The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-26

The City Council last night fixed the
lax rate for the next fiscal year at sl.50
per 800. which is five cents lower
han the present rate. This will be a
pleasant surprise to the taxpayers Of
Wilmington, who were led to believe
BY Misrepresentation in partisan pa
pers that under Republican misrule
and extravaganza the rate would run
mp In the neighborhood OF 81 per
BOO. II all the schemes the Legisla-
lure had In view had been successfully
barried through, the rate would NO
toubt have gons up to Democratic
predictions.
Y This reduction Of the tax rate has
bean no foressd affair for political
Anees as has often been the case
heretofore, but 1t is the result
VI careful management along
The lines OF economy by the Council.
aided materially by other departments
Of the city. The handsome surplus
IRON the present City Council gives
Inc next year good healthy start off.
abe waving of the i've per cent. in
srrease by the Street and Sewer de-
partme1t was generous act on the
part OF that body and helped very
materially towards reduction Of the
tax rate.
The Board OF Education by its good
luck is getting CSC. 600 from the State
Instead Of $4,000 as heretofore has
divided its good luck with the City
Council and needed $4,000 less next
year from Council. The increased
valuation OF the City property caused
by the new improvements which come
within the range OF taxation has been
lie greatest help in the direction Of a
reduction.
On the other hand it will not have
the advantage Of large surplus from
the Water Department like the pres
ent year when it reached $1,000 OF
account OF the department putting in
costly water tilterer and water meters
An offset to this Will DO purer and bet
ter water for culinary and drinking
purposes. Still, with these debts and
credits all made the City Council has
been enabled to take two important
steps forward, one In the direction OF
better health and the other In the di
reetion of better education. 1t has
appropriated s12, 900 for the erection
Of q crematory for the consumption
of garbage, and 81, 500 towards secur
ing free library for Wilmington.
The first will do away with the null
yances that attend the removal OF gar
bage, the importance Of which canno'
in a sl2,000 scale. The
latter will give Wilmington what il
has never yet had-a free library fol
the benefit of every man, woman anc
child in the city who will avail them
selves OF the privileges afforded. AT.
Ter doing all this, the City Council
found that 1t could reduce the Ia!
rate to Sl,50 on the 500. without Ina
terial injury to the interests OF AM
department OF the city.
Mr.. Thomas, chairman Of the Fl
nance Committee. struck the key not,
Of Council last night when he said tina
the tax rate should never exceed 81
on tho slo0, and II the city could no
get along on that 1t had better sci
put. The taxpayers of Wilmington
will for once feel the healthy impuls
Of reduced taxation. Heretofore tn
tendency has been upward. which wa
not very encouraging, but now TO
once the tendency is downward-no
much, it is true, but enough TO show
facing about In the direction Of
healthy, economical administration G
the city government.