The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-02-06
WANT A LAW
REPEALED
Manufacturers Make Appeal Be-
fore Legislative Committees.
OBJECT TO INQUIsIToRIA1
Many Concerns That Would Add
Much to Delaware's Industrial
Pursuits are Turned Away Be.
cause Of This Feature.

facturers met the members Of the Cen |
eral Assembly in the House Of Represen-
tatiyes this afternoon. The delegation
consisted of some Of the most repre- !
sentative manufacturers Of Delaware
and the plant they made was Of the
unusual tax that has existed in Della
ware since 1871. Stress was laid on the
fact that foreign manufacturers were
kept from the State that would otherwise
De glad to accept the advantages offered
by the nearness to the eastern markets
and the exceptional transportation
facilities and waterways. The delega-
ton was met by the revenue and tax
alton committee.
The first speaker was Joseph Il. Car
penter, Jr., Of the Board Of Trade of
| Wilmington, who said they did not wish
| 10 decrease the revenue Of the State but
merely to change the mode Of levying
the taxes on manufacturers. Josiah
| Marvel of " llmington stated their OBJ
ject was to abolish the law that requires
manufacturer to 20 before the clerks
uf the peace and say Il have bought 30
much and / have done SO much busi-
ness. This is detrimental to the welfare
Of industrial Delaware" Mr.. Marvel
| said, ''he pays on his land, machinery
and everything he owns, and on his pro-
ducts. We want to tx this tax In
manner that will not decrease the
revenue Of the State, by introducing two
bills. First, under the corporation law
the corporations that existed before the
general corporation law was passed do
not have to pay tax. Make them pay
ii tax Oh their plants.
We have proposition that manufac-
turcrs having machinery and plants and
not incorporated shall make state
ment as to the value Of their plant and
machinery and then pay so cents on
s., 600 according to the valuation of that
plant. We come before you as business
men and large business men, not as tax
dodgers. The chairman Of this COM
nittee is not q manufacturer but real
, estate man who knows that should this
! tax be abolished his real estate will in
crease in value. We want to help you
: to arrive at a conclusion that will be
! just and fair to, everybody.
: IF we want to go forward we have
got to make it possible for business mer
, to come here"
MIX. LOBDELL'S APPEAL.
: w. ". Lobdell made, perhaps, the
most interesting address of the meeting
{. He said in part:
3 "Whateyer action may be taken by the
: Legislature that conduces to the welfare
{ Of the prosperity Of Wilmington ant
: other towns Of our State will be ol
: great benefit to the agricultural INTEREST,"
If Kent, Sussex and New Castle coun
b ties. There should be continuity O.
e interests throughout the whole State ant
e a feeling Of pride and satisfaction on tn
= part of our rural population at the repu
i Itation Wilmington has won in the mart
Y of the world, as well as by her own i'm
0 mediate citizens. Wilmington has VOL
n her prominence by the unaided exertion
a of her citizens, in the face Of sever
/ competition and under many burden
n imposed upon her by the State.
e Her ADVANCE has been won througl
the abnormal growth of her establishes
d business houses, by reason Of the abilit,
r Of their proprietors and the skill an
l. industry of her mechanics and citizens
n than by any influx from outside sources
d which her natural geographical positio
j. and rail and water communication shoui
entitle her to.
Is "She now comes to you through ne
y representative body, and asks som
IT measure of relief from a burdensom
u State tax, imposed many years ago, VINE
T. the State badly needed revenue, a Ia
1t so inouisitorial in its nature that
g offers an inducement to those whose cor
sciences are flexible to practice equvoci
ton and deceit. A tax burdensome b.
N cause not laid upon profits, but upon il
dustry-upon commodities bought, nc
a. sold-a tax upon the privileges Of en-
~ ploying labor. 1t has been truthful
said that one who gives employment
a. those who need it is public benefactt
an but the State evidently does not SO col
,c- slider it, as the more labor manufa
&c turer employs the more he is taxed I
the State.
"a tax that deters foreign capital fro
ho llocatipg in our State; building of iart
re manufacturing interests - employiI
20 labor that would create demand for o.
agricultural products-surely Is not
rd iudicious one. As one for many yea
~ concerned in efforts to induce man
To- facturers from other localities to loca
,ct here, have been met with the objects
mi that the tax laws Of our State we
,at onerous and not equitable and did n
,ot offer sufficient inducements in contra
iii with those of other States where loc
so advantages would be greater.
,ot 1T is this condition that we ask you
to remedy and make such modihcatlon
the state TAX laws us "ih ieAio'S sN>
,cb objections and enable the State to
tain the location Of some OF the G
porate companies within it's borders, II
- will avail themselves of our very libe
incorporation laws that have brought
much extra revenue to our State tre
ury. which revenue, the State bids 4
AN to enjoy as long as the present prosp
Gus conditions exist throughout
Cal country.
"A manufacturing business is not
leh ways profitable, and its per cent.
in nrofits when successfully conducted
proportion to the amount Of money
Inc vested in real estate, tools and nxtur
The and working capital is rarely as great
:. many other lines Of trade. The amo'
lis of tax State, county and municipa
hot manufacturer is compelled to pay
n out of proportion to that paid by OF
lall industries, when the net revenue deri
therefrom is considered. Particularly
Id This SO in the case Of our largest ma
ion facturers, as the prosecution OF II
business requires very large amo
can of valuable real estate. The buiidi
, in alone in some instances covering m
acres, which, with the grounds, are
iect to q city and county tax OF al