Evening journal., 1911-12-13
DISCUSS
TAX METHODS
Mr. HiIlsS and Mr. Singleton
Think Scientific Business
Principles Should be Applied
ADVANCE MODERN IDEAS
ON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT


tax methods of the city of Wilmington
at last nights meeting of the Social
Service Club at Hanna's Cafe. Mr..
Hilles said until his appointment a
few years ago by Former Governor
Preston Lea on the newly constituted
State Revenue and Taxation Commis-
sion. he in common with the majority
of people had given little attention
to the subject of taxation beyond OBJ
jecting to its excessive amount. Mr..
: Hilles continued:
"The only object of municipal taxa
tion should be to raise equitably
sufficient funds for the wise and
economical administration of govern
ment. The unnecessary numbers of
officials and the constant changes in
the personnel of departments empha-
SINE the fact that we have wandered
very far away from wise and econom-
: icaI business methods OF administra-
ton.
Il asked a well-informed man to-
dav what it cost to collect the $780,
900 of city taxes, He said, Nobody
knows. The two assessors and col
- lectors are paid salaries of $500 each.
About one-half of the taxes Is paid
in July and August. In July there is
a per cent. discount allowed. In
August, the face of the bill is
charged and on the receipt of these
two months the collectors gets no
commission.
D., After that I understand he re-
ceives per cent. of the amount with
some additional compensation which
is allowed it looks as If it costs about
$4,000 per year to collect the annual
tax and it could easily be done for
$4,000, and the assessment books
and the whole Office kept up in trst
rate condition.
Assessors and collectors should be
appointed and not elected and the
tenure Of Office should not be disturb
ed as long as their duties were faith
> fully and satisfactorily discharged.
This makes a radical change from
our inherited principle that public
offices should be filled by election
trusting to the voters 10 select COM
petent men. 1t is hardly necessary
.. 20 say that an assessor who owes MS
lob to the votes of his friends at an
election could not act with absolute
? impartiality.
"Parties there must and ought 70
be. but matters of local interest tol
> the legislative governing today the Sc
lection of men afford ample oppor-
tunity for choice and an expression
= of opinion at the polls.
For our city. l believe Richaro
: Childs' suggestion of a legislative
bodv of seven or nine men elected
mostly at large in combination witr
Lawson Purdy's system of assessment
and collection of taxes offers a gooC
and reasonable method TO adopt.
Fair Assessment Needed.
"A fair assessment of real property
is at the very basis of all municipa
taxation and assessors will neve'
measure up 20 a high standard O.
- business efficiency or equitably con
duct this department if thsr posi-
: tions depend upon securing mayor
If vof votes at an election.
The head of the department OF as
: sassment and collection of taxes woult
be we'll paid, salaried man Of goo'
Judgment and the clerical positions
, under him could be readily filled VIII
icompetent men at reasonable salaries
"The elected mayor and counel
would decide upon the several POI
icvs of all business but should not d.
administrators or in active charse o
,evecutive departments. Their salaries
of course would not be necessarily
large. .,o. ~, th
lmavor and council the manager
snnerintendent would appoint al
lheads of departments and minor Oh
lfcials. without regard to their pollli
cal affiliations and solely on accouh
pf business competency.
'The very important positions OF as
=. SCISSORS and collectors of city take
Nould be filled by men whose tenur
of office would be permanent as ION
rs thew discharged their duties talth
fully =, .,,ooossfu
municipal government to me AT
= these: a,oo,ion
having the names only Oh cahui a,'.
for mayor and small lesisla'se ~
-. eouncil or board of directors Voteu 10
mostly at large. hns,nes
manager responsible 10 1ills oouiio. ~.
"Third-Under this manager az
Hpointed, heads of departments aI
minor officials, subject to remo9al ~
good cause, but not otherwise.
Need Scientific solution: 3.
Mr. Singleton said in part
scientific solution Of the tax problel
wonld be the one advertisement thi
would pour into Wilmington tide
= men and of money that would insuI
her mower and influence and max
her what of right she ought TO D
\ the Oueen of the Delaware. He wn
advocates expediency as the test
~ wise taxation is as antiquated as u
man who fears to go into nous
lighted by gas, lest it blow up. Whi
then shall we recommend to the chal
ter commission in this matter OF tal
alton? Let us recommend the mo-
- advanced, the most successful syste
that we can learn OF. Let US sugsS
that they are not to recommend u
perpetuation of any ancient syste
.. unless 1t is a good one that they al
to lend no prestige to any evil pra
tice because it is a practice. Let
recommend that they seize the oppo
tunity to make Wilmington the be
advertised city on the Atlantic Goa
by incorporating into their propose
charter the wise. just and progressi'
tax laws that have passed the exper
mental stage on the Pacific Coast
vancouver began by exampting
per cent. of the value of improve
ments from taxation. That worke
so we'll that so per cent. were exemp
ed Then they exempted 75 per cent
and for two wears. | think il is the