Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-07
coatlv Methoa. d Taxatlon.

Costly Methods Of Taxation.
Mayor Thompson Of Iewes has entered !
upon a campaign having for its object a
reform IN tho methods Of assessment and |
tax collection in vogue in Sussex county
BY starting the campaign now, the sub
iect will be in shape, in all probability
for presentation to the Legislature at It's
next session.
Taking the town Of Lewos as an ex-
ample, Mayor Thompson points out that
there arc three assessments, three tax
levies and three agencies for the collection
Of taxes. First Is the assessment and levy
for the purposes Of general county taxa
tion; next, the assessment and levy by
the Town Council for the purposes Of town
taxation; and third, an assessment and
levy for the purposes Of school taxation.
There is an officer to collect the county
taxes, one to collect the town taxes, and
one 10 collect the school taxes And each
collector is allowed fair compensation
for his work Also, there are three as
SCISSORS to make the three different ASSESS
ments. The three sets Of taxes are made
payable at different times. which keeps
the citizens engaged almost continually,
from year 10 year, in the delightful pas
time Of paying taxes.
This system prevails generally through
out the State, except in the city Of Will
mington. Here there are but two tax
levies, one for city and school purposes
and one for county purposes. But even
here there Is room for a reform which will
simplify the taxing machinery and make
It moro effective and economical. In
Kent county the system is the same as
that Of Sussex, while in rural New Castle
the people are harassed by collectors Of
county taxes, by collectors Of road taxes,
by collectors Of school taxes, and, in the
incorporated towns, by the collectors Of
town taxes. In some instances, the tax
collecting agencies arc combined, thereby
securing better and cheaper service but
10 many instances they are separate and
distinct, as in the town Of Lewes, to the
annoyance Of the people and a suhstan-
tial increase in the cost Of government.
Now that Mayor Thompson Of Lowes
has called attention TO this great evil,
there should be concerted movement
for reform all over the State. Evcn in
tho city Of Wilmington changes may be
made which will reduce the cost of assess.
ment and tax collection and at the same
time secure a more effective service IN,
cost Of collecting the county taxes is ex.
cossivo, and the hundreds and incorpor
aied towns also pay moro for the scrvic,
OF assessment and collection of taxos thar
it could be performed for undor a mucl
better system, aimed at consolidation anC
completeness.
As TO the incorporated towns, like Lewes
with their three assessments, three Ca,
levics, three assessors and three collecting
agencies, the need of reform is imperative
There is not a town in the State whore al
of the work OF assessing and tax collecting
for the three specific purposes involve,
could not be done by a single agency, am
done much better than il is under In
existing system. Thereby would he save
much money in the way Of salaries, eve
after allowing handsome compensatio
10 the assessing and collecting agent
and much annoyance and vexation {
the long-sufering payer of taxes
TO lay out and inaugirate a system
assessment and collection that will clie,
the much needed reform is a task of gre,
magnitude. Il is doubtful Il the wor
could be done by the Legislature at
single session IL might be advisab
20 provide for a commission to CAREFUL
eonsider the situation and report a rclor
system TO the Legislature next eusuin
That consolidation, with a view to cor
ploie and effective service, is the gre
need seems conclusive. But the det,
OF the process by which such a chan
may be brought about is problem d
manding labor and consideration by min
especially fitted for such work.
Here is a practical subject for the co
sideration of the Farmers oranges a
kindred organizations throughout {
State. II proper attention is given
the question, it may be possible to &
mulate a sound system and lay it bei,
the next Legislature. Ii not then
commission Of experts will be in order