Evening journal., 1913-02-10
Francis DUPONT Sends Earnest Tax Plea the Delaware Legislature

progress of the last century would
have beer made.
The policy our nation has adopted
has been very different from this. The
sales of public lands to raise revenues
have been a definite recognition Of the
principle of taxation which / have
pointed out.
The money paid has been a COM
pensatlon to the people of the United
States for giving exclusive possession
of the land Thus public service has
been made possible without burden
ing the active buiness of the country
with taxation as much as would have
otherwise been necessary, and the pur-
chase price charged has slightly de-
TERED spectators from holding it out
of use.
"Of course, I am aware that the
original purchase price is no compen-
sation to future generations as popu-
lation increases. and that the gross
est abuses have obtained. For ex-
ample, some of the western railroad
companies have received, in addition
to their rights of way. grants greater
than the entire territory of some Eu-
ropean nations.
despite all this, the slight recogni-
milton of the principle of taxation OF
privilege which appeared in our pub
lie land policy and retaining of some
taxes on the value of land, is the
one thing which has enabled a con-
siderable number of men to rise
above the condition of servants to a
privileged class. The market result
ing from the demands of these men
has made the great advances, of
which we are so justly proud, finan-
cially possible
THE taxing of privilege is not a
/ question of trying some new scheme.
/ II is a question of which way we are
| TO go. If we allow the taxes to be
lifted from land holding by such
| schemes as the tariff, the poll tax
and the tax on industry, we will sure
! ly drift back in the way | have point
ed out to the condition of society con-
sisting in q landed aristocracy who
think themselves too good to work
and a miserable class who do not
have enough to eat.
IF. on the other hand, we face the
situation squarely. recognize land
speculation for what it is-a gross
misuse of the power of government
and abolish it by taxation, which
falls only upon privilege. we will, in
proportion as we do this. realize that
condition of prosperity in which there
would be no more reason for a man
willing to do his part in the worlds
work TO be without plenty Of money.
than for a guest at a plentiful ban
quet to be without food"
Mr.. DUPONT has sent the following
letter TO the members of the House
Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
Wilmington, Feb. 8. 1913
"Messrs. Records. Cooper, Reynolds,
Stoeckel, Bradford, King. Lingo.
Members of Committee on Revenue
and Taxation.
Gentlemen: After having carefully
examined the report of the Commis-
sion on Taxation, ! notice that while
the report has covered this subject
very well as regards past precedent
and as regards what is best under
present Constitutional limitations,
nevertheless, I consider that so i'm
portant a question as taxation should
be covered from all points of view,
and since the report has not dealt
with this from the broader basis OF
how the Constitution should be alter
cd to improve the systems OF taxation,
It has seemed to me to be worth
while to send you copy Of a treatise
on Taxation. which I have prepared
and which deals with the basic prin-
ciples.
II is my belief that this will be use
full to you in considering all of ths
various bills which are before you.
Yours respectfully.
Il duDonf