American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-17

ICcSodiy ldy Oh al iedSt SoUiOOO-S 81
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 saddled 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
ylor instance plate, negroes, and every kind Of
live stock) than those who possess such property
without being ireeholders. This description Of
tsxables (tenants) would in great measure be ex-
empted, while many others holding Bonds Notes
and other invisible property, together with profess
sional men, civil officers, milers, manufacturers,
mechanics, SC, would in their distinctive charac-
tiers escape without paying any thing, except the
tribe that would be laid on their capitation assess
ment. Not only is real property disproportionate
ly taxed but what adds greatly to the difficulty of
the case, real property is itself very unequaly d.
vided. A 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to exert their utmost influence to get it repealed
II may be said that the expense of supporting
schools throughout the state, as at present conduc-
ted, isperhaps little, if any, short of 100000 dollars
and that this is paid, not by the whole, but part
only, OF the taxables, to witt 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 Of part of them, would be dis
Itinguished by two important differences; one, that
the contributions of the taxables would be ingolun-
tary the other, that no dscontinuance would take
place IN respect TO Individuals does in regard to
the parents and friends Of children An involuntary
burden, from which you are never to be relieved,
is IN contemplation more frighlful than one whose
pressure is heavier, but has obtained the consent of
those who have to submit to il, and has some limit
prescribed to its duration. This shows how neccs
sary 1t would BET in determining on any mode Of
taxation tor the support OF schools, that it should be
free 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- (and excessively too, il 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 tav-
ern licenses, aided by small direct tax, and the
whole united with the voluntary subscriptions ofhe
citizens, is an alternative that might be resorted 10
Tor the improvement and support of schools; to do
away the force OF the suggestion, II is necessary onV
that the House should be reminded Of the crippled
enteebled 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
10 It's institution, but to be applied to which the faith
OF the state has been soemnly pledged And as il !
respects tax for the support Of schools to be laid
at this time, when it is considered that for reasons
which satisfied the maorties in both Houses of the
General Assembly, resolution has been passed by II
them to provide for the eYigences of the Govern
meht, by loan instead OF state tax; and when the
objections before urged recolectcd the idea is
forbidden and ought to be abandoned
Upon the whole, it would appear that the school
und being the only resource on which reliance
IAN be placed for founding schools and meliora
ing the condition OF those now established, it oue hit
% be kindly and carefully fostered. If so fostered,
and suffered to remain untouched, and If the pre-
cedng calculations be not erroneous, belief NAV
be confidently induged, that in years from this
time (the period before computed) it may be put l
INTO active and useful operation. The Committee
aware OF the opinion entertained by many of our
citizens that immediate and effectual aid to the puh
lie schools, might be derived from this source have
thought proper to go into as minute detail on this
point as could be done. without giving the report
too much prolixity. They judged it equally neces |.
sary to submit such an exposition Of their views
respecting school tax might tend to convince
an VINO have been dreaming OF succor 10 the schools
from that quarter OF the utter fallacy of their ex
pectalions and hopes. That the public mind might
at the same time, have something in relation thereto
TO repose on, they deemed it important also tn oye
the outline OF system to be hereafter carried into
operation, and 10 designate time, when, in their
view, 1t might be commenced to secure the object
contemplated.
The committee cannot stand acquitted in their
own eyes OF having fully discharged the important
duty Entrusted 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 expediency 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
creton, the dividends en- the same, together with
any donations in money that may hereafter be made
Said cnllena fol a In