Middletown transcript., 1894-07-07

ana friction to to the community. But
when we consider the cost the surprise be-
comes astonishment The two assessors
and collectors of city taxes with their two
clerks cost the city more than $500 per
year; the city treasurer receives $1,000 per
year and Lis clerk 5000. The total cost will
not reach $4,000. On the other hand the
country assessors for Wilmington cost
$24OO; for the rest of the country not less
than $4,000; the receiver of taxes aud
county treasurer receives $4,000 for sse
vices, and the clerk of the peace, who
transcribes the names of the county assess
ment. for the current year receives not less
than $4,000 for that work. making total
for the country of $1S.40O. But to this
| must be added the 5. 10 and 20 per CEN
tum paid to the collectors of delinquent
taxes for the entire county, which Will
swell the grand total to at least $25, 900
1t is evident therefore, that the city of
Washington under system which has
not been tampered with for several years
by the State Legislature, is performing
three times as much work for $4,000 as
the county has performed for $250OO. under
system that has been regularly tampered
with by every Legislature for the last ten
or fifteen years. 1t costs New Castle
county at least II cents per dollar
to collect its taxes while Wilmington pays
only 2 cents per dollar for the same service
This extraordinary exhibit should
suggest to this community that system
of tax paying, such as holds in Philadel-
phia, where the city and county taxes are
collected in a single Office and by one man
would save to US annually thousands of
dollars. The city is to-day making the
most strenuous to save at the spigot, while
the country is wasting for US at the bung-
hole. The tax payers of the entire county
should join US in demanding a reform of
assessing and collecting our taxes. This
abuse hiss cost the county hundreds of
dollars during the the last twenty years,
and Wilmington has paid two-thirds of the
oss. Wilmington is wasting as much now
annually, in the collection of county
taxes as it costs us to collect city taxes.
Too much praise cannot be accorded our
Fire Department. Wilmington has ad-
hered, and wisely, to the volunteer system.
and so long as the present efficiency is
maintained no one will be found to ask for
a change. In cost to the community find
We rank very nearly at the bottom of the
list of cities, and it is constant surprise
that so much excellent service can be fur
nished for the amount of the current ap-
preparations. 1t speaks volumes for the
courage and public spirit of the men whose
names honor the rolls of our fire COM
panies.
In conclusion, it is only proper shat at
tention shsuld be called to the excellent
credit of this municipality. The loans ef-
fected during the last few years were all
placed at the lowest rates of interest and
with handsome premiums. We should
not, however, permit our facility to Dor
row lead us into the error of increasing our
debt. l cannot impress too strongly upon
the community the financial perils that the
times have brought upon US. 1t Is imper-
itiye that every dollar of public money
should be applied with care and anxiety
and no opportunity be ignored to reduce
the burdens that weigh upon the people.
All our efforts should be bent to a reduc- :.
ton of the tax rate so as to bring it in
to the constantly falling wages
of labor the rents of houses and the prices
of manufactured goods. 1t is especially
important that our excellent system Of
auditing accounts should be extended to
every public account, however small or
unimportant. 1t is very unfortunate that
the discretion of Council is so limited. Less
than S25, 600 out of total of over $500. 600
is subject to your unqualified disposition.
Had your honorable body been empowered
this year to make appropriations, untram-
meled by unwise and meddlesome legisla-
ton, for all of the various departments Of
the city there is no doubt that the tax rate
for 1894 could have been reduced at least 20
per centum, or to the rate of $l.20 per 81 90.
1t is the first duty of those entrusted with
the government of cities to-day to reduce
their expenses. 1t is our duty in the at
tainment of that end to simplify our system
of municipal administration and to restore
it to the full control of the taxpayers.
EVAN G. SHGRTL1DGE,
July I'd, 1894. Mayor.