Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-24

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this act.
After the reading OF the act. Mr..
Donaldson was given the privilege OF
the floor, on motion Of Mr.. O'Neill
He explained that the Massachusetts,
Legislature, regarding the inequality
of State and municipal taxation, had
appointed commission on the tax
question to see il revision OF the
method was advisable This com
mission, one member of which was
Prof. F. W. Taussig OF Harvard Uni
versity, recognized that real estate was
bearing an unjust proportion OF taxa
tion, and reported in favor of a tax on
occupants Of houses, and the act before
Council had followed that measure.
Mr.. Donaldson sale be hai been study
ing the tax question, had heard the
complaints OF real estate paying such
large proportion, and thought this
scheme might raise the revenue and
not be hardship.
He did not ask Council for favorable
action but to study the measure and il
it wac fair and would yield revenue, in
their estimation, he would do all he
could to secure its passage.
In Massachusetts the rental limit
was put at $500. for this State he aug
gested $780, he remarked that the act
would have no effect throughout the
State, but in this city only, because in
other parts OF the State the rental
value would hardly reach $780,
the principle OF the act is to tax
according to presumed income. This
| income ia estimated roughly according
to the rental value of the house occu-
| pied. Mr.. Donaldson hald that the
man who had such an income as would
enable him to live 10 house of $500 or
more rental, should also be able to pay
the tax. For this plan, ease OF col
lection and lack OF inqnisitorial process,
are claimed. The speaker said that
there WAS no perfect system OF taxa
ton, and new systems we're likely to
excite taxation, The revenue from this
act would be a matter of conjecture,
but Council could estimate that, and
he asked careful consideration of the
bill.
On motion of Mr.. Smith the bill was
referred to the law and finance com
mittees.
The law and finance committees re.
ported on the matter of the desired
purchase of park land in the vicinity
Of Lowering and Shallcrosa avenues,
east Of du Pout street. The executive
committee OF the park commission haC
secured options on all the properties
desired under which tine total cost Il
the city would be about SIT, 500. Th,
law and finance committees reported
however. that they had viewed thu
! properties and considered the amountl
excessive, and reported the matte
without Recommendation.
The report was adopted.
Chairman O'Neill of the law com
nlittse reported progress OH tn
! auctioneer matter. He announced tha
. Mr.. Hukill had been before the coin
mittee. that the assistant city solicito
had also heen present, and that tn
matter had been left in the city solici
3 tors hands.
, At the request OF the police depart
. ment an order for $3.50 was drawn i
favor Of the department on account @
the contingent fund.
i. SINKING FUND COMMISSIONER.
: For the position of sinking fun
commissioner. made vacant by the eS
r piration of the term OF Ohio Rowland
! Mr.. Oberly nominated Harlan g. Scott
! OF the firm of Scott & Go. Mr.. O'Nei
a | b6cOullbu bub nUmludltUHs mr. bbAr
moved TO close the nomination an
n that the member from the Sevent
n ward (Mr. Zebley) cast the ballot {
4 Council. Messrs. Smith and Oberl
a were appointed tellers. and the bRllr
' was taken. Mr.. Scott was thereupo
4 declared elected.
a sale of crsmatory ashes was accepte
| nd nail IN ha ott 40 tHa
"a City Treasurer Curry reported ii
balance in Union National Bank to til
a account of current expenses to !
n SOL, 80S. 49,; 10 each of the four demos
i tary banks, Sl4, ZIG: total, Sis, 672. II
n special fund for park purposes, for I'll
n purchase of park lands. s23, 0a3. 70. II
l. receipts were as follows: From Ts
Collector Mitchell, $500, for III
a taxes; from Tax Collector Sayere, s57
q. for 1897 taxes
~ OLD TELEPHONES TO BE DROPPED.
al Mr.. leary stated that the Delmarv
q, Telephone Co. was giving the city fr
,e telephone service and moved that tl
10 Delaware aud Atlantic company's tel
le phones in the Offices of the city solic
al tor, clerk of Council. city treasure
g. city auditor, city tax collectors al
10 chief of the fire department, be TAX,
ut out after March 3lst.
. Mr.. Oberly thought the old compal
1T might be willing to continue the servi
ne ON the same forms as the new compan
he but Mr.. Smith held that as the old col
GO pany had charged for its service
!. these years, IL should not be allowed
be furnish the service, now that the Dt
company was giving it.
nj H. hal haf h.
by 10 the interest OF economy. His
at membranes was that the old compa
he charged $50 year for each telephor
) a His motion was carried.
IS, Mr.. O'Neill drew attention to a b
ng Of $58 and some cents for electl
tai lighting paid by Council each mont
he He said this was for light for {,
Ter meeting nights week, and two ligt
cd every night in the tax Office.
all thought it very excessive. The or
or satisfaction he had got out of (
as. electric people was that the char
so was according to meter, under an
ed agreement.
os Mr.. Oberly remarked that in /
Ter bootblacKing establishment in the bal
or mept, two electric lights were burnt
Ike day and night, and they are presumsi
3D., on the same circuit with the Cuun
nat chamber.
ion BailiR Ryan said that two lights
Ok been used alongside the furnace, /
to they were taken out
lus Without acting on the matter OF
md light Council on motion, adjourned
re- -.-------
'eu Nonagenarian Handled the PIow.
James Mouttield, aged 80 years,
IN. - 10 ii.