Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-25
THE TAX BILL.
Action OF the People in all Sections Of
the state.

A i.,Euh AND ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT NEW
ARK.
NEWARK, March 20.
This uuiut town was again agitated this evening
over the proposed Tax Bill now before the Legis-
laturc A call had been issued to the citizens of
White Clay Creek Hundred to meet at the Deer
Park Hotel, in Newark, on Saturday evening,
March goth, to agree upon some plan OF proceed
are in reference to the Bill, and to hear Mr. Dean,
the Representative from this Hundred. and Chair
man of the Committee Of Ways and Means, OK
plain the views of the committee and the mem-
bcrs of the Legislature upon this vcxcd question.
In pursuance of that call, large number of
citizens assembled at the above mentioned place.
and organized the mceting by clecting Mr.. A.
Kerr Chairman, and Mr.. VIM. Reynolds Secreta-
ry. MIR. Springer then made a statement, which
was the call in substance. On motion, the Chair
man appointed, as committee on business,
Messrs. Andrew Donnell, James Springer, and L.
ID. Porter. the latter gentleman refusing TO serve,
Mr.. Geo. ID. Kerr was appointed in bis stead. Mr..
Dean. In the absence OF the committee, addressed
the meeting. He commenced by explaining his
notion of the duty OF representative to his con-
stitucnts, and how well he had discharged his
duty, and with what assiduity he laborcd for the
benefit Of his constituents and the State ut large.
He said that we have large debt, and that the
interest must be paid and some provision made
for the liquidation of the principal; and In order
to do that, the Committee of Ways and Means
had produced the Tax Bill for collecting revenue
for the State. The amount to be raised annually
was 100000, sum not very heavy in compari-
son with the lax raised for School and County pur-
poses which was $S00,000 per annum which
fact, he proceeded to argue. was sufficient to
prove that the proposed tax was not veryonerous.
The p. W. aud B. X II. Co. had refused to pay
the tax levied upon them, and the Legisla-
ture had no power to compel them at present;
but legal proceedings would be instituted before
the Supreme Court, TO test the legality of the act
and by this alone the State had lost annual rcvc-
nue. OF 80 or 100000. And the !, in q dolcful
manner, he deplorcd the condition of national
affairs; and he could sec nothing but a
centralized power and IN elaboration OF
taxed, and they proposed 10 raise lO,OOo by this
means; but the Banks refused, and they had no
power to make them pay. He admitted that they
had taxed corporations heavier than they ought
Why they acted thus, with such conscientious
view OF the matter, your correspondent does not
presume to hint even an opinion. The Commit
tee Of Ways and Means, he added, had acted in
good faith for the best interests OF the whole
State; and If they had made mistake IL was
one of the head and not of the heart He was
aware they were human and liable to err, and
that they had limited views OF things. lie spoke
of his fidelity to the people OF the Slate, and par
ticuarly to his constituents that few Of the
Committee had all the work TO do, as three Of
them did no duty why il was he could not tell.
He said he was there to hear from any one, and
he would be glad to hear any suggestion that
might be given.
MIR. Hossinger proposed to raise the money re-
quircd, by adding more to tho general assessment.
The committee on Business then reported a
series of resolutions. The first resolution ac-
knowlcdged the debt; that it was contracted in
good faith, and should be paid The second ex-
pressed the sentiment that though the bill might
be imperfect 1t was intended to be just and equt-
able; aud that they recognized the principle eIn-
bodied In tho bill as correct, and commended it
as such. And the third that they had the fullest
faith and confidence in the Representatives.
On motion it was decided to consider the reso-
| tions in their order. 1t was moved to adopt the
| first resolution, and it was carried unanimously.
A motion was made to adopt the second rcsolu-
lion. Then came the most exciting debate oil
the evening", and, L may say, the most exciting
for long time, excepting political discussions,
| that has aroused this town and brought out the
wealth and prominence as was seen there.
| Mr.. Ray opened the debate by saying the bill
was unjust and sectional aud il proposed tt
| make New Castle county pay nine-tenths, whcr
| Kent and Sussex each received u much larger
| share of the money which caused this debt, ant
now in order to screen Kent, Sussex, office
| holders, professions, aud real estate, they pro
pose to tax real estate brokers and manufacturers
out. of existence by slevying five per oent. OF
brokers, and one-fiith Of ono per cent. on manu-
| lecturers Al this point Mr.. Dean interrupted
him and said that he had endeavored to have The
tay reduced On manufacturers to onc-tenth o.
one per cent, and he was very confident thai
/ upon the next reading 1t would be SO amended
for the members who voted against his PROPOSE
lion had expressed their willingness to change
their votes. Mr.. Ray resumed, saying that biz
| had made careful estimate of the bill and how
| much revenue it would produce Take the tn,
which was levied on real estate TO raise the $40,
900, as a basis. His tax was $50; and as nov
proposed $500. Now il it require $40 tax OF
on him to raise 100000, $500 tax would raise til,
sum of 81, $780, 900. The bill proposed to ia,
bonds and mortgages. II this part Of the bill
went into operation, the most disastrous consc
quenccs would follow by a foreclosure of tn
boLds and mortgages; and TO prove this point
he had loaned out TO different parties n
the present time 5S0,OOO on bonds and mort
cages; he had been ordered to forcclos
these bonds and mortgages as sool
us the Legislature shall have passed this bill. Ii
predicted the effect of the bill to ruin man,
poor men, and even men of considerable capital
He ascribcd the origin of the bill to q ccrtai
pafty In Dover, one OF whom was lawyer, VIII
received large sum Tor the work, and who wa
allowed TO 50 untaxed. This he considered yer,
unjust. This stab from his friend, who is a stron
and ardent supporter of the "powers that be,
and also Of Mr. Dean In the late canvass, was to
: much tor that gentleman. With that dignt
which onlybelongs to Delaware representative
Committee OF Ways and Means on the part of th
House, he wished the gentlemen, the meeting
aud the state to know distinctly, the counsel dl
r what was in the proposed bill, ut the bidding c
} from any responsibility. ''If the bill brougl
credit or discrcdit, the committee was willing /
assume all the responsibility" This bit of info
nation will be gladly accepted by all who desir
TO know the facts in the case For the opinio
! has been very general that instead of the attol
: ncys doing the bidding Of the committee, I'll
committee did the bidding of the attorneys.
| Mr.. John Filling spoke against the adoption
the resolution. He said, II that resolution WI
D adopted, il was direct sanction of the Bill, bot
y In letter aud spirit He thought the result woul
be 10 drive capital and capitalists from the STATE
and this system of taxation would deprcss Ill
c value Of the land, and also deprcss the revenu,
What would be the gain? They would be whci
| they were before the passage Of the Bill, and IL
wcaltlcst men Of the State, In the meantime
c would change their residence and thus avoid III
# unjust tax. No honest man objected to pay h
= proportion OF the tax; but they did most cmphat
= | caily obJccl 10 any measure that did not lay I'll
i burdens vi taxation upon every man according
d his mcars At this point of his speech, he W,
d interrupted by prominent gentleman of th
: | town who was little elevated" and desired
G address the meeting in favor of the Bill. NJ
Piling gave way for that purpose. He spoke ft
c minute or two in favor Of the bill, and the
1 retired with the notion that he had displaye
+ great eloqucncc and wit, which your correspoI
II dent failed to see.
y Mr.. E. ID. Porter next took the floor and adval
ccd the idea OF equal taxation upon every into
/ est real estate, bonds, mortgages, personal pr,
| perty, incomes, and every interest iu the Stall
l that was of any value He would unfix the who
Z. system OF taxation; appoint new board of n
6 SCISSORS who should make new assessment O
c which the required per cent. could be placed, {
r as to raise what revenue they required for Count
and State purposes II would then be genera
and no person could complain of class legislation
| the burdens of the State and counties would ia
upon all alike
Mr.. Piiling then offered the third rcsolutio
passed at the previous meeting, setting forth til,
they were opposed to any legislation on taxation
which did not embrace taxation on real estat,
oiice-holders, professions, and all productive il
lerests, substituted for the seco nd resolution
Mr.. Reynolds advocated the second resolution
but opposed the Bill.
lie read statement of the assessments an
( taxable property In the State in support of hi
views and sustained Mr.. Porter in his speech
Mr.. David j. Murphey spoke against the secon
resolution, and favored the substitute offered b.
Mr.. Pilling. lie was opposed to the BILL becaus
, 1t taxed New Castle county larger, In proportion
to its wealth, than Kent aud Sussex; when Ney
: Castle received only one-sixth Of the money Dor
| rowed, which created this debt.
) Mr.George G. Evans favored the substitute an,
opposed the bill. In regard to taxing professions
Mr.. Dean said there was no value in them.
A vote was then taken on the substitute, and
WINS carried in the affirmative hv nm overwhelmtp.