Evening journal., 1906-11-30
Friday, November 80, 1906.
rAxEs ARE HIaH ENoUeH.


A CITATION for increase OF the pay Of our
A public school teachers continues, and Su-
perintendent INtmyer a few evenings ago spoke
to the Mercantile Association upon that point.
The address OF Mr. Twitmyer was timely and
will succeed ~ arousing additional interest in the
question which is surrounded with many prach-
cal obstacles Just where the money is coming
from to meet the needed increased pay will prove
TO be the puzzng problem, and it may result in
an overhauling OF our whole system of taxation.
Unpleasant news from City Council is that the
tax rate will probably be advanced and we shall
be confronted by the usual deficit 1t does seem
that the taxes in the city high enough, and it
might shed some light on the question to nves
tigate the expenditures of the city and the
sources Of income. incidentally the assessment
system might be inquired into.
The Board Of Trade has committee appoint
ed to see il additional money for the Board Of
Education could not be provided in some man
ner. A study of the assessment of properties in
this city might shed some light on the question.
Are properties fairly and equtaby assessed?
We are certain that the smaller houses, which
are owned by or rented to the people of moder-
ate cireunstapces, arc fully assessed, but how
about the others? And are our public service
corporations paying taxes on the value of their
property and privileges? Are some forms of
wealth which are lucrative as profit producing
escaping taxation? II seems to us this would be
a fertile field for discussion and action by the
Board Of Trade or City Council or any other
body interested in the welfare of the city. Coun-
Gil evidently thought the assessment of some OF
the public service corporations is too high and
therefore, in the face OF deficit and a threatened
increase OF the tax rate. Il was lowered and the
city deliberately cut off Of this revenue which it
most sorely needed. Maybe the couneilmen have
changed their minds and maybe they have not.
Probably the latter Is nearer the truth. Other
cities have considered the problem of taxation of
public service corporations at something near the
value Of their property, Why not Wilmington?
Why is 1t the city officials stand in such awe Of
them? Why don't the officials Of Wilmington
give the people fair deal?
1t is utter nonsense to think that new charter
would bring all sorts Of relief and work miracle
in reform unless there is a proposal for more
equitable tax assessment system We haven't,
to be sure, much hope Of anything succeeding
that will be displeasing to the corporations and
the lobbyists that they will go TO Dover to watch
llclI own lucicotS luN pcoplN, thS Dodlu Ol
Trade and oth0r bodies interested should take up
this question manfully and honestly They
should be on guard. One snake discovered in
the proposed new charter was promptly
scotched. There will be many others in sight
before the charter is acted upon.
The question Of the increased salaries of the
teachers centers around this point. So long as
we permit certain forms OF wealth to escape
proper taxation while the smaller owners and
renters are compelled to bear the burdens there
will be complaint from those who are to shoulder
the additional taxes