Evening journal., 1901-02-02
lErs HAYE AN UNDERSTANDING

In spite OF the unnatural and unpop-
ular attitude assumed by Representa-
tive Baynard, the people of Whining
ton have won before the House COM
mittce their fight for two-thirds Of the
liquor license fees levied and collected
in this city by the State. Even in the
final vote in committee Mr.. Baynard
assumed the eQuivocal attitude Of alb
staining from voting and shifting upon
Representative Robertson and the
other Wilmington members the brhnt
of the struggle to obtain favorable
report on this measure. which means
$4,000 year to our taxpayers.
We do not know what ambitions for
political preferment in the future may
inspire the member from the Second
district to make such studious efforts
to curry favor with the rural
constituencies. but we would
remind him that the people
OF his district want that $4,000 to re-
duce the burden OF taxation upon their
realty, and that that man is most sue
ccssful in public life who remembers,
first OF all the interests Of those who
elected him.
Our city has been bled year in and
year out to maintain the general fund
and the school fund OF the State.
Men congregated in the State House
from all parts Of Delaware have voted
away for a song thecity's most valuable
franchises fromwhichhts revenues could
have been derived. The State has pur-
sued such deliberate system of taxing
for State purposes everything in sight
in the city Of Wilmington, excepting
real estate, that there is little left for
the city to tax but landed property, tel
egraph and telephone poles and dogs.
Mr.. Baynard must know these
things. He must know that State taxes
on Wilmington enterprises have run, in
very large part the general expenses
OF the State. He must know that State
taxes on Wilmington saloons have
maintained the public school system
OF the entire State. He must know
that the city Of Wilmington, with an
assessment Of something over 10000
600, contributes the bulk Of the county
and poor taxes required to run the
county and that the stress Of that bur
den falls upon real estate. He must
know that our real estate also sustains
our city government in all its branches,
and that the double tax thereon has
reached its limit. He must know that
the people OF his district, which is
composed of the Ninth ward and those
parts Of the Sixth and Eighth wards
lying north Of and bounded by the CEN
tral line Of Eighth street, are interest
ed in real estate and anxious that there
shall be no increase in taxes for city
purposes. He must know that owners
and renters have a mutual interest in
this matter. And yet he breaks away
from the Wilmington delegation, op-
poses the efforts Of City Council to OBJ
tain for his constituents the benefit oI
their propcrtionate share OF that s4O'
600, and, when it comes to a show
down in committee, refrains iron
voting and lodges the Issue entirely On
the specious plea that he doesn't thinl
Wilmington can get that for which j
is asking. II every Wilmington mem
Der of the Legislature were TO pursu
the same course as Mr.. Baynard W
should never get anything, and Nigh
as well be without representation Il
the State House.
A thing that is worth having
worth fighting for. Mr.. Baynard
not expected by his constituents I
sit and analyze and fathom the il
tents and purposes Of the down-Stai
members before deciding upon whic
side OF a question he shall drop. tn
people Of Wilmington want that sac
600 and they are entitled to st. II
people Of the Second district. who SCI
him 10 Dover, want their share OF
The session is half gone, and it
time for Mr. Baynard to deci
whether he represents the Second di
trict Of the city Of Wilmington or Z
Tenth district of Sussex county, al
talk and vote accordingly. There
neither virtue nor value in the exist
state Of uncertainty concerning I
geographical location Of his constii
ency.