Evening journal., 1909-09-10
DELEGATES REPORT ABOUT
MONTREAL CONVENTION

holdings at this time unimproved. had. in
the past. paid for other persons improve
ments, aud would in the future, pay for
their own, as wel as the improvements
as others As comparison. Kansas city
or other cities having the assessment OF
special improvements against benefited
property, the people Of Wilmington should
feel that their affairs arc at least econ
omcally managed, When all the public
improvements arc made out OF the general
fund on the tax rate OF Y.5o. as against
cities having tax rates ranging from two
20 three dollars and where every con-
ceiyable source Of revenue is resorted TO-
The subject OF taxing an encroachment
upon the streets and sidewalks was dis
cussed. and it was shown that where the
title Of the street bed from building line
to building line was vested In the city, the
CITY had the right 10 tax every encroach-
ment upon the street. whether 1t be bay
windows, areawsy or subway The city
Of Baltimore also stands out in this re-
spect. and the mayor Of that city admit
ted that they taxed everything that could
possibly be considered a privilege or usage
OF the street
Real estate values arc almost an auto
matte guide TO the wisdom or folly OF
municipal improvements. II streets and
paving and lighting arc extended with a
fair measure Of foresight and common
sense, the increased values win appear at
once, and the taxes will come in with
which TO finance the projects. II, on the
other hand foolish schemes are carried
through values will not rise. It IS tho
height Of folly TO seek TO derive revenue
from commerce or Industry 10 pay ox-
penses that do not justify themselves by
the increase In taxable real estate To do
this is simply 10 further dcpress real os-
tate values. and in the end TO force a more
1 rigid economy than would have been re-
quirod had the warning signal OF station
airy land values been needed.
Vehicle and Wheel Tex.
number OF cities represented at the
convention through their delegates. made
requests regarding what is known as tho
vehicle or wheel tax. complaining that
after they had improved their streets. how
best 10 derive a revenue that would main
tain them A number Of cities have this
taN. the most prominent among them. tho
city of Baltimore, and it may be here
stated that the mayor Of Baltimore ad-
miited That his city made practice OF
taxing everything that could possibly be
taxed. A number OF cities have taxed
automobiles very heavily. and they ad-
mitted that the state taxed the automo-
bilcs the county taxed them. and also
their cities taxed them. There is one
feature, however. in connection with the
discussion Of vehicle or wheel tax, which
your committee feels should be inyestlgat-
ed 10y this Council, and that is. tho wagons
from other cities paying no license III
has been maintained that such wagons
referring mainly to the Philadelphia de-
paltmont store wagons. could not be taxed
under the Interstate Commerce Law. but
your committee feels that this Council
should take this subject up. and ascertain
| whether OF not a reasonable license would
not hold good under tho police power OF
this city. Railways and other corporations
engaged In Interstate commerce, pay a
.separato tax in different states and some
times in different cities through which
they pass. aud this being true. your COM
nhtteo believes that fair license for the
privilege Of doing business. wonld stand
under the law. The city Of indianapolis,
tAANtH NN We" hNhN'h NN iNiAI HfAtkHAAf Aac
a vehicle or wheel tax. which has been
tested by the Supreme Court, and we
recommend that copies Of this ordinance
be secured for the Law Comittee OF this
Council.
A number OF cities have had difficulty
throughout the United States by reason
Of lnjunctions being secured against them.
prohibiting them from paving with ma
terials used by the Warren Brothers.
which is claimed as an infringement upon
their patents. Milwaukee has been suc-
cessful in avoiding these iniunctions by
reason OF their using the term "tarred-
maoadam," and compelling the contractor
TO assume the responsibility.
/ Commission Form Of Government.
As is usual at all conventions, the dis
cussion frequently arose as to which was
the better form, the Commission Govern
mont or the old MAYOR and Council with
departments. similar to our own city The
government of the city Of Galveston.
which is now being held up as an example
Of the efficiency OF Commission Govern
ment was reviewed. but II Is now being
realized that the Commission form OF
Government IN Galveston was created at
tho time Of the disastrous food and
naturally brought forth few mon who