Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15
THE QUESTION OF TAXATION
Interesting to Others as Well
as to Changers.
THE VIEWS OF CHAIRMAN JOLLS
Opposition to Gambling in
Farm Products.


kDusihcss ALSO transacted.
The 18th annual session OF Delaware
State Grange convened at II o'clock Tues
morning in Sheridan Post room, Opera
House. The session will last over three
days. The meetings promise to be very
interesting, as there are numerous matters
of the greatest importance which are call
ing Tor an expression of opinion from the
farmers and which will most likely evoke
at Dover.
The comforting of the sixth degree will
take place to-day ut Up. m.
The grange executive committee is as
follows; John Z, Higgins, Delaware City;
y. II. Bancroft, Camden and $. IL. MessCS,
Bridgevillc.
The officers of the State Grange are
Worthy Master, John G. Higgins, Delaware
Lecturer, Col. T.. l.. Martin. Seaford;
Steward, Il. d. Tally. Beaver Valley: AS
sistant Steward, William T.. Peach Mer-
maid; Chaplain. j. w. Day, Wilmington;
Treasurer, Thomas IT, Riggin. Laurel;
Secretary W. w. Seeders, Pennington:
Gate Keeper, Charles I, Pepper, George
1 Wynirin Ceres poI Mrs NJ, p Il AlebaGd'
Laurel; Flora, Anna Heyd, FELTON,: l.. A.
Steward, Hannah Il. Day Wilmington.
As the grange is n secret organization
there il no means of nscertaining the bust-
ness transacted, II is, however, u matter
of common information, that the farmers
of Delaware have listed certain grievances,
foremost among them being the weight OF
taxation, redress for which they propose
asking for at the coming session Of the
Legislature.
There are other questions of almost
equal importance upon which the present
meeting viii take action.
The worthy master, Hon, John G. Hg-
gins was seen ut the Clayton House, this
morning, and was asked for general
statement upon the position Of tho
State Grange upon the questions referred
TO.
Mr.. Higgins said that of course, what
action the grange may finally take on the
various matters coming up, cannot be
stated at this moment, but yet the mem
beers are all agreed on certain main points
STATE AND COUNTY TAXES.
The idea is Mr.. Higgins continued.
"that real estate is bearing more than its
Just proportion of taxes
The grange of Pennsylvania has moved
in the matter By assembling every quality
of property under one head and taxation
under another. They found that real
estate, mostly farm property, was paying
vastly more than its Just proportion.
The last Pennsylvania legislature took
S4,5OO.OOO of taxes from farm property.
II was demonstrated that Il reduction
of $40 would have left farmers paying u
Just relative proportion of taxes. 1t looks
as II the next Pennsylvania legislature
will accord the further reduction asked for
1.-THE farmers of Delaware, of this
grange, may be taken to speak their
wishes, and to express those of the
Farmers Institutes, held from time to
time through the county, when they ask
that the same thorough investigation made
in Pennsylvania be made in Delaware, and
the taxes be placed where they Justly he
long, no matter where they fall
If land is found to be paying less than
its Just proportion, let it pay more, but let
it be Justly ascertained that 1t is not bear
ing more than It's just proportion, as the
farmers believe.
CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMISSION.
The grange has full confidence in the
present tax commission, appointed by the
last Legislature. But the study that the
commission has already put upon this sub.
iect will give direction to the purpose of
this Legislature to look fully into the ques-
ton OF taxation.
1t is claimed that the average farmer in
Delaware pays 10 per cent Of his net in
come in taxes that are paid in cash. The
rewards of agriculture having been but
small Of late years, and county and local
expenses of government high this tax,
has been felt to be an understandable
burden, and one that should be removed
if the complaint, upon examination, is
justified.
"ln connection with this the oranges
have always been anxious to secure a re.
duction Of county expenses, feeling that. il
the imposition of taxes is accompanied by
economy in administration, the farmers OF
the State would be in q much better iinan-
cial condition and farming would be q less
onerOus occupation"
Mr. Allaband, of the committee on legis
lation, said that the general opinion of the
farmers is in the direction of equalization
OF taxation. They are in favor of taxing
bonds and mortgages. They are in favor
OF a State control of railroads.
Mr.. Il. ii. Bancroft of the executiy,
committee, also expressed himself in the
direction that all railroad matters mo-
under the control of the Interstate Com
mission should be under State control.
Among the earlier arrivals to-day were
John q. Higgins. W. II. Allaband, Johr
W. Day, A.W. Slaymaker and wife, W. A
Talley, +. d. Talley, Misses Lctitia ant
Sarah Talley, George W. Weldin, Mise
Emma and Beulah Weldin, J. A. Weldii
and wife, Thomas n. Rawlins Arnolt
Naudain, w. NJ. Cloud and wife, ID. Lurne,
and wife, President Wesley Webb of til,
colored college, Mr.. and Mrs Thomas Dill
worth, MIR. and Mrs. Il. II. Bancroft
George d. Nedill, c. V. Hopkins, Mrs. S
ID. Hill, q. S. Butterworth, J. Il. Harvey
Worthy Master John Q. Higgins Gale,
the grange to order little after IL O'Clock
when the transaction OF private bushes
commenced.
The following committees were ap
pointed at this mornings meeting:
Credentials-C. g. Hopkins, ii.
Lewis, IL, ID. Learned.
Division Of Labor-E. M, Pierson, Johi
j. Rosa, John c. Short.
Constitution and By-laws-J. A. Weldin
G. 4. front, W. H. Killen.
Mileage-John NJ. Eisenbrey Joseph l
Chandler, James Donancey.
Agriculture-S, II. Messick, samue
Lindsay, $. II. Derby.
observation-disclosures Il. Dilworth
Joseph d. Thompson, Il. NJ. Person.
Dormant Grangers--S. IL. Derby, Thoma
\. Rawlins, Mrs. 4. r. Dilworth, Mrs
George W. Phelps, Mrs. Learned.
;.eglslation-W. Il, killen sydney
Goslee, Thomas f. Dilworth.
Executive Committees Report-Georg
W. Phelps, IL. ID. Learned, G. c. Hopkins
Education-Professor Bishop, Delawar
College; j. w. Perkins, 4. II. Rawlns
irs. j. IL. Chandler. Mrs. Rosa.
Coed of the Order-john J. Rosa, DR..
J. Black George W. Phelps.
solutions--Samuel Lindsay, G.
front, A. w. Slaymaker.
1ransportation-A. w, Slaymaker, W
c. Richards, n. NJ. Pierson.
Finance-John c. Short, John ]. Ross
J. A. Weldin.
Woman's Work in the Grange--Mrs. l