Evening journal., 1919-03-29
PROTEST lG inst
Income 7 x | "
Hundreds Back Taxpayers
League in Move to
Test Law
AMENDMENTS NOT
EFFECTIVE IN 1919

Protesting against the state Income
Tax Law operative this year. more than
one thousand citizens gathered at the
opera House. last night The meeting
was held under the auspices OF the
state Income Taxpayers Defense League,
who propose 10 test the validity OF the
law 10 the State courts The Mulyena
amendment making the exemption So
600 Instead Of $1,000 and Including re-
turns from real estate and agriculture
Is not effective until 1920
The dominant note sounded through
out the various speeches during the
evening was that Wilm.ngtonlans are
not getting a square deal through the
Income Tax Law as Il now stands.
The speakers consisted OF: Colonel
Weller Z. Stover. president Of the as
sessment board; William J. Mulvena,
father OF the amended bin. representa-
tive from the Fifth district: Represent
ativo Edward J. McNabb; w. W
Knowles; II G. Budd. president OF the
organization, and Henry r. Isaacs.
Colonel stover opened the meeting
and stated that Wilmington was not
getting a square deal from the state
He then went on 10 give figures show
ing that the taxes which Wilmington
pays as compared with what this city
gets from the State Treasury.
The next speaker was Mr.. Isaacs. at
torney for the league. Ne pointed out
that the citizens OF this city would
have no objection 90 a necessary in
come tax II II were levied unliormally
on all the cit zens Of the state. He
added that the tax law as Il now
stands IS discriminating and should
therefore be tested as 10 validity.
Representative William J Mulvena
related the d difficulties which he had
In amending the income tax law 10 in
clude farmers. He urged the league %
so on with the hight until The consil
| tutionalty OF the law Is determined
In concluding his speech. NJ. Mulvena
msde an appeal that even after the n
come tax light Is over. that the league
still continue and help 10 secure the
passage Of laws providing the in.tia-
tive and referendum. The audience re-
ceived this idea with cons derable en-
thusiasm.
That there would have 20 be some
revolution" 10 Delaware before VIII
mlngton could get what 10 Is entitled
10. was the opinion expressed by Rep
resentative McNabb. He laud d the
Wilmington representatives for the
unity with which they worked al
Dover during the session just closed
But" he added. "what can i've mer
do AGAINST 30 men? II Is utterly i'm
possible for this city TO get a squar'
deal unless Wilminaton gets, more rep
reseutation In the state LEGISLATURE"
w. w. Knowles In a lengthy an
eloquent address declared that he wa
ready 20 do all in his nowe~ TO- "a
public good and that the present II
come tax law was unjust. unfa'r ~
: undemocratic. BEGINNING his addre
; with the purposes for which this con-
p t-y entered the war TO make q
; world safe for democracy" he proceed
ed % show how undemocr7tlc the II
come tax law was inasmuch as 70 wa
levied on one class OF the people.
During the meeting Colonel Stove
introduced Cantain Morse OF the Cana
dian Amy. who made an anneal n
Armenian Relief. In the course Of nj
anpeal he spoke ~ the brilliant wOrl
done hv tho American forces In stem
ming the Hun drive last July and urge,
his audience 70 comnlete the victory b,
saving the thousands Of men. wOmer
and children who are starving for lael
Of food
II. G Budd. president OF the State In
/ come Tavnavers' Defence LEAGUE. re.
ro~ts that 2 5o0 men have already ioineC
the organization and that when the re
ports from the unions come In theri
viii be 5.OO0 members In the leaglie.
meeting Of the executive committee OF
the league win be held on Tuesday
evening next, at the Friendship Fire
/ Company's house.