Evening journal., 1907-02-27
Wednesday. February ~, 1907.
WHAT OF THE FUTUREP

I
- party in Delaware can be assured only by
good government and a proper consideration of
the rights of the people For years past the cit
izens Of the State have given a vote of confidence
to the party. This was during the time of fac
tional disturbances and disputes. When the
party was again welded together under one or
ganization it continued to retain the support of
the voters and all assertions that the majority
was purchased one were disproved by the last
election The party in the past has served the
people we'll But recently a new era has dawn
ed which puts to the test the good faith of the
party, its capacity for good government and its
progressiveness. President Theodore Roosevelt
has awakened the conscences of the people. His
doctrine which has done so much to stimulate
thought in the country has been tersely embraced
in two plain words-"Square deal" This means
simply that all people and all business are en-
titled to fair treatment in this country and that
there should be no special privileges or favors.
The doctrine is old. History has been record
OF attempts, sometimes successful and often fu-
tile, to put it in force 1t was in the minds of the
founders of the country.
The square deal" applied, however, refers
chiefly to legislation. Our business has grown
enormously, new industrial problems confront
the country on every hand and the warfare is
how best to obtain justice in regard TO taxation
and government. The questions of taxation nat
urally come up for consideration. Taxation is
one of the most vital problems OF government
1t is the duty of government to levy taxes in a
just and equitable manner. We have not in
Delaware made much progress in taxation. Our
methods OF raising revenue have been in many
respects crude. New forms of wealth have
arisen in every direction, but the taxatons that
followed have been kept almost solely on real
estate-to land and property Of that nature.
Capital in other forms has felt but little OF the
burdens of taxation.
An attempt has been made to change (mildly,
to be sure,) this order. The State finds that it
is in need of more revenue. Why the State has
been running short OF money has not been fully
explained. but it is generally accepted as fact
nevertheless This city and county also have
need for more funds. There is an intense feeling
that this additional revenue should not come from
real property. Such property pays heavy taxes
now and any advance would mean more tax
upon the renters Of property. The other forms
Of wealth that have been thought of as proper
subjects for taxation are the public service cor
pofatons. They control valuable franchises !;
they have business of monopolistic nature
which grows more valuable as the city and county
expand. That they should be taxed for the sup
port OF the city under these circumstances has
been felt just and proper. 1t is even acknowl-
edged by the representatives of the corporations
themselves
Several bills taxing them have been introduced
in the Legislature 1t is doubtful, from present
indications, whether they will be passed But
should the Legislature be so recreant OF the peo
pies wishes it may be accepted that a Legisla
ture will be chosen which will give the people tn,
relief they demand in the way of equitable tax
alton. The problem, then, that eonfronts tn,
Republican party and which its leaders shoul'
consider, is whether the party is to be committee
at Dover for or against the taxing Of the pub
service corporations Should the members il
control there line up against the plans OF jus
taxation they will shoulder grave political re
sponsibility and they will have TO answer fo
cir misconduct 10 their constituents