Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-28
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IS, 1918
How We Stand for Imposition.

While there arc no signs Of revolution
IN Delaware. and no indications of an
uprising against an imposition OF unjust
taxation il may re said that the people
Of our State. during the past two weeks,
hsvC submitted 10 an imposition that
took money out Of their pockets, and
compelled them 90 submit to an unjust
requirement OF law that an the days of
the American Revolution would have
aroused even greater indignation than
rhc historic tax on tea We refer TO
the requirements IF the State Income Tax
NV. enacted by The Legislature of 1917.
Under the provisions Of this law, every
,4xablc IS required 10 make q detailed
.yturn of his revenues, on blanks furnished
Iv'hc STATE Also, hc IS required to make
sH,Javlt ~ the correctness Of his return.
Tho affidavit must hc made before a
notary public or other official authorized
3, law to administer oa'hs or afiirmations
and who. of course. i entitled to fee,
prescribed i,y law, for his services.
* lllEllN II SUI ffNh~tfi tlldt AiAi - &tNAAa"
tlr, 81 Delaware, when confronted with
h. Iravc duty Of cnactinC a revenue
lya>uro ,or thr Imposition Of tax upon
he incomes II It~ clfigens, would have
rndcavorcd to rake all the preliminary
-,umsclncnts as easy as possible upon
'hc taXabes But not 80 in respect Of
lI- law. The Legislature enacted that
tie taxable should fill ont blanks that
would cover hlS every possible source OF
income. together with all allowances for
rebates, and then qualify to the correct
moss ci the return And in order 10 do
iAi, every taxable was compelled to 20
before a notary public and pay fee Of
- cents for making the required affidavit.
Also, he was required 70 mail his af
tdavIt and return 10 the State Treasurer's
office at Dover. and al his own expense
Ior postage, the law making no provision
whatever for the taxable complying
nth its provisions except at his own
cost
How thI. law has operated 20 personal
profit, at an expense to the people, could
~ readily realized by visit to the Office
OF any notary public of the city Of vii
mlngton any day during the past two
weeks. Taxsbles came fockinc in To
make their returns and take the required
athdavits The notary stood AZ attention,
pep IN hand snd notarlal seal ready for
quick attachment and for each affidavit
De- received q fee OF % cents. At the
Office Of one notary IN this city, who was
kept unusually busy Yesterday, could be
seen desk surface almost completely
covered by silver quarters, the fees paid
bv the atlantis. At one time, if there
was single quarter IN evidence, there
must have been at least three hundred
ana at that time the day was early. He
bad vet many more working hours to
make hay while the sun sbone."
We do not hold tins against the no
taries. They are clearly and lawfully
entitled 70 their harvest, although it
comes out Of the pockets of the people
But what may be said against the lntelh-
gcnoe and common sense Of members of a
Legislature who would deliberately enact
a law that imposed such q gross outrage
upon the people OF the State The no
taries are not 10 b. blamed Nor Is the
state treasurer Justly subject 70 ccnsure
for insisting upon a strct observance Of
the law, no matter how irritating II may
be 20 the people. He Is bound 70 per-
form has duty and lac would be culpabe
II bc failed IN any respect But, all the
same, this imposition OF a tax Of 25 cents
per head upon our people for making
income tax returns is q mean and II
utating outrage