Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-22
DISCUSS PROPOSED,
COUNTY LEGISLATION
Members of Legislature and
OF Levy Court Confer
on Subject
NEW TAXATION
BILL PRESENTED

Proposed legislation affecting the
work OF New Castle County Levy Court
is in much clearer shape, It IS declar-
ed by members Of the General AS
sembly and OF the Levy Court, as the
/ result of O conference at the Levy
Court rooms last night, when nearly
every member OF the General Assem-
bly, from New Castle county and the
Levy Court was present Among these
was Lieutenant Governor Lewis Y.
Elliason OF New Castle.
The legislators were first enter
tanned at dinner at the Hotel DUPONT,
Levy Court Commissioners Groves,
Burns, Elliott, Shaw and Buckson
having gone 20 Dover yesterday TO
arrange the conference. other mem
bers Of tho Levy Court and County
Engineer James Wilson met the party
on the arrival here yesterday
The conference was In the nature
Of an informal talk, Chairman Fore
acre, OF the court. occupying a seat
on the floor OF the Levy Court room
with the others present and all sit
ting about and discussing the features
OF the proposed bills quietly.
Frank l.. Speakman, attorney for
tho court. who drew most OF the bills
which are 10 be presented to the Leg
islature, outlined their features. mere
ly describing the contents and eX-
planning the reasons for their prosen
tation.
About fifteen bills presented by the
Levy Court we're discussed and others
were touched upon Most Of the leg
islatOrs took the numbers OF the bills
and as a rule there appeared 10 be
little opposition to the measures as
drawn. Mr. Spealsman explained the
bills as drawn had been passed upon
Tor form and found constitutional.
House bill No. as. abolishing the Of
flee OF assessor. providing a board OF
assessors and prescribing the powers
and duties OF the board, was discussed
in considerable detail. Mr. SpeslSman
explained one difficulty with the pres
ent system OF making assessments was
the inability OF the assessors TO pre-
pare tho tax lists In the time following
their election in November and the
return made TO the Levy Court in Feb
ruary.
II was impossible. he said. for menu
bers OF the court to know what prop
critics had changed ownership. and
Il had been found on different &C.
casions that taxes had been paid on
properties for number OF years and
after they had changed hands sew
eral times the payment OF taxes being
credited to the original owner.
Representative McNabb declared no
was opposed 10 legislating out OF Of
nee anyone elected by the people. Rep
reaentative Connolly said he was OPP
posed to this on principle, but thought
n the system were wrong IL would be
better to change the system and pro-
vide scheme which would permit
more accurate assessments and also
provide means for keeping records Of
tho assessments made from year TO
year.
The bill was read in part and shown
to provide for the appointment by the
Governor OF q board OF assessment
for a period OF two years. and 10 be
superseded ny an election hoard hold
ing office for four years. The salary
OF members is to be $4,000 year ex-
cent on off years, when no assess
ments are made. when II is TO be $1,000.
II was explained the scheme Is similar
TO the plan now in effect in Sussex
county.
There appeared to be a good deal Of
difference OF opinion in the matter, but
! Levy Court members declared they were
anxious to have better scheme ar
ranged for assessing taxes and thought
tho terms of the proposed bill covered
these pretty well. They also declared
they were opposed 20 "legislating out
of Office anyone elected by thc people. y
but thought something must be done Ia
| improve the present system. II is ex.
bectcd the bill viii have good deal Of
discussion in the committee. to which II
is referred.
In brief the bills as discussed wer,
as follows;
House bill. No. 1856. authorizing the
Levy Court TO close a road while II
Is being repaired 10 was explained
that under the present law tho court
has no right 10 close road over
when IL may he injured by tram,
and as a result highways were otter
injured by drivers OF heavy vehicle,
removing the barriers ana driving
over the partially constructed roads
to their great injury.
House bill No. 266. regulating IN,
use OF bridges. authorizing the cour
to investigate what load the differen
bridges OF the county will bear and
to post signs az the approaches stat
| ing. the amount OF the load permitted
and limiting the rate OF speed sim
liar to provisions now permitted un
der the laws Of the state of Mary
land II was pointed out that th'
weight Of automobile trucks has in
creased greatly within recent years
and these often are driven over bridges
OF the county which arc too light C
carry the weight.
Consideration OF House bill No. 27S
regarding the authorization OF the
| Levy Court 10 place county funds
in other banks than the Farmers
Bank OF this city provoked consider.
able discussion. Representative Con-
nelley insisted that as the Farmers
Bank was practically a state institu-
ton. about 81 per cent OF the stock
being controlled by the state. the
funds OF the county very properly
should be placed in the bank and
: ought not TO draw interest. IL was
taking out OF one pocket, he said,
, and putting il into another
! The bill authorizes the court TO
2 place its funds where it pleases and
Z where IL may obtain interest Under
the terms OF the bill the funds OF
o the trustees OF the poor as we'll as
\ those Of the general county funds
! may he placed In institutions which
. will pay interest.
: House bill no. 1917. Mr.. spealman
J explained was simply a bin requir.
: ing coroners 20 show I'm their report,
what final disposition was made OF