Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-01


This year the payment Of taxes, both
city and county, has been attended
with great deal OF grumbllng. For
in both instances the taxes are higher
than last year. The city tax rate was
increased from 81. 40 to 81. 30 on the
500; the county tax rate FROM 60 cents
to 80 cents on the 800. These in
creases made perceptible difference
between this years bill aud last years,
a difference that in many instances was
accumulated by an increase in assess.
msnt also. Naturally. the people kicked
vigorously when they paid their bills,
and the poor unfortunate receivers of
taxes were made the recipients OF the
violent protestations.
Now, here il where the people were
wrong. The collectors of taxes are not
at all to blame for the higher rates.
They are but agents Of the government
to receive the taxes. which are imposed
by other agencies. The kicks OF the
protesting taxables should be directed
to those responsible for the increased
rates-memhers OF the City Council,
members OF the Levy Court members
OF the Street and Sewer Department,
members Of the Board of Education,
and members OF any other legislative
bodies whose extravaganza was the
direct cause of the increase in taxation.
Nor is this the time for the protest.
ing taxables to kick. BY doing SO now
they but indulge in waste of effort
and breath. The probabilities are that
they will exhaust themselves by use
less efforts at this time, SO that when
the proper time IN at hand, they will
be other too weary or too indifferent
to think about kicking.
The time to kick against high taxes
is election time. Then should the out
ragged taxable give heed to the issue Of
high taxes. and administer his protest
through tho medium of his vote. He
should carefully scan the names of the
| candidates for office. when he goes into
the POLLING booth to mark his ballot.
He should bear in mind that when 1t
comes to the matter of taxes, and to
the election OF men uron whose official
probity and character may depend
whether his taxes shall be rea souab le
or excessive, the question of party
politics should have no weight. What
should 1t matter to him whether the
man for whom he votes is Democrat
ora Republican, as compared to whether
that mans administration of the office
will result in capable, efficient and
reasonably Inexpensive government, or
in government that will eat up tax
money in extrayagant jobs and schemes
OF plumber tor private gainP Then and
there he should exercise his calm judg.
ment and vote for the candidate whom
he feels will make the better and more
economical administrator. 1t is true
that at times the opposing candidates
may offer little Involvement for choice
between them, but as n rule, one can
didate is much better than another,
This is particularly the case in dis.
triots controlled By large party ma
iority, the candidate of the minority
party frequently being far aud away
superior In every respect to the nominee
of the majority party.
And here is where the taxable may
make his protest against high taxes
and inefficient government with effect
Let him vote for good men and elect
them. Good government, will follow
as a corrollary. But If be Yields his
Judgment to partisanship and votes to
elect Incompetent and dishonest men
simply because they are on his party
ticket, then will he continue to be
afflicted with high taxes. aud to
uselessiy waste lis protests upon the
innocent receiving officers, when he
comes to pay for his own folly.