Evening journal., 1917-03-12
nrR srArEs REYENUE NEEDs.

A Optional sources of revenue are needed by
"A our state.
They must be supplied.
The present Legislature should not adjourn without
doing it,
Those are things that are admitted by all thinking
citizens OF our commonwealth.
They are not the subjects Of partisan controversy
Republicans and Democrats agreed that some
thing should be done.
The Republican state Senate and the Democratic
House are looked drop all partisan considerations.
approach the revenue question in broad civic spirit
and settle it in an intelligent manner
It is a question that is too big and too important
to be made the plaything OF a Republican a Demo
cratic political clique. Il also too big and TOO i'm
portant be used instrument to popularize some
aspiring Republican Democratic politician
Whatever bill may be framed should be framed a
matter OF serious State business. u should bear no
mans tag but represent tho OF Republican
and Democratic opinion that it provides the most sat
isfactory way to provide the additional state revenue
needed and not tho most satisfactory way for some
Republican Democratic aspirant for Office to win
crown Of glory by posing the financial Savior
OF the commonwealth.
Expression OF opinion by substantial in tho
several counties shows that the plan favored for
raising additional revenue is through income tax.
II is asserted that il has many advantages tax
on investments. A tax on investments would make it
necessary for each individual to expose every invest
ment he or she might hold. An income tax would
provide the without compelling such detailed
exposure OF the taxablos private affairs In addition
In many places and for many years. the income tax
has been recognized tbe proper way TO tax in
vestmenls.
The tax rate on incomes should he made dependent
upon the actual needs OF the State In short
pe-rate SHOULD not be agreed upon until formal o
Informal state budget has been prepared and ntelli
gent idea has been gained with respect to the aggre
gate amount Of the incomes TO be brought under state
Taxation. No income should be taxed a cent more
than is required by the States needs Those who
would tax for the mere sake OF penalizng investors
should be frowned upon. Those who would tax under
justihable plea OF necessity reveal that necessity
in definite form. should be encouraged
II has been suggested that the money derived from
the income tax be devoted to the schools and that tho
liquor license and other fees which now go into the
school fund be turned into the general fund That
plan too. seems TO meet with both Republican and
Democratic favor Some of the revenue derived or re-
leased also probably would to be devoted TO the
construction and maintenance OF good roads
IN fixing the income tax rate the legislators should
not attempt to look too far into the future It will bc
well enough If they provide revenue for the next tive
or four years and leave it to future Legislatures tc
make readusments which are demanded bv condition,
+ then existing As the States revenue needs GROW
those readiusments on an upward Gale will com
enough without this Legislature seeking to 6nanc
eternity
In addition. it should be remembered that the Fed
eral Income Tax law is a comparatively new thing
which substantial portion or our people has not b,
roconcied and there should be no disposition
the part Of the Delaware Legislature break the
Of the goose that lays the golden egg for Federi
and State consumption.