Evening journal., 1916-07-17
WILL ASK SUPPORT
Of senator DUPONT
Delegation Will Confer With
Him in Regard 10 Unjust
Tax on Explosives
MASS MEETING TO BE
HELD TUESDAY NIGHT

Much interest IS DelnB MANIFESTED,
not only by stockholders of the K. l..
DUPONT de Nemours and Company,
but the citizens OF Wilmington in gem
eral, in the meeting that has been
called by special committee named
by the Chamber OF Commerce TO pro-
test against the revenue bill recently
passed by the House and now in the
United States Senate, that would place
what is generally believed TO be an
unjust tax on the DUPONT company
earnings. This meeting will be held
tomorrow night in the rooms of the
City Club and large crowd is looked
for.
Feeling that this proposed tax on
explosive companies is in every par
ticular unfair, the Chamber of Com
merce is arranging TO make a hard
nght to have that section amended. A
delegation will go TO Washington on
Tuesday, and will be received by SEN
ator Henry A. DUPONT at 3 o'clock
that afternoon, when they will ask
Tor his support in opposition TO the
neaVy tax on explosive companies.
AS a result Of the conference a dele
cation had with Senator Willard
Salisbury on Saturday. the latter has
written the following letter to Sena-
tor simmons, chairman Of the finance
committee Of the Senate, which COM
mittee has the bill, and also enclosed
copy of the letter to Senator Stone.
chairman Of subcommittee that has
In charge this particular part of the
revenue bill:
Tulry tx lo1a
Hon. F. NJ. Simmons,
United States Senate,
Washington, d. G.
Dear Senator; A great many of m,
constituents of Delaware are interested
IN the proposed tax on explosives car
ried in the new revenue bill, more inter
estated, in fact, than in any other mat
ter which has come before Congress. ane
there is a general feeling in this com
munity that great injustice will b,
done should this bill be passed bv Con
gress without amendment.
arrived home last night. ,havin,
been told by a physician in Washington
20 get out Of the heat there, and | hav
had continuous stream Of protestant
on this subject from the time ] reache,
town until this moment / agree witt
them that the bill will work a great in
justice to persons who are engaged il
or are stockholders interested in tn
manufacture Of explosives In the cas-
Of the largest company, have been toll
that the tax would take approximate,
sixty per cent. of the profits of the com
pany, leaving only forty per cent. to b
divided among the stockholders as thei
snare o. the business. which they har
- - Il.
at least has brought this country TO
condition of comparative preparedness
which seems 20 be the object Of tn
taxation provided for in this whole bill
/ am told that in view Of the lessenin
demand for explosives abroad the resul
OF this bill viii be the abandonment O
some Of the factories in which our pee
pie are particularly interested, thus dc
priving thousands Of men of prOtitabl
employment, just in proportion as tn
English and French governments IL
crease their own manufacture, and
this connection 1 call your attention [
the statement Of Lloyd George, minist'
of Munitions in England, that they al
now making comparatively as muC
munition in a week as they expendt
during the whole Of the great dri'
started by the Allies in September
last year, and they are as yet, only pr
during about one-third of their possib
output in the factories which they ha'
prepared to use in extending this wor
You will see how the shipments fro
this country Of those munitions of W
in which our people are interested "
decrease if this statement, which l pI
sumo is correct, is even comparative
true. and so far as / heard any EXPIRE
sion here, those who are interested
the powder companies, and there are
number of these companies having hea
quarters here, make no objection to Ia
ing a fair proportion of taxation to ?
this country in a condition of defen
They do object, however, to being p,
allied in comparison with other persc
who have made profits on war contra
and spreading the taxation over
whole field Of those who have made
traordinary profits would, of cour
enable Congress to raise a sufficil
amount of money by reasonable taXati
on all such people, rather than penal
ing one kind of manufacture.
They will desire, and I have advise
that a committee of the stockholde
Of these companies shall visit Was
ington and present their views on Il
subject to your committee or a su
committee having charge of the mi
ter. l shall not personally be able
be In Washington for a week. TIL
propose holding a meeting Of the
stockholders on next Tuesday wh
they will appoint a committee to vi
Washington and / shall hope to p
sent the representatives Of these p
pie to you. may say that there is
community anywhere which is m'
interested in one particular thing II
the people OF Wilmington are in
manufacture of explosives.
To give you an idea of how ext
sive this is, 1 may say there are so
thirteen hundred persons in this st
who are stockholders in one of the
plosive companies, and certainly
least one thousand of the thirt
hundred stockholders have not
slightest connection with the mana
ment Of the companies of which I
are stockholders.
This shows you what the col
tions are and the feeling is practici
universal that they are being fined
penalized while other persons '
have shared equally in profits aris
from similar manufacture, and wi
profits have been made out of exist
conditions, which are just as gr
and in some cases greater esq
their fair share of taxation.
I want to ask that these cons'
ents Of mine shall have full and
hearing on the subject. both by
sub-committe and by your com