Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-26
TALKING ABOUT TAXATION
The Question Discussed by
Kent County Farmers.
AN ADDRESS BY J.ALEX. FULTON
A Question of Importance to
All Who Pay Taxes.


Special iCorrespondenceot Gazette and journal
FELTON,, May 19.-The regular monthly
meeting of the Kent county Farmers In
stitute was held in Grange Hall, this town,
yesterday afternoon, with Thomas b.
Coursey presiding.
The annual report Of the treasurer, Il.
w. Killen, was read, showing that he had
received during the year 500 from the
State and S20D9i from the treasurer who
preceded him; in all S409.9l. During the
year he has paid out S79.02, leaving bal
ance of S33O.92 in the treasury.
j. Alexander Fulton, who was appointed
to open the discussion of the subject,
Taxation" at the last meeting, was called
upon. He said in brief "The subject of
taxation Is an important question to all of
us who have to pay taxes. This matter
has been brought before our institute in
the past but, US the attendance has never
been as large as we would like to have it,
the discussion has not been so extensive as
we would like. | am opposed to the
present system of taxation, as it is burden
some and iniquitous in itself upon the
farmers. The man who has to work hard
every day in the week, and every week in
the year, to keep himself and family. is
the man who has to pay nine-tenths of the
taxes for the maintenance of our county
and State government, while the rich man
the capitalist-who has his money in
vested in bonds, mortgages, stocks, &C.,
don't pay one cent of the taxes. | say it
is an imposition, an injustice to the
farmer, and am surprised and astonished
that we have borne IL SO long.
"One year ago last winter we had bill
before the Legislature for the equalization
of taxation,' but it was fought and de-
feated by the lobbyists and newspapers of
Wilmington and the capitalists generally
ia the State. They We're principally from
Wilmington, rs that is the place where the
most capital is invested
I'VE ought to be men enough and have
manhood enough to correct this evil. If
we do not show aud declare our courage
and independence and stand up Tor our
rights we will never gain our end. We ask
for nothing that Is not right and are will
ling to pay our share of the taxes, hut do
not want to pay the whole of it, aud pro-
pose TO have it remedied. The rate of tax
now is 40 cents on the 500, and we believe
if it was equally divided as it should be it
could and would be reduced to ~ or 25
cents per 800. This is the conclusion that
we who have inquired into it have arrived
at. If it was put upon broader basis it
would not depress us as it now docs. No
capitalist ought to refuse to pay his share
of the taxes, but he does as the manner i'll
which they met our bill at Dover two years
ago plainly indicates.
Every day that it was set aside for dis
cussion they would come down from Will
HlillStOn anu I'LL bHc eiIs pi tue uleI1DGfd
of the Legislature with rubbish and they
succeeded in defeating us. But we arc not
discouraged. Next winter the Legislature
will meet again and our bill will be
brought up again. We ought to get JUS
tice at tbeir hands and will if we stand up
and figla for 1t.
",rhe first and most important question
before us and the one that we have to de-
eide is is it right to tax bonds, mortgages
and all Investments OF like character that
pay dividend; should they pay their
share of the burden or not? Do you think
they should pay >their portion or should
the capitalist go freeY And the second
point is, how are we to get at it? This,
however, is not so important rs the first
and is simply given to ascertain the best
method.
Some advance the theory that our sys-
TEN is too public and requires needlessly
into private affairs but | will say it does
not In fact it will not expose private
affairs and the financial standing of the
capitalist. Under the present system any
jnan can go to the prothonators Office and
the registers office when the records are
thrown open ana receive more inforna-
ton than he could under our proposed
law Us it provides for an assessor who
gets the information and after completing
his work files the report and papers with
the clerk Of the peace for the county in
which he resides.
"Oar bill was examined by the COM
mittee of revised statutes, OF which Mr..
liutsun was chairman during the last ses-
sion of the Legislature and although half
a dozen others on the same ubject-tuxa-
tion-it was decided to lie the best one and
the only one lit for consideration. But
| Notwithstanding this fact when it was put
TO vote before the entire body but six of
the u members voted in its fayor--three
| from Sussex, two from Kent and one from
| New Castle.
Now the question comes up should
| property be taxed at its real or rental
| value There ought to be one established
rule along this line. Now which shall it
| bc.n
Mr.. Fulton then took up the Equaliza-
| tion of Taxation bill, as presented to tho
| legislature two years ago, and read and
| explained the bill, section by section.
| The election of officers resulted in the
| selection of II. B. Coursey for president !;
| W. II. Burnite, ce-president; Wesley
| Webb, secretary, and w. L. Killen, treas
urcr Executive committee, +. Alexander
| Fulton, John llcitshu, A. N. Brown, Riley
Melvin, ]. NJ. Eisenbrey, j. j. Rosa, D. NJ.
| Clark.
Milford was selected as the next place of
meeting and the Sussex institute will be
invited to join them.
C1,urct, f,tphss niuner