now,
If any man wants the truth, he can get
II. and 1t Is the duty Of every man,
whether he be a former official or
private citizen. to pay his taxes before he
has right TO live under this free govern
ncnt.