The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-24
TIME TO CALL A HALT.
City Council Enter~ IA Vigorous Protest
Against Increasing The Tax Rate.


Against Increasing The Tax Rate.
city Council met in reg ular session
last night when they took action to.
ward preventing the mourning OF ad-
dltlonal expense upon this city by the
legislature. Just after the session
opened President Benson called Mr..
McKelvey to the chair and the presi-
dent read this resolution:
Whereas, The present tax rate OF
the city Is OF necessity quite high and
Whereas, The natural Increase OF
city's funds will probably require a
still higher rate for the coming year;
therefore be II
Resolved, That this Council most
earnestly requisite the Legislature 70
refrain from any legislation which will
incur additional expense upon the
city," :.
The speaker said he desired to call
the attention of the members to some
facts and figures relative to the tax
rate OF this city. Tho chairman OF the
Finance Committee had heard from
the water department that Council
need not expect any amount from that
body next year, This yenr they re-
turned SAC. GOO, but as there are q num-
Der OF contemplated improvements.
tDc HOW NhJtI
will be received from them.
This amount, which is $4,000, will
therefore have to he raised by Council
to meet the deficiency. The Police
Commission on this years basis will
expend $4,000 more than that appro-
prlated.
The Board of Education and Street
and Sewer Department will each re-
ceive per cent which will amount to
| sl3, 600. An ordinance will soon lie
pres eated to Increase the Eonded debt
5000, 600. The interest at 4 per cent.
will be 5000. II tho new library IL
| built they will prol ably get 5000.
With other items q. 900 will have to lie
raised. In round figures the sums
aggregate Si00. 900 which the city Will
have to raise next year over this years
amount. III this he had MAIDEN pro
vision tor an increase i'll tie Police
/ Commission figures or tor tho Park
Commission which will probably meet
:40,0
The city assessment will reach abou
s35, 00O, 600 and TO raise tho 5lOO, 900 nd
di.ional the tax must be raised from
Sl.55 on the 800 to Sl.SS. Last yea
the rate was raised from : 40 to Sl.5!
and that raised tremendous howl.
"As representatives of tho citizens
of Wilmington what can we say Il
themN said President Benson. We arS
not only going TO raise tho tax rate
but there are bills before tho Legisla'
ture providing for larger expenditures
one bill contemnlate5 tho building o.
a sewer III the western part OF the city
tho estimated expense being 100000
Few persons in the city would he bone
flied. The cost would probably h
s75, 900 at least. Under the bill TIN
Street aud Sewer Department Is Ia
: build the sewer and the Council mus
pay for il in year. That would meal
90 increase in the tax rate of ~ cent'
on the 800, bringing IeXt years rntt
up to 81. II, an increase OF 81 FER cent.
The sewer bill, Mr.. Benson thought
Council would not be warranted Ill al
lowing 1t to pass without its solenl
protest when he was Informed that tn
9 bill had been killed. lie said ho wa
a glad to hear II, but there arc othe
/, bills which neod to bo checked to Xee
l the rate as low as possible.
L Mn. Ross favored the resolution. II
i thought that under the present cond
a tlon Of the clty's finances, Counc
scould have the money at its dispoSa
lie referred to the proposed water ii
r ter as something useless.
+ Mr.. Thomas said it was scror
matter BY natural causes the IL,
rate will be Increased TO @l.SS, and n
+ pressure should DO brought on IL
0 legislature not to pass any measure
a requiring expenditures by the city.
MIR. Magea favored tho resolution
/ He said that his opinion Of the con
II missions was weu-known. Thct
q should be some restriction. 1t cos
one dollar to get privilege from Il
a Ia s
l. lie didn't want to have any argumel
: about the Police Commission as
: thought they had done vol. Re
70 and Sussex wants to be relieved
% taxntion and this is tile reason We a
% so highly taxed.
a. The people there think they s1p1o
this county. Wilmington pays 50
81 per cont. Of the school funds and l
re ceives about ~ per cent. Mr.. Mag
ar added that Council! had tried two yei,
:, ago TO do as the Board of Educate
!. has been trying, to get a more ecu
D. division of the fund. The city re
v $4,000 out OF the SO, 900 it contribute
a. The yeas and nays werc thon call
!. and the resolution was carried by
Us unanimous vote. Mr.. Murray NOV
ii that copies OF the resolution he Sc
q. to Senator Pyle and Reprcsentnti
40 Spruance.
% A communication WAS received fro
es city Solicitor Curtis, asking for
I'd strlction In regard to the compilii
a. OF a now book OF ordinances. The
:, were number of old ordinances
OIL the old books which he thought We
Ill useless and did not want them COZ
as pied in the new book. The matt
d. Was referred to the Law Commit
=" with power to act.
ce MI Thomas presented an ordinar
er making certain transfers of appropl
la. tons. The resolution Transfer
:" $500 from the appropriation for
Dg city election, and s69o from the +
to Department. It was read 5000
m. time by title and referred to tho IL;
- ana Finance Committee.
$50 City Treasurer Adams reported
he balance III tho Union Bank to be ~
I'll 6S00s; in each OF the repository ban
nj ST, 1850; total. .92, 81 IS.
~ The interest list for Ahrll, amou
IN ing to S9.64l.1j was passed. A CHI
in was ordered drawn in favor OF l..
Jones. treasurer of the Board of p
~. lie Education for s9.519.l8.