The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-26

fentixeIy 10 Professor james Lecture
On Taxation--Tho Meeting Enthusi-
tic--lnstructions to the Legislatures.
Al enthusiastic meeting of the
Farmers Institute, of New Castle
County was hold last Saturday after
noon In Phil. Sheridan Post room,
Masonic Temple, commencing at 2 |
O'clock II Is doubtful il there has |
ever been q more Intelligent gather I
ing OF farmers in the county.
III the absence of the President, DIR. |
John J. Blackf Arnold Naudain, one OF
the vice presidents, presided. In the |
audience OF over hundred farmers |
were Representatives of the Legisla- |
tune Higgins, Day, Walton and Smith, |
Of New Castle; jackson, of Kent, and |
Il. ]. Morris and West OF Sussex. En- |
Representatives George D. Medill and |
Douglas Mccoy were also OF tine num-
Der.
After the reading of the minutes the
chairman in pleasant manner intro
duced DIR. Edmund j. James Profess
sor of Political Economy IN the Uni
veIsity of Pennsylvania, who deliver
ed most interesting lecture on the
subject; HAS Any State Relieved
Landowners OF an Unequal Burden by
EQuaiizing TaMtion?'
III. JdliltS sulu, III OptlinB nus Tt-
marks, that If he were to he brief to
answer the question as 1t appeared, he
would simply say he knew OF none,
He then went on to give a sketch of
the history OF taxation and the difil-
Guilty In the way Of equalizing it. He
said the amount of money was con
stantly increasing, and it follows that
the rate OF taxation must increase. IL
is comparatively easy to raise 81, 000,-
900 or 800, 100000 by any system of
taxation. But when 800, 900, 900 is to
raised, as Is annually the case in this
country, the burden becomes very
great.
Compared with the old English sys-
tenn in vogue in the early history of
this country. Mr.. James said we have
now improved machinery, better stock
better houses, but we hold TO the old
fashioned system OF taxation. ii we
proposed to decline instead of advance
we might stop our public school sys-
TEN and remove our institutions for
the insane, the poor and the criminals.
But we intend to advance by a system
OF Just taxation. The rate of tax has
increased IN great proportions. in
fourteen cities the increase of taxation
has been 1868 per cent, while tho popu-
lation has increased only 20 per cent.
In Boston in 1850, the tax was IS pei
mead now IL Is SlT per mead,
The system now was the same devils
ed three centuries ago, that agricul
ture was the leading interest of the
country, but that is wrong to-day
Wealth has been flowing away from
the farms and has been centerlng In
the cities and towns in the railroads
gas companies, street railways, telc
graphs. telephones, etc. The revenue
lax still acts on the principle, that the
farm is the wealth of the country.
The general property tax system /,
becoming more and more unbpuiable
because the wealth Is going into cities
and thence into personal property
The population Of cities has increased
in much greater proportion than thai
of the country. Thus AN increased
burden of expense Is left ON the rural
districts because the property ther,
cannot be excluded from the eye ol
the tax collectors. The man In the
city can hide his wealth in stocks
bonds and mortgages,
Mr. James then proposed a remedy
something like this:
Farming property should he oXcmp
from all taxes for State purposes. Ihi
State must come to the support OF tin
local community. 1t must supper
The schools and institutions and tht
administration of Justice. by thit
means the best results may lie at
tained. The only proper method /,
Tor the State TO have charge OF all thii
work because ii is more wealthy and
therefore, better able to get tile bc5
service. In addition TO these depart
nieuts the State should have charge 0
road improvements The condition o
the highways Is very bad aud the lpru
authorities can do little to mpruv,
Them. Good roads are nov NOR
needed than they were a hundrc,
years ago,
The National Government. Mr. jaime
thought, should have the power q
teyying taxes IN those corporation
which do not come under the State
power. Take the Standard Oil me
nopUly as an example. IL iscNtcndCd L
many places, Shall II 20 free heraus
OF this? Certainly hot. The government
should collect the tax and divide |
among the States rs necessary fO
Their improvements. The State Shout
collect the taxes from the corporation
within its limits and devote them L
the pcrretEttiun and Improvement q
the necessary Institutions. This Sys
tenn Of taxation has been adopted i
many countries. .....
MIR, James said as speuAing to tn
people of u small Stale: see no wa
Tor you except to insist that the natiu
WilltH you ul\t contributed 10 blll
up shall contribute also not to you
downfall but 10 your rebuilding. Iha
the nation shall tax these things tia
you cannot reach but which YOU has
Aelped to make, and hand over tn 70
The proceeds To employ within yor
own boundaries. 10 some slight e!
tent il is doing this OF course, in ii
support which il Is giving to your e
detrimental station. But this Is Il mel
drop In the bucket. You should haN
portion of the proceeds of nation
taxation to assist in the support
your common schools, and your hig
mays, your normal schools, etc.
Great and powerful states like Pen
Bylvaniu, Illinois. and Ohio, that
ACROSS the puth of commerce are q
abled to tax the products of n cont
sent, but the smaller States and tho
which lie to the ono side Of the cOuT
of national development must best
themselves ii they do not wish TO 81
back and be left far behind in the ra,
If they would not see their farms 4
back TO the original state of wilde
ness; II they would not have how
ing wilderness take the place of maj
smiling village and tiDurlshinE furl
The lecture was ably discussed i
Representative Higgins, of Red Lilo
William ii. Walker, Mill Creek, u.
Murphy White Clay Greek, George
Medill, of Pencader, Douglass McCo
of New Castle, john Armstrong,
Ghristiana, and others.
Mr. Murphy offered resolutit