Evening journal., 1916-05-25
MAY NOT chance
THE CITY TAX RATE
Departments Seem to Stand
Little Choice of Getting
Larger Appropriations
FRIENDS OF SCHOOL
BOARD APPEAL

City Council at its session this
evening most likely will FIX the tax
rate for the coming year and at the
same time pass the appropriation or
dlnance. Members OF the finance COM
mittee Of Council held lengthy ses-
sion last night when the appropria-
tions we're considered. At the close of
the conference, the Councilmen refus-
eed to discuss what the budget would
amount to or what the tax rate would
be.
Those who were in a position to
know, however. intlmated that the tax
rate would remain the same for the
next year. which is S1.35 on the 500
assessment. Should this he true, there
will be several surprises sprung. as
all of the city departments have made
requests for larger appropriations.
As the increased assessment on real
estate brought in only $4,000 addi-
tiOnal taxes. this sum will not war
rant the increases asked for. Ihe
Board of Education alone asked for
more than 100000 increase, while the
police commissioners requested an
increase Of $4,000
The budget must be submitted at
tonights session as under the law
the appropriation budget has TO be
passed at the last meeting of Coun-
ell IN May. Previous TO the confer
ence OF the finance committee. last
night. the Council as q committee OF
the whole heard representatives OF
several organizations ask for adequate
funds for the Board Of Education.
Among the organizations represented
we're. The Chamber Of Commerce,
the Rotary Club. the New Century
Club. the Delaware Association OF
College Women and the Social Ser
vice Club The speakers. who all
urged more funds for educational pur-
poses. even II the proposed appro-
priation should necessitate a larger
tax rate. were Philip Burnet. Mrs
Fred Bach. Miss Jeannette Eckman,
Alfred u. Warner, Jr.. Mrs. Horace
II. Thayer. Jr.. and Clarence c. XII
len
The following petition. signed by
many citizens was first presented and
read by Secretary Killen Of the Cham
ber Of Commerce:
City Council. Wilmington, Del
Gentlemen: We. the undersigned
citizens of Wilmington. recognizing
the Importance Of the utmost possible
efficiency i'm the education Of the boys
and Girls OF the city. and realizing
that to produce this efficiency the
Board OF Education should have an
Increased sum Of money appropriated
leave TO urge your body. as represent
ing the city government in its legis-
iative department. 10 place in your
budget OF governmental expenditure
for the city for the coming year a
sum Of money for the use OF the
Board Of Education adequate to the
urgent demands made upon said board
bv the needs Of our school children,
even though the amount so set m
IN your budget should require an in
creasing Of your tax rate for the en-
suing year
(signed) Joseph C. lawson. W B
Megear John S. Mullin, Jr.. William
J. McCorkindale. Charles II. Smith
1r.. Philip Burnet Josiah Marvel
George W. Sparks Joseph S. Wilson
willard A. Speakman, Alfred ID. War
ner. Jr.. Harrison w. Howell. {. A
Rudolph. George A. Elliott. Henry r
Isaacs, Thomas F. Bayard. William F
Kurtz. John +. Neary. G. d. Garrett
son. William F. Metten. Joseph Ban
croft. George Gray. William T. Budd
william P. White. Jerome 3. Bell
Ezekiel Cooper George B. Miller. vii
liam G. Taylor, w. w. Knox. F. r
Mode, Caleb r. Burchenal. j. J. Sat
terthwait. David T. Marvel. S. C
Cleaver. II. r. Graham.
, At a joint meeting of representa-
tives Of committees from the Chambe
Of Commerce. Central Labor Union
Rotary Club. Social Service Club. Del
ware Association OF College Womei
and New Century Club. held May "a
1916, the foregoing petition was rea
and unanimously endorsed. and tn
representatives have hereunto ap
pended their signatures:
Chamber Of Commerce. by c. T