Evening journal., 1911-10-12

| ODJected TO as II would require the
manufacturers to produce their books
and give information concerning their
I business which they would not want
divulged to competitors.
Mr.. Budd said he thought this could
/ be arranged so that such information
would be kept secret, adding that the
government does it.
Colonel Sparks informed those pres
ent that the commission admits its in
/ ability to make the act clear and Just
and 1t wanted light on the subject.
Mr.. Budd said that it wasn't the tax
that was bothering the manufacture
ers, but the intention of the act is
not clear to them.
Mr. Miller added that in no confer
ences held by the manufacturers was
the statement made that the latter did
/ not want TO pay the tax. 1T is our
desire to be fair in the matter, but
there is a great deal of ignorance how
/ to make up statements We haven't
had much time TO give you any light
on the subject" Mr.. Miller said.
How will you get the manufacture
ers to come, subpoena them?" asked
Colonel Sparks.
Labor Discussed.
The question of labor came UP at
this point and Mr.. Budd thought that
as labor furnished the products, the
tax should be on labor in the work of
manufacture.
One other advocate of putting tax
on the payroll was Mr.. Speakman. He
seemed to think that was the only way
out of the present difficulties.
Mr.. Miller asked Col. Sparks, as the
latter was walking across the room
whether personal property, as set
forth in the act, included typewriters
and Office furniture. Col. Sparks re-
piled that he could not speak for the
entire commission, they were there
to answer for themselves.
Il thought you could give us the
information as you have been acting
as spokesman" returned Mr.. Miller.
The question. as TO whether power
was personal property then came up
and It was explained by Philip L.
Garrett, counsel for the commission.
that manufacturers were compelled
to pay a tax on power that they man
ufacture themselves. Companies pro-
ducing power, gas, etc, he said, to
sell paid special tax for this priv
ilege.
At this point Senator A. B. Conner,
a member of the commission wanted
to know why the manufacturers never
appeared before the Legislature when
the bill was before that body Sem
ator Conner said the act was adver-
tised enough and surely the manu-
facturers knew Of it, yet no objection
was heard.
o. T. Crosby, president Of the Will
mington and Philadelphia Traction
Company and a member Of the Board
of Trade who brought up the matter
of naming a manufacturers commit
tee in the board, said the board could
do little to aid the manufacturers un-
less they aid themselves. it being diff
ficult for the board to be active II
the manufacturers show inactivity.
! Mr.. Crosby suggested that a manufac-
turers' committee be appointed TO be
made up largely of manufacturers.
Mr.. Crosby wanted to know wheth-
er the manufacturers tax had been
taken up by the Board of Trade at
the time 1t was in the Legislature
Mr.. Purdy replied that the question
had not been considered, as it never
was brought before the board, a rule
i of the organization being that sub
jects Of this nature must come TO the
attention of the board in writing.
No Evasion of Tax.
Mr.. Speakman asked If the act was
unpopular with the manufacturers,
and Mr.. Miller replied that there was
no desire on the part of any of them
to evade paying the tax.
But we do feel" joined in Mr..
Budd, that everybody should pay on
the same basis.
That's just W hat we want said MT:
Sparks. Now tell US how to do it. >"
Nobody appeared to have a solution
of the problem ready. however.
Mr.. Whiteley thought the whole law
was wrong from the beginning. He
was of the opinion that the manufac-
turers should pay tax. He claimed
that they already pay enough.
Mr.. Conner remarked that the
manufacturers should pay tax; that
the state IS compelled to keep a
standing army ready to assist the
manufacturer in case Of strife. and he
was aided in many other ways, there
fore. they should pay a just assess
ment into the state treasury.
MI. Canon remarked that the manu-
facturer Of Delaware pays less tax
than any other manufacturers in the
Union.
Mr.. Miller, at this iuncture. said the
manufacturers could not offer any
suggestions at this time and thought
more could be accomplished by taking
the matter up with a committee.
Mr.. Cannon said the commission
would be glad to meet with the manu-
facturers at any time.
It was then that Mr.. Purdy an
/, nounced that he would appoint man
= ufacturers committee shortly. It IS
b likely that anything done in the fu-
ture will not be in open meeting such
] as held last night. but with the man
2 ufacturers' committee.
Manufaci- -ers Paw Enough.
Mr. Hall, who came from Smyrna 20
attend the meeting, said as the matter
a. personal property concerned can
ners most he was interested on that
point particularly. He favored the
appointment of manufacturers COM
mittee.
John F. Neary. an attorney. asked
4 II was not the intention Of the law
- Ill