The daily gazette., 1877-02-10
Legislative Topics
STATE TAXES-BEET SUGAR AND
al THE STATE WORK HOUSE.

STATE TAN AES-BEEI oOGAR AN
m THE STATE WORK HOUSE.
DISCUSSION OF THEsR SUBJECTS BY TIL
BOARD OF TRADE-coMNITTEEs AP
POINTED TO PRESENT THEM BEFORE
THE LEGIsLATURR.
In Mr.. J. It. Healds Clayton Hous,
salesroom, last evening, meeting O
the Wilmington Board of Trade was helC
for the purpose of discussing variou.
measures which are deemed to be III
need of Legislative attention, and to ar
range for placing such measures properly
before the Legislature ut the present
session. In the absence of the President
Geo. w. Bush presided,
In opening the meeting, Mr.. Bush an
nounced the object, and mentioned as
the most important measures needing
the attention of the Legislature the fol-
lowing, viz; reduction OF the tax on
manufacturers and merchants the en-
actment of q limited partnership law,
similar to the one now in operation IN
Philadelphia; and the cultlvauon anu
manufacture of beet root sugar.
Benz. Nields, Esq, by request, ex-.
planned the limited partnership. law OF
PENNSYLVANIA, which provides for part
nership of general .and limited partners,
The latter are liable in civil actions
against the partnership only to the
amount of the capital they respectfully
put into the concern, and are allowed to
have a general direction and control of
the business under our present law, a
limited partner is Individually liable for
any debts of the partnership, and has no
voice in the business conduct of the con-
cern. A limited partnership law. he
thought, would stimulate the intreduc-
ton of capital into business enterprises
in Wilmington.
Mr., Joseph Grubb maintain ned that the
usury laws IN Delaware would destroy
the vitality of any limited partnership
in this State, as those engaging in any
business as limited partners, at fair rate
of interest on their capital, would be
liable to forfeit all their money so in
vested if objection was made to payment
of the interest. The first point, he
thought, was to secure the repeal of the
usury law, so as to encourage the admis-
sion of capital into Delaware business
enterprises.
Mr.. j. T. Heald despaired of any
Delaware Legislature ever repeating the
usury laws; but thought that as the Ma
sonic Hall Company and other corpora
tions were authorized to borrow money
at greater rate of interest than 6 per
CCHb., uIhlbSo SSuAA ~ Nch
stituted under the same law.
After some further discussion, the sub
.iect, on motion of Mr.. Howard M, Jen-
kins, was referred to a committee of
three-M essrs. Benz. Nields, Peter N.
Brennan and Washington Hastings
with instructions to draft limited part
nership law aud report at future meet
ing of the Board.
STATE TAX ON MANUFACTURERS.
This subject was next very generally
discussed, Messrs Hastings, Stone, Glib
bons and Todd taking the ground that
the State tax of one-tenth of one per
cent. on the gross cost of production was
very burdensome and onerous.
Mr.. James Bradford held that the
same tax on merchants was also neces-
sarily heavy. Merchants are taxed on
their purchases, and ifthey sell any arti-
cles to the manufacturers, TO be used in
the productions of the latter, such arti-
cles are again taxed, doubling and some
times trebling the tax on some articles.
The discussion next merged into State
Finances-Several gentlemen contending
that the policy of the State in reducing
the State debt instead OF reducing taxa
ton, was unwise and injudicious.
State Senator Sharpley, who was pres
ent, advanced the theory that the reduc-
ton of the State debt, as fast as practical
BILE, without imposing heavy taxation,
was the proper theory, AS fast as the
debt was reduced, the saving of interest
would tend to effect reduction of taxa
ton, while the calling in of bonds from
time to time would put large amounts of
money into active circulation, He in
quired what the reduction would amount
to, if the entire tax on itIwas removed.
Mr.. Bradford-About 5000 year.
Mr., Heald-More like $4,000,
Mr.. Bradford then explained that sew
eral years ago the estimate of money in
vested annually in manufactures in Will
mington was SO, ,000, 600. The State tax
on this would amount to $4,000, Now
only about half the amount Is invested,
and only about half of the tax on the
amount invested is paid.
Finally on motion of Mr.. Head, the
subject was referred to committee oi
five-Messrs. Bradford. Gibbons, Todd.
Leander +, Riddle and VIM. NJ. Kennard
with instructions to report at a future
meeting.
BEET SUGAR.
On this subject Mr.. Lea Pusey spoke
briefly, tand said that beets producing /.
per cent of sugar a paying quantity
had been successfully raised near Will
mington. He thought system of pre1ni
ulnS should be offered to farmers to en-
gage in beet sugar culture, and that the
State should aid the enterprise to a reas-
| enable extent. In conclusion he haC
read the following letter in relation tC
the subject which he had received from
Isaac Hinckley, President of the Z. w
Il b. r. r. Company:
PHILADELPHIA, Feb, S, 1877.
DEAR SIR:-Please accept my thank
for your pamphlet upon "Beet Sugar In
| dustry," received to-day, l have read i
with pleasure, and wish that every Della
ware farmer would read it.
J Peach culture has engaged too much O
the labor and capital of Delaware. TIL
stimulus given to it by the railroad mana
gers, although kindly meant and givel
with view to the mutual advantage O
the fruit grower and the railroad stock
holder, has not done as much good as i
was expected to do. Although the Raj
road Company have reduced charges one
half IN ten years, the consequence ha
been of questionable influence to tn
fruit grower. Low transportation char
ges have induced production often ex
ceedlng the demand. Hence failure Q
satisfactory returns. / must think that
would have been better had the Raj
roads maintained rates, for then probabl
a smaller area would have been devote
| to peach culture.
But with beet culture 10 such owe
supply is possible. and the Railroad (o,,