American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-24

sum than the aggregate Of the County rates and
evies, poor, and road taxes raised in the state.
This would be almost exclusively paid by the hold
ers OF real property, who, being sadded with so
enormous tax in addition to their present unequal
burdens, would be previously oppressed. The
owners OF real property, It will be remembered al
so, hold more personal property liable to assessment
FOR instance, plate, negroes, and every kind Of
live stock) than those who possess such property
without being ireeholders. This description Of
taxables (tenants) would in great measure be ex-
empted, while many others holding Bonds, Notes
and other invisible property, together with profess
sonal men, civil officers, millers, manufacturers
mechanics, &c, would in their distinctive charac-
tiers escape without paying any thing, except the
trhe that would be laid on their capiation assess
ment Not only is real property disproportionae
y taxed, but what adds greatly to the difficulty Of
the case, real property is itself very unequay d.
sded. law then, imposing tax OF this kind,
would be peculiarly obnoxious to the proprietors
of great freehold estates, who might be expected
to make war on it Immediately on its passage, and
to exert their utmost influence to get it repealed
|, may be said that the expense of supporting
schools throughout the state, as at present cohduc
ted IS perhaps little if any, short oil 100000 dollars,
and that this is paid, not by the whole, but part
only, the taxabes, to wit the parents and friends
OF children. 1t ought however, to be borne in mind
that school tax, though 10 be divided among all
the taxables, instead oil part OF them, would be dis
unguished by two important differences; one, that
The contributions Of the taxabes would be inyolun
tary; the other, that no dscontnuance would take
place in respect TO individuals as does in regard 10
the parents and friends of children. Aninvountary
burden, from which you are never to be relieved,
is In contemplation more frightfu than one whose
pressure IS heavier, but has obtained the consent Of
those who have to submit to it, and has some limit
prescribed to its duration. This shows how neces
sary it would be, in determining on any mode of
taxation for the support Of schools that it should be
tree from every ingredient which would tend TO
Create dissatisfaction. But what would be more
calculated to produce this effect, than where its
operation would be unequal which any school tax
must be- land excessively so too it has been shown)
that should be levied on the present assessment?
Should it be alleged still, that the interest of the
school fund, with The proceeds Of marriage and ay-
ern licenses, aided by small direct tax, and The
whole united with the voluntary subscriptions ofthe
citizens, is an alternative that might be resorted to
TOR the improvement and support Of schools; to do
away the force OF the suggestion, is necessary only
that the House should be reminded Of the crippled,
enieebled state of the school fund at this time, in
consequence OF diversion of the greater part Of its
proceeds to an object, it must be confessed foreign
to its institution, but to be applied to which the faith
"
respects tax for the support Of schools to be laid
at this time, when it is considered that for reasons
which satisfied the ma critics in both Houses of the
General Assembly, resolution has been passed by
them TO provide for the exgences Of the Govern
NETT by loan instead OF a state tax and when the
objections before urged recolIeced, the idea is
forbidden. and ought to be abandoned.
Upon the whole, it would appear that the school
lund being the only resource on which reliance
can be placed for founding new schools and meliora
Ting the condition of those now established it Que
to be kindly and carefully fosiered. Ifso fostered,
and suffered to remain untouched, and if the pre-
ceding calculations be not erroneous, belief NAV
be confidently ndulged that in years from this
time 1.-THE period before computed) it may be put
into active and useful operation The Committee |
aware OF the opinion entertained by many OF our
citizens that immediate and effectual aid to the pub
lie Schools might be derived from this source, have
thought proper to go into minute a detail on this
point as could be done, without giving the report
too much prolixity. They judged it equally neces
sary 10 submit such an exposition of their views
respecting school tax as might tend to convince
all who have been dreaming of succor to the schools
from that quarter, Of the utter falacy of their ex
pecla'ions and hopes. That the public mind might,
at the same time, have something in relation thereto
to repose on they deemed it important ALSO to give
the outline OF system 10 be hereafter carried into
operation, and 10 designate time, when, in their
view, it might be commenced TO secure the object
contemplated.
The committee cannot stand acquitted in their
own eyes of having fully discharged the important
duty intrusted to them, without calling the attention
OF the House to the money belonging to Delaware
College, which was paid into the treasury early in
1921, and has as yet received no investment. They
are OF opinion that this money should be vested in
some kind OF productive stock and would suggest
the expedency of authorizing the State Treasurer
to purchase Herewith, the best terms that can be
procured, part of the funded debt of the United
States, or some kind Of profitable stock, at his dis
cretlon, the dividends on the same, together with
any donations in money that may hereafter be made