Evening journal., 1913-09-17
AGREE THAT
TAX SYSTEM !
IS UNEQUAL
Council President Shoots Holes
Into Method That Soon
VIII Be Displaced
REFERENDUM LEAGUE
HEARS THE DISCUSSION

That the present system Of ASSESS
ment now in vogue in this city is
inadequadate. inefficient and unequal.
permits gross inequalities and should
be radically changed, is the opinion
Of William p. White. president OF City
Council, as expressed in his dis
course before the Referendum League
in Pythian Castle last night.
Mr. White. who addressed the meet
Ing at the invitation OF the league
officers. gave a thorough explanation
of the present system OF city assess
ment and also the working of tho
Somers and the Purdy system.
Owing TO another engagement
which he was compelled to keep later
in the evening. Mr. White was COM
PEELED to make his statement brief.
| but In such a clear, interesting man
ner that not person in the large
audience could fail to understand
him.
The Rev George Henry Dole pre-
sided at the meeting introducing Mr..
White with q few complimentary re-
marks, stating that the president OF
Council is too we'll known TO need
any introduction
81 am glad to see there is one lady
present" began Mr.. White, "and sorry
there are not more They hold an
important place in the municipal
government and should display a
livelier interest In municipal affair"
Mr.. White said that what he intend
cd 10 say would be in the nature OF
an informal talk. in which he would
attempt to explain to those who we're
not as familiar as he might be With
the present system of assessment.
: and compare II with the modern sys-
! TENS which have been suggested. He
+ explained that the present system
3 comprised a board of assessment,
revision and appeal, which consists
: of the president OF Council. chair
man of the finance committee OF
Council and the building inspector
This is certainly not a very good
. combination TO make an assessment for
Wilmington Mr.. White declared.
e "Ihe building Inspector end of il may
be all right as he is qualified for the
work, but as for the chairman of th'
finance committee and the president Of
lCiiy Council land ! might be allowed e
speak for tho president of Comcill the'
Board of Assessment. Revision and Ap
/ 'peals. These members should be Sc
loctod especially for their qualification
10 assess real estate in Wilmington"
Objects to Elected Assessors
Mr. White declared that the present
T. system of electing assessors, one in the
q northern district and one in the south
ern district. was also wrong. and re
, marked that all modern systems Of as
e sessment do away with thc election oi
j, assessors lie declared that when the
assessors are elected politics pay an i'm
portant part IN their assessments. as the
assessors are likely to play fayortes IA
e continue IN power. Mr.. White explained
how the assessment books by the asses.
.ors after which the hooks are submit.
=, ted 10 the Board of Assessment Re,is
ion and Appeals not later than the ID
of January. when IL sits as a board OF
J, revision.
o The books are then turned back 20 th'
A assessors. and from April ] 10 April l.
4 are open TO the public by the Board o
: Appeals.
"The present system. we an agree. i
inadequate, certainly inefficient, aud un
I, equal" he declared. "and there are op
portunities for gross inequalities q
creep in az present Unless Mr.. a know
of his ncighbor's assessment made high
Ter or lower. nothing is said about it,
Z Mr. White declared that even in case
e, where an assessment j. lowered IL
g done only in the one instance.
5 "rhey don't as rule 90 down tn
4 whole block bringing the other assess
& ments down accordingly
d Mr. White stated that this matte
l. of unjust assessments has caused s.
Continued on Page Two.