Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-05

ulOTe lIlaH slA InpllblS ago, all prRunlheu
effort was made to induce me to convene
the General Assembly in extraordinary
session to make suitable provision to meet
so serious an emergency.
After due reflection, however. ii was
deemed most advisable not to pursue this
course, but to await, if possible, your
present meeting in regular biennial ses-
sion. The urgent duty, therefore is now
devolved upon me of drawing your favor
able attention to, and recommending
your earliest practicable action upon this
pressing subject. Tho. exigency is such
that, If suitable provision to meet il shall
not have been made during the present
session, q special session. with its attend
Ing expense and other objections, may
have to be convened for that purpose.
The provision in that behalf which
seems to be viewed with general favor is
that embodied in the bill introduced at the
session Of 1891, to which | have referred,
Ii Il similar bill, providing an adequate re.
tirement salary tor the aged and honored
members of the bench, who have long de-
voted the best years and efforts of their
lives to the able and faithful adminStra.
ton of justice i'll this State, shall promptly
be enacted, il is believed that all which at
present is really needed will be accom-
plished. That such measure will gen
orally be regarded as eminently just now
SeelllS llldnllesl. NO OIlleT COURSE seeillS SO
well adapted to the attainment of so de.
sirable result, and to the urgency of the
existing situation.
The only approximate alternative would
be resort to constitutional amendment
by the legislative mode, with a view to
some change of our present judicial sys-
tenn. But the ratification of such an
amendment by the requisite three-fourths
of each branch of the next Legisature-of
which there can now be no certainty
would require at least two years; whilst
the present eXigency and the public safety
demand an immediate remedy and will
admit of no such delay.
Moreover. the advocates of change of
our judicial system differ widely-and
probably ACKNOWLEDGMENT only in re-
spect to the specific alterations to be made,
but also in regard TO the most effectual
mode Of securing them. Under these cir
culnstanccs the success of any constitu-
tional amendment by the legislative mode,
in behalf of such change does not
appear to be encouraging; on the other
hand, the prompt enactment of the pro-
posed retirement salary provision will
afford both sure and I'M immediate
remedy. 1t will also render needless any
resort to temporary expedients in the line
Of hastily devised constitutional amend
ments, and wisely leave advantageous
alterations of our judiciary system,
together with the general subject of con
stitutional reforms, to the more thorough,
comprehensive and deliberate consider
alton of the convention hereafter to be
called for the purpose.
TAXATION.
In the early period of this country's his
tory the small amount of tax necessary to
A.
the talgable character of most of the
property AZ that time in existence the com
parative ease with which il could be
reached, and the fact that the people were
less migratory and cities smaller, made
the problem of taxation much less impor-
tant and difficult than il is at present.
There was comparatively little personal
property in existence 100 years ago. but in
the present century that species of property
at first gradually, then very rapidly, as
suned the enormous proportions to which
we are now accustomed. 1t has increased
relatively more rapidly than real property,
until NOV it is regarded as its equal in
value III most of our American common
wealths." Under the influence of inven-
tions and discoveries, and the industrial
changes accompanying them in the deve-
Opment of n new country, it has assumed
various new forms; and in the application
OF Jne Olu llA llWS III lue SIHleS ScllcIHllN
it has been found that the old claSsilica-
tions of taxable property failed to include
a large mass of wealth held under these
new forms. This caused dissatisfac-
ton aud irritation among those who
bore the heaviest burden of govern
ment and led to an agitation of
the question of taxation throughout
the country, resulting, in many states, in
a change of the basis of taxation. That
= N..1- Nl.E
citizens of this State in the subject is evil
denced by the fact that they had bill pre-
pared and introduced in the House oi
Representatives during the last session Of
the General Assembly, which provided for
u change OF the general basis pf taxation
in the several counties of the state, by ln-
cluding therein all productive invest.
ments. In view of the Importance of
such measure. and the diversity of
opinion as to its ACCESSIBILITY, it was
deemed best to appoint a commission,
with authority to Investigate and consider
the entire subject and report to. the next
General Assembly. Accordingly a com
mission was formed, whose report will be
submitted to your honorable bodies. No
doubt it will be thorough and exhaustive,
as the members are Iuen OF lndoubted
ability and large experience representing
all interests involved, and both OF the
pIlntilhll nulllltIi IlhIllGS VI tllt s7ttltC.
II will be your duty to deal with this re-
port and the subject generally i'll a calm,
deliberate and rational manner. As equal
ity is one of the fundamental principles oi
taxation, it seems unfair and incqutnblt
that any class or species oG property should
be entirely exempt from the tax burden
All should contribute to the support OF
government in proportion to their capacity
or respective ability
In making revision of the tax laws
however, so as to subject investments Il
their operation, you should consider well
whether it would be eXpedicnt to make
them Il part of the common basis Of taxa
tion. You should ever keep III mind, that
capital is very shy and will always seek
those conditions which are favorable t.
the production of the largest profits with
out dimunition on account OF expense ol
taxes. A learned economist has said Do
not tax anything that would be of value tc
us that can go away and be independent OF
us, but will come here and stay with II.
and he benefit" II, therefore, yot
should pass law imposing 4 tax upor
investments which the holders Thereof
deemed excessive, it might result i'll driy
ing considerable money out OF the state
and preventing foreign capital from seek
ing investment in the state. If this were
to be the effect Of such an enactment
available capital for purposes of invest
ment in the State would. gradually bt
diminished and n scarcity IF money il
the hands of the people would be th'
result. Such condition the most arden
advocates Of the taxing of investments
would greatly deplore, because q scarcity
of money always produces cheap lands
lower wages and higher rates of interest
No one can deny the justice of the de
mand for the relief of real estate and thu
farmers stock from a portion of the tag
burden, but it is for you to decide how thii
shall be done. The tax commissioners OF
those states which have made investments
part of the basis Of taxation, almus
without an exception, pronounce the opera
tion of their new tax laws Il great dsap
pointment. They say the comparativ,