Milford chronicle., 1917-04-13
DELAWARE PAYS HEAVILY
TO THE U. S. GOVERNMENT
Federal Taxes In This State Much
Heavier Than Those In Other
States.

D
viii never be found wanting in the spiri,
OF devotion and self-sacrifce when the
country is in peril They will pay their
share Of the cost Of this war gladly
But l believe it is only fair that when
taxes are levied for the cost Of war those
taxes should be equtaby distributed. As
nearly as possible they should be equal
J lied. and I shall try to see to il that they
are equalized in their application.
The senior Senator from Delaware was
then on the point OF taking UP with
Chairman Simmons OF the Senate Fin
anoe committee the question OF how
much Of the war revenues were to be
collected from special Industries. inciuc-
ing the munitions industry.
Picking up the last report Of the fiscai
operations OF the government for 1916.
Senator salisbury read from the tables
in that report comparison OF the
amount contributed by ware-the
second smallest Of all the forty-eight
States--and the contributions Of. States
in New England, in the South ana IN the
West
How Delaware is Taxed
/ Take for example, he said. "the case
Of the individual income tax. Maine con-
tributed SS3O,OOO odd l shall not read
/ the figures below the thousands New
Hampshire paid 1922. 900: Vermont paid
Si5s'00. The three then. paid S2.2ls. 900
as against Deaware's S3.O76. 600.
Take the Southern States Individua4
income taxes for Alabama were S667 900:
for Mississippi $SOi 900; for Arkansas, |
$4,000 for Georgia. 81 ,392 600.
Take Western States Oregon paid !
Sl.OS2.0o0; Washington paid s2Oss OOO /
Idaho. 100000. These three paid So
1885, 900 in comparison with the S8.O76. OOo /
for Delaware
Again, take corporation taxes pai,
the national government last year Maine
paid S32,O ,Oo0 New Hampshire paid SiO3.-
600, and Vermont. $50 600, or total OF
Sio6,0OO, as contrasted with Delaware's
payment Of Sl.07S 600
Corporation taxes paid by Oregon
amounted to $4,000: by Washington.
S374,oOO; by Idaho. Sl29. 900. or a total OF
100000 as against the S1.O7S.OOO for Del
aware. =
Georgia paid in corporation taxes. (
$4,000: Alabama paid S2Oi 900 and Z
South Carolina $4,000, total for these e
three Of S7fiO0O as compared with Del s
wares SLOTS. 900. A
Now. look at the other side OF the T
Delaware paying these great \
iums in Federal taxation. has only one L
member in the national house Of Repre- I,
entatives. The western group-Oregon,
daho and Washington, have five. and {,
wo and three members. or total Of 10 il
'ongressmen. The southern group have
Georgia 12; Alabama. 10: South Caro-
ina. IA total Of %, while Delaware has "
'nly one man In the lower branch Of
congress. /,
Consider also that the tax on muni-
ions has not been reported. and Is NOT n
included in the figures I have just given
'ou as 10 the contribution Delaware is C.
making to the national treasury. and you V
ee how tremendously exaggerated is OF
he taxation in proportion to our case"
Some Surprising Contrasts. u
The table from which the Senator b,
uoted the amounts Of Federal income
howed some other surprises. For in 4,
tance, Iowa Is considered the richest oil nj
II the states per capita. Yet Iowa paid NJ
My S2.562, 900 or five-sixths as much as h,
tile Delaawre. Colorado paid only ST. m
55. 900, Kansas paid Sl,2l6. 900 and North
'akota but S3sS 900 Fl
What measures viii be taken to meet
he immediate need for revenue aside NJ
'om borrowing money through the is on
nance Of bonds is a problem with which
he President and Cabinet as well as the r,
lrty leaders in Congress and the mem
Frs Of the Federal Reserve Board are vi
ruggling. Il is the most important Nj
iestion which will be discussed with the
Of the Entente Allies. in F,a
ew Of the fact that Americas con- on
ibution to the war against the Hohen-
llern dynasty in Germany will for some da
me be largely a financial war Upon ris
e solution hangs the decision OF all !
her legislative work Of this congress. r,.
At this Juncture there has appeared De
Washington a strongly supported TOW
ovement for an amendment TO the Fed p
al constitution which. by repeating Ni
rec words Of that document as to di- T
It taxation, would permit the taxation \
the site-values Of land. That is, the list
oyd George plan OF taxing into the
tional treasury a large part OF the
sculative or unearned increase in land
ues. due to the growth Of towns. de- N
opment Of roads and markets. etc, is ade
commended as one way OF adding many n
nee
r chest. Amos Pinchot and the Fels NJ
anization are back Of this plan and sdel
seems to be meeting with some favor NJ
the treasury. speI
SurtaN on incomes. q,
gain, there is afoot considerable agi- or +
on for a drastic Increase in the rates sitio
surtaN on the larger incomes. Con- Ia
ssman Polk Of Delaware is one OF ma 70
Sc who have declared against a rad Sc
reduction Of the exemption limit in list
income tax plan. He joins with NJ,
It is probably a majority Of the House phil.
nocrats in favoring higher surtax "
IS. Some Of his colleagues urge that cd T.
plete conscription Of incomes above MI
certain point-generally placed az En- st
200 year-be provided by the new enint
niue bill. Others suggest that the su
ak shall not rise above so per cent Ende
sven the largest incomes. Mr.. Polk II 7
probably be found in the latter camp. -
'ither case the House committee on
IS and Means will have to defend its