Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-04-16
CITY REFORM.


rcoMMuNIcATRD.1 :.
Az these are times OF reform and
economy Why should not we begin re-
form In this city, % there is both room
and need for u herel This city has .
large debt ON II, and the interest ON II
~ well ~ expenses must come from
taxation and many are complaining Of
excessive taxation. shall 10 my weak
way enaeavor 10 show q remedy for II.
In the first place taxation 10 not equal,
and In the next place we have too many
useless city ornaments 10 the form OF
officials, and In tho next place the sala-
riss OF many are too high. There are
some In of1ces hers whose salaries are
~ much a. they could make IN three
years out Of ttsms aud tie tendencies
are to increase them. Is IL any wonder
that when man has few years III
ONCE hc can own row of brick bousesi
Oar upbusinsss-iike manner and cor
rupt elections was what ontailsd upon
this city these commissions that are su-
preme and not accountable to anybody,
and consider 1t = piece OF impertinence
In taxpayers to question Their infalli-
bility. Under . government Of COM
missions our honorable and learned city
solicitor 10 unable to End out under
whose control aud to whom some Of the
city officials are accountable. Now
under q system Of municipal g)vsrn.
ment upon business principles at least
TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars could be
be saved to the taxpayers each year.
Messts. Editors our system Of tAxs-
tion Ia not in keeping with the intelli.
Gence and experience OF the age In
which We live. II We cease ali taxation
IN this city except laud, you will aud the
advantage derived from 1t, as we'll rs the
equality Of the system, as follows: II
you tax all land at Its market value, ire
spec'ive Of buildings, and Improvements,
you will not affect any one except those
who are holding land for specializing
purposes, as 1t is the demand Of society.
aud the improvements that society make
arc und 1t, that adds to Its value, and the
value accrues TO the specnlator slone.
Society that creates the uuearned value,
derives no benefit from 10. Many pro.
psrties would be reduced in taxation,
and the idle land would be used fol
bul dug purposes, as II would not b.
prohta bic to hold ii for speculation. Ii
ibis city, at a low estimate, there ar,
loo, COO building lots, aud by taxing them
at tn. u-ual Fate they would Average ~
each, making 81, 500, goo, and eyerJ
dollar oil It would DC collected, as tn,
lots would be responsible Tor II. ant
then when any one put auv improve
nent on his property, the tax collocto
would no. pounee upon him with al
additional tax, that 10 puta penalty upoi
him for his economy, industry and enter
prise, as at present. The tax rate thei
would increase with the Increase of tn
land valus only. Now we mud Who'll
Squares IDLE and people desiring tue lot
| f.,s hut hut aa than mr.
only taxed at nc.fourth, or one-eighih q
their market value, the owners hold ther
Tor society to increase their value.
Under this system OF land tax, ra'sini
o., SOC, 900 year we could 10 five year
pay oil the city debt improve our street,
a. many are as bad as any old countr
Iroads, dirty and full Of chock holes. w
lhaye the parks that ut present arc only
white elephant on cur hands, as we hay
now nothing with which to impro,
them; while under the other System "
> could spend $4,000 year upon then
and soon have them both uaeiul and o
namentsi. We could give our either
water and light free, erect decent bull,
ipge, and . city hospital. We coul
establish public baths and reformatol
;, echool, instead of fastening children U
In jail with all manner OF hardens
: criminals. educating them In crime, "A
these advnntAgea would be derived, ou
best ~ all, thu soecnlating upon the G
tcfprise und necessities Of the workiI
men Of this city would cease, Idle 10
would b. built up, houses would
more plentiful. aud men would have
depend upon their own enterprise m
nutlive and grow rich upon the necei
stiles OF thu ir ind uetrioul and entrrp-isin
, fellow-men. JAMES b. WEIGH.