Evening journal., 1916-07-27
TAX AUTOS FOR
SCHOOL PURPOSES
President of Milford School
Board Answers Criticism
of Residents
BELIEVES TAX
IS JUSTIFIED

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL. |
MILFORD, Del. July 27.--At a re-
cent meeting of the Board Of Educa-
tion of Milford a resolution was
passed which provided for the taxing
Of automobiles in the school district
of Milford for school purposes Since
IL has become generally known that
the new tax was levied a proportion
of automobile owners are up in arms
over the matter. So great has be-
come the storm OF protest from some
quarters that George B. Hynson pres
ident of the local Board of Educa-
ton, has given out a statement which
he hopes will straighten the matter
out A majority Of the citizens are
probably behind the board in its ac-
ton Mr. Hynsons statement fol-
lows:
"As the Board Of Education has de-
cided to place a small tax on auto
mobiles for school purposes. it seems
appropriate to state the reasons for
their decision and to explain several
points in connection Herewith.
"ln the first place the board is
charged with maintenance of the
schools. The curriculum is specified
by the State Board of Education TO
maintain the standard required IL is
necessary to employ competent teach
ers, a principal and a janitor. Then
we have to provide new books and
make repairs At the present time
we are installing q new. boiler in the
old school building, because the old
boiler was inadequate and was pro-
nounced dangerous.
Last year we were obliged to build
two new rooms. This became neces-
sary because as many as sixty pu-
pills were herded IN one small rooI>
untier one teacher. their health en-
dangered and efficiency impossible.
So serious was the condition that
some of the educational authorities
warned us that unless we relieved
this condition our dividend might be
withheld, The new building was
erected and had to be paid for; and
besides. all the buildings required re-
pairs and painting. In addition TO
this there is a bonded Indebtedness
contracted when the school buildings
were erected. of which only $4,000
has been paid, leaving a balance OF
$23 600 This is secured by the prop
erty of the people. The annual inter
est on these bonds constitutes quit
a burden and II must be met.
"This gives some idea OF the obi
cations resting upon the board. Thre
years ago the members determined Z
take up a bond for $1,000 each year
This was done for two years, whel
II was no longer possible. on accoun
OF extraordinary expenses. In look
ing the ground over we felt that The
per capita tax was as high as II
should be and that the tax on real
estate and personal property should
not be increased. But there was q
class Of personal property that had
hitherto not been assessed. That was
automobiles We learned that Dover
Newark and other towns require a
tax on motor cars, and we submitted
the question to our attorney, Mr.
Ridgely as TO whether such an as
sessment is legal. He replied in the
Affirmative citing a case decided by
the Superior Court Of this State. This
decision was in q suit against the
Board of Education OF the town OF
Newark when that body first assess
ed automobiles.
''In view OF this decision II is
question whether the board woult
have the right 10 exempt automobiles
If the question were raised, Il ma,
be doubted whether we could compe
a man to pay a tax on his hors
while we exempted another mans an
tomobile.
But as to the justice Of the tar
there is some line OF argumen
against paying any sort of tax. In
deed many will support the proposi
ton that all taxes are robbery. Bu
as a practical question of raising rev
enue, why should the man who own
a horse pay from three TO FIVE dollar
tax and the man who owns q moto
car pay nothing? And why should III
widow who owns a COW, and sells
little milk to her neighbors, as
source of income, pay a tax on th
COW, while the cars that thunder pas
her door pay nothing? Why shoul
a man who has three or four horse
10 hire for livery pay SIS TO SIS ia,
while another man who does a
equal business with a jitney goe
scott-free? Or why should the ma
with a pair Of mules. which he use
for hauling his only source OF incom
pay $500 tax. while another with
motor truck that will haul five time
as much is exempt? And why shoul
another man who now pays SIS Ia,
who sells his horses and buys mote
cars. cease to contribute his part I,
ward the maintenance of the schools
But It is argued that the autom,
nles already have to pay a State IA
That may be true, but that doesr
help the schools any. Besides. a
other property, real and person;