Evening journal., 1912-05-09

counts with those councmen who betray them and
their interests.
The idea of pledgng the citys faith and credit to
build system of magnificent bouleyards and streets
through the untaxed and speculative lands Of group
OF rich and monoy-seeking tax-dodgers and leaving
unpaved and uncared-for miles Of through high
and dry property that is taxed TO the limit and on
which taxes have been paid for years, is out
rageous that it bears its face its condemna-
ton We take it that there in Wilmington today
thousands of men, women and children who carry on
their in the shape Of mud full evidence Of the
fact that although taxpayers they have been unable
get City Council to supply the funds needed to grade
or pave the streets in which they live. Then if that
and il is true, think of the ourageousness oi
this proposition 10 permit those taxpayers continue
to trudge ankle-deep through the mud of unpayed
streets. while City Councmen planning TO give
magnificent street system to the taxdodgers who own
Cherry Island marsh Is there any political issue in
. that? Not all Republicans and Democrats Single
Takers and Socialists and men of all shades of poll
tical belief who taxpayers have plumber through
that mud. And. than that their wives and child
have TO do It. Think OF the enormity Of such
proposition.
Your Councimen may try TO tell you that the de-
voopmon of that marsh boulevard and of that
system Of marsh streets ranging in width from 100
to 60 feet will not for years. Take no stock IN
such assurances II the Wilmington Terminal Company
and it's allies have our City Councilmen so hypnotized
on the main exploitation proposition that they permit
themselves to be roped. thrown. tied and branded
there need be no fear that they win not get the money
for the building OF that marsh boulevard and street
system when they it. That is part of the game
But aside from that, whenever il comes, the money
must be obtained either by direct taxation or by tho
issue of city bonds for street improvement Suppose
these Counoimon to avoid direct tax, resort to bond
issue Is that any better for the taxpayers? Not at
all Il simply prolongs the agony of having to supply
from their pockets the money needed TO assist these
taxdodging marsh-land owners in getting rich, Tho
taxpayers would have pay the interest charges Oh
those bonds issued in the Of the taxpayers Tor
the benefit of the tax-dodgers The tax payers also
would have to pay the city treasury enough money
each year to provide sinking fund for the amortza-
ton Of those bonds issued for the benefit of tax
dodgers That is the reply any taxpayer should make
to the pleas Of the friends of the taxdodgers no mat
ter whether those friends be City Councmen or per-
sons in unofficial life.
The taxpayer should notice on his Councii-
man now that there must be no expenditure OF CITY
money for the benefit Of taxdodgers until the needs
of the taxpayers have been supplied matter what
those needs may be- The time for action is now and
not when this thing has been iammed through and the
city is bound by IT,
II is our earnest hope that the City Councimen VIII
not descredit themselves tonight by ammins this eX.
ploation proposition through It is earnest hope
that they will show by their action that they have more
interest in the taxpayers than they have in the tax
dodgers and that they rather would have the tax
payers of our city put their political records the
seal Of approval than the seal Of public discredt