The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-24
Advising the Legislature.

a
FRIDAY. MARCH 81. 1899.
Advising the Legislature.
The City Council last night passed
. brief and pointed resolution to be
sent to the Legislature. requesting
that body in polite but firm tones not
to pass any bills which will impose adj
ditlonal burthens upon the taxpayers
OF the city by an increase OF the tax
rate.
President Benson In few practical
remarks showed the drift towards o
higher rate Of taxation for the next
year and through no fault OF tho City
Council though that body would have
TO bear the blame. The present tax
ratio OF the city Is sl.55. which is as
much as the people can bear and even
that rate is felt to lie very oppressive.
II all the requirements OF the city are
to be met next year, from present APP
pearances the tax rate will have to be
increased to S1.ss on the 800.
Had the contemplated sewer to con-
meet Sllverbrook with some point on
Shipley run or the Christiana, the bill
for which was killed in the Legislature
yesterday afternoon, boon carried to
completion, 1t would have cost the
city at the least calculation, $4,000
possibly 100000 would be nearer the
mark, the tax rate would have run up
in the neighborhood OF safe This
would have simply been Undesirable.
and would have bankrupted the city.
tax rate OF Bliss will have very near
ly the same effect, and yet that rate
seems almost unavoidable at the
present time the way things are drift
ing.
The present year the City had the
advantage Of some $4,000 surplus
from the Water Department. Owing
to the contemplated filtering improve
ments and the putting in of water
meters no help from that source can
DO expected next year. As the City
Council has no jurisdiction over the
Water Commission, the dictum OF the
latter must be taken as the law OF
that body. This efIectually Tops Off
$4,000 at least from the city next
year, and that amount. which the city
must have, must be raised by direct
taxation. Then comes tho deficiency
In the Police Commission, which may
be set down at a round SIS. 900, which
added to the $40, COO of tho Water De-
partment makes $4,000 to be raised
by taxes. The City Council has moth
ing to do with the deficiency in the
Police Department. a.... .. .
That department has no limit to Its
expenses, and could have run the
deficiency up to fifty thousand
as easily as SIS, 900 If it had seen pro.
per to do so, and the City Council
would have been compelled TO assume
the debt. Then the Street and Sewer
Commission comes in for its five pei
asnt. Increase on the appropriation Of
this year, which will be $4,000 more.
The Board OF Education with its in
crease OF five per cent. will make 5000
M DIG, eli, 900 more to be added to tht
aggregate running it up to sGG, 900
The general and natural increase o
the appropriations for salaries, repair
OF public buildings, miscellaneous ae
counts, printing and elections will in
crease the aggregate to at least $50.
600. Should the Police Commission b
remodeled and six patrolmen added t.
tho force, as proposed In the bill befor
he Ill t,,r mill In
gate up to $4,000.
The proposed addition OF two NOR
members OF the Street and Sewe
Commission and other expenses inc
dent. will run the amount to $4,000
The interest on 600 600 to DO borrow
ell for the Street and Sewer Commits
sion for paving and repairing street
at the low rate OF four per cent. Wi
DO $4,000 which added to the aggr
gate runs 1t up to $4,000 Damage
to be paid by the city by court decree
be anywhere in tho nelghborhoo
700 to $4,000. making the aggr
anywhere in the neighborhood c
90. Over the creation OF a
expenses. tho City Council is {
es as babe. It has 10 say
ITO the expenses OF the Polit
l,lon, the Street and Sew
on nor the Water Comml
is simply tho agent
- which 1t has no control
il money by taxation for tho Cor
MISSIONS to spend. In view OF the
- the city Council appeals to tt
Nature in a candid and truthfl
Ter to withhold Its hands, al
ass any more laws that will o
lore debt upon the city aud i
- the tax rate.
The Legislature could, il 1t on
would, relieve the financial depIessi
upon the nx.payers OF Wilmington
more equal distribution OF {
school fund. II the bill now pcndil
before that body to let ono hundr
dollars which 10 only one-tlird Of
license fec in the city, revert to I
Board OF Education, it would hfil
900 into tho treasury Of tie schC
board, and relieve tho city Council
luNI
Ii the Bourd. 1t is to be regretted Il
Ahe Legislature is not fayoraDly
4 clined to this very fair and cquita
proposition. Under these clrcu
stances the only thing the people
Wilmington can do in the midst
tho oppressive laws that are sarpl
the Foundations OF it's prosperity Is
call aloud to the Legislature sayi
Hands of gentlemen. hands of, {
give the people Of Wilmington SO
opportunity Of conducting their q
business IN their own manner net
violation of tho city charter, wi
has beon given to them for Il
guide.
THE discussion in the City Cou
last Mght over the finances OF the
and taxation. was an intelligent
preston Of opinion but seldom he
In that body. There was not the Il
difference of opinion between
members. Democrats as we'll rs
- publcans heartily supported the n
luton offered by President Bens