Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-30
Collection Of County Ta.es.
TIT RS ~ JANUARY 81 1871

Very interesting was the report of the
proceedings IL the meeting Of the Levy
Court Of New Castle county. on Tuesday,
m connection with the settlements with
county tsN collectors One collector,
Robert Groves. settled IN full for the years
1915, 1917 and 1918, and his official bonds
for these wears were cancelled Other
collectors settled Tor the wears 1915 and
1916, tut none for later wear. thus beng
still two wears behind
Wo-ongratulate Collector Groves upon
his accomplishment. II s indeed, as
stated ii The lew Court meeting,
unique IN n, story II local admins
tration IN New Castle county Tie has
accomplished the remarkable performance
of collecting 4 years taN levy within the
tax wear, something that has not been
heard oi N thl> county for many years
In general, collectors have hsd their tax
accounts ur.a .ur Pcnuds u ~ much As
FIVE yeae f, reason d countcnancing
dehngucpcje- il pavment
Vow that tIc record Ills hccn made
why not have i cuntnlcd, not only by
Collector Groves, tut 4, All other col
leetor- y county take, There Is no
rc son WHY taNtlc> slould he allowed
such favor either III city or county There
Is il reason why each ycar tay lew
should not bc collected in tpi during
thr tav year, barring onN such accounts
a. may he halted by litigation ~ legal
Iutcrtcrcnces of various linds And Oh
structions Of tins character should 10 few
kcn' county, under its eff CIent Dem
ocratic administration q the past eight
wears. las shown that this gratifying re-
sult i~ easily possible. There, every col
le,for of county taxes for three ~ more
Years III succession. has collected his tax
duplicate t. the last dollar within the
period 81 each wears levy As = conse-
qucnce. tie tax books Of Kent county are
not cumhcred with unsettled taN accounts,
as are the tax books of New Castle and
SUSSEX counties
The explanation Of the difference Is
PLAN In Kent county, the collectors
attended TO the work Of collecting county
taxes without regard 10 party considera-
tions. They made II business PROPOSE
tion IA the interest oi the taxpayers.
Earnestly supported hy County Comp
troler Groves, they kept at their work,
and did uot let up until the last dollar
Of taxes Lad been collected for the year
IN which such taxes were due. They ex-
tended no favors to taxables from partisan
considerations, but required al to pay
within the year. so that they were enabled
10 start upon the work OF tax collection
At the beginning Of each tax year with
clean states and completely settled books
There Is no reason whatever why this
admirable policy should not be pursued
in New Castle and Sussex counties There
would be trouble, Of course, in its inaugura-
tion The collectors would have TO be
vigorously spuTed to the collection Of all
delinquent accounts, 10 the last dollar,
and then, once tle slate was cleaned
which should not require q great deal Of
time-to start out al the frst Of each
tax year and be compelled 10 collect every
dollar on their duplicates during tie year
This can be done; II 81 ould te done.
Only partisan considerations will operate
to continuance Of tie present laxity