The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-25
IkATURDAY. MARCH 25. 1893.
How Our Taxes are Increased.


- How Our Taxes are Increased.
Az no doubt the present City Coun-
Gil will be blamed for the increased
rate OF taxation to meet the demands 8
Of the next fiscal year, 1t will be in or
dor 70 see exactly what particular
items Of expense Council must meet,
that II 10 not compelled to meet by or
dora 10 the shape OF Laws from Dover.
In Tie first place, the Water Commits
sion Is creation OF the Legislature.
endowed with power to do as 1t pleases
but 1t Is given the privilege Of paying
over to the City Council any surplus
q ms on hand not needed to meet the
expenses Of the Department
The present fiscal year, the Depart
mont paid over to City Council $4,000
surplus, and Council has been notified
that nothing need bs expected next
year, on account OF the great expense
the Department will be at IN putting
ip O water filterer and water metres. |
This leaves a round $4,000 which |
Council is compelled to raise by di-
rect taxation. A failure to raise it will
leave deficiency OF that amount.
In the second place, the Street and
Saver Department created by the
Legislature Is empowered to make Its
annual demand upon the City Council
for the money 1t needs in repairing
streets. and Council has no other op-
ton than to comply. Each year the
Department increases the amount de-
Yhanded by five per cent, which next
year will amount TO $1,000 additional
taxes, which the Council is compelled
10 raise.
In the third place, the Police COM
mission Is empowered to spend money
without limit. All Council has to do
Is TO pay the bills which the Commis-
sion contracts. This year the bills
amount to $4,000 more than the reg.
hlar appropriation for the Department
This amount Council has no other OPP
ton than to raise by direct taxes. The
Police Commission Is to be congratu-
lated that it did not run its bills up to
ESQ., 600 over the appropriation. II it
had done go. Council would simply
have mad to pay the bill. This Com
mission Is also creature Of the Leg
islature.
In the fourth place. the Legislature
compelled the City Council to raise
Malone 600, 600 for the Street and Sewer
commission to spend In the repairs of
streets. 100000 OF this amount has
been used, ard 100000 remains to he
x.ol<. Sy..a. A
rate OF four per cent. this entails an
expense Of $4,000 Interest, which must
be raised next year The interest fol
the whole amount is In tie neighbor
hood OF $4,000. which Council has hat
to pay annually for some years be
cause ordered by the Legislature to de
80.
Ip.the fifth place, the City Council
PEELED to make an appropria
C he Board OF Education. which
ed annually by Ave per cent
makes some 5000 more to b,
I'd by taxation next year. In nc
|of these instances has the CIT,
pcll any other option, than I
Wy with the dictum OF the Leg
10 and raise the money deman
han this yeafr;s--an
pto account an
pees which WI
these ehcum
" oil cando
blamed fc
llext yea
Let thos
|omeT
ch v
len IL
much legislation fro
enough from the peop
and until ths CO
IS Is changed and t
lgton allowed to &C
Affairs In accordan
charter OF the ell
DO barthened wi
1t Is high time
lse and strike
-~
eok Sewer.
he OF the most
gae city of WilmiI
the highest ere
lone to build up
Section OF our ei
are !nvaipahie to
grovt R Of any q
publie Improvement /
.ouid ok that would |
hsuefit to himself that sho
.ccorded hiin II 1t could
ant the city suffering fl
tau rates which wo
he business and growth
ty.
the sewer, which had /
b upon as a compromise meas
een Mr.. Ford and the Jeasup
) Company, been constructed
rte OF tho city would have
on the 500 instead of Sl.53.
int rate, and the highest tho |
have ever been compelled to
This would nave simply been ctasl
10 the tax payers of Whining
Under these circumstances thousi
Rof the friends OF Mr.. Ford were {
pelled TO withhold their assent to
measure that would have Increase
city taxes to such al inflated ratio
they simply could not have