Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-03
ANOTHER ARGUMENT
FOR ANNEXATION
Letterin New Castle News.

Letter IN New Castle News.
Editor New Castle News: In your
we'll written editorial of June 21st in
The News you say NEW Castle people
are divided on the subject of anneya-
tion to Wilmington. The objection of
q part Of the people is the possibility
Of raising Of the tax rate in New
Castle. f" God forbid that New
Castle may suffer in her efforts to
expand from this false notion of in
creased taxation. l have had some
personal relation to much of the legisla-
ton that has resulted in giving the
citizens of Delaware the benefits of
modern research and modern advance
ment-and every one who has ever
visited Dover to urge such matters
before our Legislature will recognize
that misguided enemy of modern
progress, the opponent of just measures,
on the plea of increased taxation. This
kind of politics mas ruled Delaware
already too long, both in her town
politics and in her State politics, and
it is about time to get rid of it. If
there is anything | despise it is to hear
the advancement of the argument OF
tho increase of the tax rate as a valid
reason against the enactment Of laws
for the public good and for the best
interests of the city or the State. 1t is
no credit as rule for a town to boast
that it has little or no tax to pay. Go
to the prosperous towns in this country
where you viii, and in those that are
growing and prosperous you will find
the tax rate high, but as an offset here
you will fluid people contented and we'll
TO do-the public adornments will be
conspicuous and the poor and unfor-
tunate we'll provided for. A full tax
rate makes all this possible, and only
| those who are able have to pay it-and
they are able to pay it, because all of
] these luxuries made possible by a
| proper tax rate add many fold to the
values of their properties. The tax rate
is merely relative any how. A high
tax, when it brings blessings and pros
perity generally to the taxed, is surely
better than a low tax rate, whereby
improvements to property and the pros
perity of the people are curtailed.
Surely in New Castle today our taxes
are high compared to the advantages
afforded her citizens. Suppose by
taking advantage Of offered opportunity
for expansion and improvement and
thus raising the value of property anc
giving labor fair chance-wouldn't
we all be better off with higher ia,
than we are with the lower tax without
any of these advantages? Surely yes, =
the property holder will be richie
through his realty holdings and thu
non property holder will be far richie
owing to his opportunities for employ
ment. Therefore as | see it, the tai
rate is merely relative and it depend
on what you get for the price you pay
A two per cent tax rate may be very low
Or a half per cent tax rate may be YER
high. A two per cent tax on you
house we'll rented, is better than q hal
! per cent tax on your house not rente
, at ALL
Now to return for moment to th
; proposed absorption of New Castle b
. Wilmington. As matter of sentimen
, | can see no objection to it, for the oil
and honored name of New Castle ma
J still be retained. Tax rate and genera
/ financial matters must be matters
adjustment. As we are practically
part of the city of Wilmington now,
5 see no reason why we should not be
t part in fact. 1t is very plain to m
. why both Wilmington and New CAST
Q would be benefited. Since our citizen
T as a rule at present depend almo:
y entirely on Wilmington for employmer
: and livelihood, why not be citizeT
v of tho one town. just so SURG as th
f seasons change, Just so sure will Wi
: mington sooner or later absorb Ne
Castle; then why not nowY can
{ imagine citizen of New Castle oppo
d ing the union. OF course in Wi
i, mington there will be opposition, az
o Wilmingtaev after all, has the chi