Evening journal., 1911-04-28
TALK ABOUT
The TAX RATE
William P. Bancroft Urges
That City Council In
crease II
SOME MEMBERS ARE
OPPOSED TO ADVANCE

probably from the Union National
Bank, the active bank for city funds.
After the measure was passed it
was referred to the Mayor for his ap-
proval and recess taken for if-
teen minutes in order that the ordi-
nance might be taken to him for his
signature. In this fifteen minutes
much was said relative to the revenue
of the city and what 1t requires to
run the administration each year.
The discussion was started by Will
liam p. Bancroft, who read a state
ment on the subject and when he fin
ished he said he hoped Council would
see the necessity of increasing the
tax rate.
Il was apparent that from the line
of discussion that followed that the
Councilmen are opposed to an in
crease in the tax rate, some of them
expressing the belief that the rate
of S2.15 for city and county taxs, in
Wilmington was high enough. and
expressed the opinion that it was up
to the Legislature to provide the city
with additional revenue.
Speaking along this line Council
man McGovern, of the Eleventh ward,
said that so per cent, of the taxes
pand into the State and county funds
is gathered in Wilmington, yet the
Legislature has failed to provide the
revenue needed ia. properly run the
government of this city.
He said that the only thing to do
was to go on borrowing money for
improvements. as was now being
done, until the burden becomes so
heavy that the Legislature will have
TO do something. He for one said he
would never vote for an increase in
the tax rate as he did not think it
was Just to the owners Of real es-
tate
Urged Increased Rate.
Mr.. Bancroft replied that he thought
IL would be the proper thing to do to
raise the tax rate.
President of Council Banning said
that one of the things necessary TO
his mind was a proper assessment
Of the real estate of the city and he
thought this would have to be done
sooner or later. committee being
appointed for the purpose, as he ad-
vocated at the beginning of his term.
Councilman Dempsey also opposed
an increase in the tax rate He called
attention to the agitation for new
city charter. What we want" he
said. "is not a new city charter. but
more revenue and new city charter
will not give US that" He didn't
think one was needed, as the present
charter was good enough only that
il WAS overloaded by many amend
ments tackled onto il by the Legisla
ture when persons would go to that
body for something Council would
not give them,
Mr.. Dempsey said it seemed that
there we're but two things certain
people wanted to get at, and that was
the CITY Council and the tax Office.
He said that Wilmington had the most
economical government of any city in
the United States and that it was
getting its taxes collected cheaper
than any city in the country. and at
a cost one-half that of the county.
Councilman Bilderback also eX-
pressed himself against an increase
and asked Mr.. Bancroft what he
would do If all the departments. not
the Park Commission alone, would
ask to have several cents tackled
onto the present tax rate for i'm
provements.
Mr.. Bancroft said that twenty cents
could be added and that would only
be q street car ride a week.
Loan Ordinance Received.
At this juncture the loan ordinance
was received by President Banning,
with the Mayors. signature, and 1t
was declared a law of the city.
Mr. Kane, chairman of the finance
committee. then offered a resolution
giving the finance committee the au-
tbority to negotiate the loan in ac-
cordance with the ordinance.
Both the ordinance and the .resolu-
ton received the unanimous vote of
Council
Previous to action on these matters
Mr.. Kane moved that 100000 be
transferred from the miscellaneous
account to the loan appropriation &c
meet bonds coming due. other trans
fers for smaller amounts we're made.
The balance in bank according 10
Treasurer's Ross report is $2S,SlS.fz'
Mr.. B8ncrOft's Letter.
Hr. Bancroft letter follows:
wish to say a few words IN re-
gard TO a subject that is now before
members of Council. I would like
TO encourage Npu " hiVNAuN 49,
for the needs of the community b.
raising the tax rate. The city is sur
fering in many ways because the rev
enue is insufficient
Perhaps il is best for me to refel
only to the matter Of the care of ant
Improvement of park and playground
lands. The law directs that the Cit
Council shall annually appropriate
such sum as IL shall deem necessar,
and expedient for the Improvement
uanagement and care of parks. Thl
amount appropriated last year, SIS,
600. was only sufficient for the car'
and management Of the grounds in
very skimped and insufficient man
ner. There was practically nothin:
provided for improvements.
If the appropriation had been so,
600 larger the money could have beer
obtained by an increase Of two cents
on a hundred dollars in the tax rate
On a house assessed at one thousand
dollars this would. allowing the usua
discount, have added about nineteeI
cents to the taxes.-an amount per
haps sufficient to pay for one trolle,
ride q year for each person in sucl
a house, or one pound of cheap CANDY
for the family. 7 say nothing abou
tobacco Would an inhabitant o
Wilmington ordinarily spend nine
teen cents for himself in manner tina
would do him as much good as $1,000
spent on parks and playground
would.
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