Evening journal., 1890-03-24
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
A MEETING TO DISCUSS LOCAL
TAXATION.
The Speech OF Robert j. Finley-Letter OF
George II. Eates-Desultory Discussion
of the Tariff and Other Taxss-Rssolu-
tion to the Levy Court.

OF tho Aarhu ana Otnof IAAet-tosoAu-
tion to the Levy Court.
The Farmers Institute of New Castle
County, held an enthusiastic meeting in
the rooms Of the Builders
Exchange on Saturday afternoon. When
the president, Dr. John j. Black
Of New Castle, called the meeting
to order at 2.t5 o'clock, about
100 representative farmers of the county
and number Of prominent citizens were
present. Delaware Clark. secretary Of
the institute and J. Alexander Fulton, q
delegate from the. Farmers Institute Of
Kent County occupied seats on the plat
form with President Black.
Martin Records was elected vice-presi-
dent Of the institute from Blackbird
hundred. and long letter from the Kent
County Institute, asking the meeting TO
appoint committee to act, In connection
with its committee, to secure such legis.
iation as will benefit the farmer. The
secretary was instructed to reply that
the vice-presidents Of this institute
already constitute such a committee.
A communication from Diamond State
Grange, No. 2, Of Stanton, was then
read. The Letter stated that the decrease
in the value Of farm products was due,
no doubt, to the present financial condi-
tion Of the country. and requested the
Levy Court to publish a statement In
full Of the county's finances, as set forth
in an act Of the General Assembly.
David ]. Aurphev Of Newark, George
Medill Of Pencader, and j. wilkins
Cooch of, Cooch's Bridge, spoke on the
resolution which was adopted
A breeze began to stir when George g.
Kerr of Newark arose and offered the
following resolution:
Whereas, In the present depressed
condition Of farming every tax Is felt to
be burden, we respectfully ask Of our
/, Levy Court, and all others In authority
, to reduce expenses and fix as low tax
rate as will with the strictest economy
carry on our local government, and
| equally urge on our senators and mem
bers Of Congress to do all In their power
? to reduce that unseen, but none the less
burdensome tax, called the tariff, which
in far greater degree Is sapping the life
blood Of the farmers Of this county be II
Resolved, "That the secretary Of thil
meeting be requested TO transmit copy
. of the above TO each Of our senators and
representatives and also one to the Levy
Court Of this county"
4 An animated discussion, as to whether
: or not the question should be discussed il
the meeting, then ensued, and was par
n ticipated in by the following; David ]
: Murphey, William Homewood, George @
Kerr James Hossinger, President Black
, William Cooch, J. Wilkins Cooch, Johi
!. O., Higgins and Thomas Dilworth. o.
. motion of Mr.. Hossinger, the resolution
was referred TO a committee Of three, an
r after several had declined to serve o.
= that committee, Messrs. Hossinger Skin
ner and Homewood were appointed.
II LEGAL Taxation.
h President Black then introduced Rober
/ J. Finley, who addressed the meeting o.
the subject of Local Taxation" H
u said In part;
'f In the auditors report of the State {
10 Delaware for 1885, find that the totl
assessed value Of real property In KeI
he county for that year was $11, ,306, SO
h, personal 1905, 144. which would Ind
ny cate that real estate in that county stan
VI, to personal in the proportion OF eleven
es, one. think that it may be safely 50
'm that the actual value Of personal proper
en- in Kent county exceeds that Of real.
as Tho property which escapes taxatio
under this system is that chiefly Of tl
wealthy classes who are best able to pi
taxes. Even when the property is di
70 covered by the tax assessor that worth
he thousand dollars, is assessed for far mol
VI nearly its full worth than that worth te
.st or twenty thousand.
ch In order to start 10 build up a mo
Try equitable and just system you have on
Ter to abolish the present local tax on pc
lie sonal property keeping for the basis
ns, the new system your present tax on re
Mt, estate. say retain the tax on real el
IS, tate for local purposes, for the reaso
ha that all systems of taxation must rest q
es real estate as a basis.
re A tax Of real estate therefore is "a
ID. requiring Of every holder of that class
nd property some where near equality
Ter sacrifice in the support Of government.
In the counties Of this state, howeve
!, there could be little objection to simp
"'' raising slightly the tax on real esta
ist instead Of imposing a substitute tax
Nc take the place Of the present county Il
IN on personally.
ne In 1886 the aggregate assessed rel
mt estate of Kent County yielded $5l, IA
a while the personal property OF th
)r; coxnty yielded only 81, 552, the tax ra
for that year being 45 cents on the SO
ra- Remove the tax on personal propert
rd and add 5 cents per $100 TO the tax {
IN real estate, and it will be seen that Il
TO returns yielded by this slightly increase
tax on real estate more than covers Il
combined proceeds of real estate 81
personal. This change would not impo
heavier burden on the farmers Of Kel
ris county. They would be relieved fro
~ any payment Of taxes on their person
estate, and could hardly object to the Il
on their real estate being raised from
cs TO 90 cents on the 800. They sure
~ would not lose by the change, aud ce
nu tainly the tax could be more safely q
sessed upon real estate alone than up'
ot both real and personal estate.
Use In view Of the rapid concentration
he wealth into few hands going forward
I'd. this country, some such plan as this
be desired.
he From these two proposed state take
be viz: on direct and collateral inheritance
nd without doubt a revenue would be
rived which, after covering the amou
d. now received by the state from low Z
Ter on collateral inheritance, would fully
III. not more than equal, when distributed
,ril the several counties, the amount NJ
derived from local tax on person
vis property. The returns from even sm
~ direct Inheritance tax would surpri
ls the average community.
~ In short, then / would favor the 'abo
.lv tion of the present county tax on person
property and substitute a tax on dire
and collateral inheritances,
oA The speech received close attentii
] . 1.1s