Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15

with interchangeable yehemence before the
approaching General Assembly. This
may be looked for as matter Of course.
A long and very determined effort in
this direction was made two years ago,
resulting finally in the reference Of the
subject to a commission to examine and
report What this commission may re-
commend can, Of course, be merely y
matter OF conjecture at this time. But
the subject is one of very great interest
TO the $4,000 people of Wilmington who
are represented in the legislature bytwo
members out Of thirty.
This is not in any just sense ques-
ton Of politics. Were the forthcoming
legislature Republican, instead Of Dem
ocratic, this is a subject that would have
come up in about the Same way that it
may be expected to come up--with the
majority of the members from the rural
communities predisposed in favor Of the
taxation Of mortgages, stocks, bonds
and other evidences of Indebtedness or
investment, but which appear to them
ss evidences of taxable wealth. The de-
termination to impose such taxation is
rooted in the average farmers firm be-
lief that he pays more than his share Of
the public burden. On the other hand,
the average Wilmingtonian finds his
county tax so small Il matter in com
parison with his city taxes that he can
with difficulty comprehend the rural
feeling in the premises.
To illustrate; We have right at hand
city and county tax bills, luckily re.
ceipted ones, covering precisely the
same properties. The city taxes foot up
Sl03.7T; the county taxes S35.6S. In
addition there is q city charge Of So
for water rent. The farmer upon tile
same assessment would pay the county
tax Of $35.68, plus school tax and a
road tax which would probably not
much exceed this charge FOR water rent
Having no oyershadowing municipal
tax to pay he feels these county taxes
as grieyous BURDEN whereas the
average city property holder, after he
has managed to get his big municipal
tax bill liquidated, looks upon his
county tax as a small affair, in com
parison.
But We have to look at things as they
are, and to begin with the understand
ing that the farmer, strange as it ap.
pears to those accustomed to the pay.
mcnt of city taxes, feels his county
taxes as Il very heavy burden which he
mus. tighten. As rule he thinks,
whether he be Democrat, a Republi.
can OF Popuiist, lie can attain this
object by unloading portion Of that
burden upon the holders Of all sorts d
Investments And he will make another
and probably successful effort {,
secure legislation in this direction at til,
approaching session Of the Legislature
We 10 not imagine that any such pre-
postnrous measure as the Fulton equal
ization oftaxation" bill will get through
hut the probability thatmust be faced i
THAT something may BE dome in tie wa,
Of taxing stocks, bonds and mortgages
and legislation in that direction mus
affect chicny--not the capitalists, 70
they can generally look out fer them
selves-bUt thousands 0l the working
men and working women Of this dit
who have their small! savings inyesto
in building associations and saving
banks.
In Our judgment what we may teri
boating capital, such Is seeks iurcstmei
neyiaenaes Of Indebtedness Will gene
.llyintFenam f3l.ow tilec0ursa ofoth,