The Wilmingtonian., 1885-05-16

been empowered by Council to push The le-
gitimate demands of the city to legal ex-
tremities in those cases where refusal has
been given to the Auditors requests. CITY
Auditor Ball has reported progress, ard he
has now been authorized, as iu the case OF
the Western Union Company, to direct the
Street Commissioner to cut down the tele-
graph poles.
1t is quite probable that even that stupen-
dously rich company, the Western Union,
will find it to their interest to do what is
right and pay the light tax of 81 per tele-
graph pole
In regard to telephone companies, the
State of Indiana has enacted law that the
limit of charge shall be $35 per month; and
this week bill has been introduced int the
Massachusetts, legislature, imposing bulk
annual tax of $50, 900 on all telephone bust
ness in that state The bill referred to is
entitled "a bill to regulate telephone tolls"
This is good suggestion for Delaware. IL
we can do no better or can discover no more
lucrative suggestion, why should not we
regulate" in the same way! 1t is most
excellent idea and worthy precedent to fol.
low.
Under any circumstances is it just that
foreign corporations be exempted who as a
rule extract from the citizens pockets, es-
I pecially our business men revenue remark
ah.s szc-s, TrrI tie IS r,Tsn
into account, of that that our busiest store
keepers along Market street can show upon
their books. Our business men shoulder
the heavier taxes. But they do not refuse
to pay them. Let these arrogant corpora
tions pay the just and lawful taxes imposed
by the authorities or pay the alternative of
losing their concessions.
As stated last month by THE WHINING
ToNIAN, on the supposition that there are
three hundred telephone instruments in this
city, which pay at rate of $50 year, there
is a clear 50, 900 per annum gone into the
pockets of some New York or Philadelphia
concern, which sum is an entire excess over
and above any liberal return for their ex-
penditure. This, or the principle involved,
is the ruling of the legislatures of BIassachu-
setts and Indiana.
| The intention need not be to rob these af
fluent cor orations. If fairly looked into
and acted upon, legislation in this direction
would be recognized as simple justice to our
selves. Anything over $50 a year tax or as
it really is tribute for telegraph instrument
| is an indefensible exaction.
The fact of a certain company owning
patents and royalties, combined with the
fact of the great necessity to business men
of the commodity or article they hold is no
argument whatever for the perpetuaton OF
robbery. No equity or justice exists to ex-
plain such conditions. A halt must be call
ed somewhere and by someone who has the
power to enforce that behest.
That power is our state legislature, and
previous to its convening our representatives
will be invited to look into these matters Of
excessive charges by foreign corporations,
the greater leniency afforded them in con
trast to our own business men, and the pc.
cuniary monopoly they enjoy III respect to
comparative exemption from taxation.
Let all those, not alone who are manufact.
uring here, but also those who find in vii.
mington lucrative source of income pay q
just and pro rata tax for the business they
do.
Let the authorities restrict them to just
and renumeratve return for their invest
ment and prohibit by suitable Legislation
any unlimited and exorbitanS charges