Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-02-04


As there Is to be . meeting Of tax
pay rs and property holders this even
ing, at Third and Market streets, toI
consider the subject of transferring the
city water pumps up the Brandy wine
above Bancroft's factory, and as the
meeting is called by those opposed to
an increase of the city debt, no doubt
other matters may be talked over OF
considerable interest TO tax payers
We were reminded OF one Of these in
terests on Saturday by one Of our most
respected citizens and largest tax pay
ers. He referred to the fact that no city
tax was required now to enable a man
10 vote at the city election for city Off
GERS or other municipal officers, and he
doubted whether such representation
would stand if tested before the courts.
Our attention being called to the fact
". can refer our readers back only to
1869, when what was known as the
Nine Wards Bill'' was passed by the
Legislature. Up until that time a city
tax was always required to entitle to a
vote for city officers. The city tax up
to that time was high on single men
and those who owned no property, and
large numbers of them did not vote at
the city election. The largest number
of those who paid no taxes and did not
vote, being Democrats, the Legislature
changed the law, so that the payment
Of State and county tax would be all
that was required to entitle to a vote,
instead of city and school tax. The
reasons for this change were obvious,
and the Democrats were the gamers hy
it, but Wilmington alone, out Of all the
towns in the State, is the only one in
which the payment Of municipal tax is
not requisit. to ehtitle to vote for
town or city officers. In the remodeling
of the School Board some time after
wards, a section was tackled to the
charter of the Board, that no person
could vote for members of the Board of
Education unless they had paia school
tax, and, Of course, that also coupled
the city tax with it. but the same prin-
ciple has not applied 10 the voting for
City Council and other city officers. In
this election only the payment Of a
State and county tax is required. and
that only once every two years and
any body with only common intelli-
gence can Sc. that the payment Of a
Stats and county tax to get vote at
the city election has no more relevancy
than, to use a threadworn expression,
1.-The fifth wheel has to wagon Not
one cent of that money goes into the
City Treasury, and yet that must be
paid before a man can vote for Mayor
or other city officers, while the city tax
may 60 unpaid, or the collector may
get it the best way he can. We believe
! in every body paying some tax, be it
ever so trifing, and if it be city tax
let that entitle him to vote at the city
election. As it is now, many person
enjoys the protection of sity govern
nent, protected by the city police, FIR
nished water free of charge 10 drink by
the city, but never pays cent of city
tax, yet votes for every city officer that
comes before the people. As the Leg.
islature, since doing away with the law
requiring city tax as requisite for
voting at city elections, has gone half
way and prohibited persons from vot-
| ing for members of the Board Of Educa-
ton who do not pay city and school
tax, which is altogether right ard
proper, it should 90 little farther and
require payment ola city tax as a
prerequisite for voting at the city cleo.
ton. This would bring several thou
sand dollars more into the City Treas
ury, and thereby 50 far ease the al
ready overburthened tax payers. This,
with other kindred subjects, would be
legitimate topics for discussion this
evening, as heavy taxation is what is
sought to be avoided. This is one Of the
classes Of subjects which has come un-
der the general head of special legisla-
ton. If it was not, the same law would
be applied to all the towns in the
State
WE DO NOT care TO aIluie TO the ia.
Observation-Disclosures lurs in reference tC