Evening journal., 1911-01-20
SOUNDS A NOTE
OF WARNING
Owner Of Small Property
Thinks That Taxes Are
High Enough
WRITES ABOUT VARIOUS
PLANS FOR HIGHER PAY


Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
was much interested last night to
read OF the statement in THE JOUR-
NAL that the policemen of the city are
TO ask City Council or the Legislature
for an increase in wages. / read an
other interesting statement made by
his Honor, Mayor Spruance, advocat-
ing municipal hospital for the city.
A few days ago / read that the school
teachers are preparing to lay siege
upon the city treasury for increased
salaries, and on top of it a statement
that the establishing of paid fire de-
partment is being urged, which would
/ involve big outlay on the part Of
the city.
AS the owner of a small property
which | thing is now burdened a
plenty with taxes, would like to ask,
Where is this recklessness to end ?''
Certainly the city needs a guardian
over its treasury more than it ever did
before. Wilmington is under enough
of taxation stress at present with
out having many other burdens, par
ticularly many that could be avoided,
II not unnecessary, in some instances,
piled upon the property owners.
MuHclpdl HOSplthl.
Is a municipal hospital. with the
very large outlay of money by the city,
necessary when an emergency hospital
J is located at Farnhurst at present and
it has been found large enough to ac-
oommodate all demands that have been
made upon it. Can the city force per-
sons suffering with contagious dis
eases to go to or to be taken against
their will to a hospital?
Where is the money coming from
to build such a city hospital? Out of
the treaury? No. for it isn't there.
| Bond issues probably Hasn't the city
issued nearly enough bonds now
/ Somebody has to pay them back.
How about that salary increase be-
( ing agitated for the school teachers
and for the policemen? 1t will be diff
! hculr to convince many persons that
/ the teachers and policemen are not
/ getting enough pay, particularly under
| the pinched financial condition con-
! fronting the city. If the present police
! men are not satisfied with the wages
! they are receiving, am pretty sure
I that there viii be many patriots will.
ing TO take their places, and at ever
! lower wages than are being paid now
I
/ for appointment as policemen even un-
der the schedule of wages that prevail.
ed before the increase was made few
years ago.
Pay OF Teachers.
And the same can be said of the
school teachers.
As to the paid fire department
scheme. hasn't the city been well safe
guarded by the efficient volunteer de
partment, to maintain which. the citS
Is now putting up many thousands o
dollars. Let City Council provide SOM
method Of strict discipline I'm tn
ire department. which may or may no
be necessary by giving more pOwei
to the fire department chiefs and vii
mington can advance no reasonable
argument for a paid department.
Another thought ! see thar the po
licemen and teachers may appeal t,
the Legislature to aid them in gettinl
a salary Increase If Council cannO
provide it, We have had much talk o
a home rule charter for Wilmington
and home rule powers. Why not dis
courage this going to the Legislature
when Council or the Police Commits
sion, or the Board OF Education ma.
have power to deal with the wage in
crease question. Il looks like a shift
ing Of responsibility to where Il doe
not belong.
I think Wilmington has sane ant
sensible set of members of the Legis
lature. as they have indicated by thei
attitude toward the electric franchis
and by their willingness to hear fror
the people generally, and they certain
~ will keep an eye out for any legis
lation that may tend to send the city
tax rate sOaring-and that's what wi
happen if We don't look out With
much higher tax rate Wilmington Gel
tainly Will not progress, and IL W
don't look out it will be going back
ward. | am not a pessimist, but al