Evening journal., 1916-10-20
TAX Payers LEAGUE
BACK TO DISCUSSION
Committee on Laws Reports
That Bills Will be Pre-
Sented TO Legislature
INQUIRE ABOUT
WATER RATES

AT a meeting Of the Taxpayers
League last night three important
resolutions were adopted. All were
passed without dissenting vote. The
nrst resolution was as follows:
whereas, The taxes Of the city of
wilmington have been increased by
various means until they are burden
some upon the property owner. and
whereas, There is every prospect
OF their being increased to cover in
ethclency and to create unearned in
creased real estate value in favored
districts. and,
Whereas, The Constitution of the
State of Delaware provides, All taxes
snail be uniform upon the same class
or subjects within the territorial
limits OF the authority levying the
tax and
Whereas, The street railway lines.
gas mains, electric light poles and
J wires, telephone poles and wires.
owned and controlled by public util-
ity corporations, are taxed by a fixed
amount set by the State Legislature,
while other forms of real estate are
left TO the discretion and judgment Of
a board OF assessment; therefore, be
| Il
Resolved, That the Taxpayers
League considers this a dscrimina-
ton against the poor taxpayers Of
Wilmington and authorizes and di-
reefs the officers of the league to con-
suit with counsel in an endeavor to
remedy this injustice"
The second resolution was
Whereas, Members of the Taxpay-
ers' League have been informed that
the City Council have obligated them
selves TO pay certain expenses from
the taxes Of the city to cover obliga-
tons incurred by the Chamber Of
Commerce; therefore, be it
Resolved. That the Taxpayers
League request the City Council TO
furnish a statement of the amounts ad-
vanced to the Chamber of Commerce
or expended for it upon its activities"
The other resolution was:
Whereas. There has been consider
able discussion recently relating to
the improper use of automobiles
owned by this county, and according
to the published account OF the audit
Of the books of the comptroller of New
Castle county. there is no mention
made Of the cost of automobiles and
their maintenance. and there has been
several automobiles purchased by the
Levy Court for the use of some of the
officials and employees
There, be it resolved, By the Tax
payers League, that we believe that
il would be to the best interest Of all
taxpayers OF New Castle county to
know the price paid for each auto
mobile. for whom il was bought, and
the cost per month for maintenance.
We. therefore. request in the future
that every person using an automobile
belonging to, or bought by New Cas-
tie county. be requested to give a writ
ten account Of the number of miles
month. and the upkeep of the same,
and
BE il further resolved. That we
also request that every automobile be
lettered on each side and IN the rear
designating the department to which
it belongs"
Dr. Bastian presided at the meeting.
The chairman of the committee on
laws stated that he had several bills
ready for presentation at the next
session of the Legislature.
The president called the attention
or the meeting TO resolution passed
by the Hockessin Grange recently,
and after some discussion il was
voted to cooperate with the grange to
secure legislation that would abolish
the Levy Court
The secretary was instructed to
write to the grange, stating the above
and asking their cooperation in the
legislature on bills that will benefit
the taxpayers of Wilmington and the
county alike. He was also instructed
to communicate with the Water De-
partment and inquire how much less
the water rate would be for the ensu-
ing year. as the city was bonded for a
large amount TO put in meters in
every house in the city in the hope
of stopping waste.
J. Forbes Dixon, OF Chicago. a pub
lie accountant. addressed the league
on work done by similar bodies in
other cities. At the next meeting of
the league the Board of Education
will be under discussion.