Evening journal., 1920-04-09
CITY COUNCIL
RAPS MOTORISTS
Members Declare Opposition
TO Tax Bill at Dover Is
Unwarranted
DENY INTENTION
TO LEVY ON CARS

Opposition by the Wilmington Auto
mobile Trade Association TO Senate
bill No. 9. at Dover. giving the city ad-
dhilonal power 10 levy taxes, was
sharply scored In City Council last
night. City Solicitor Huxley. IN a stats
ment declared advertisements by the
association concerning the measure
were absolutely erroneous" and asked
why the association had not made its
prod st direct 10 Council instead Of
attacking the bill In the Legislature
Mr. Huxley's statement In part fol-
lows:
after reading said act II will be
seen that The statement In said adver-
ilsement that II aims to empower tho
Council 10 tax all automobiles owned
and operated In the city OF Whining
ton, Is absolutely unwarranted and un-
uue. While under said act II would
be possible for the Council by ordl-
nance to license automobibs owned bv
-~sldents OF the city. there has not
been an expression by any or the
Council either individually or collect
lively Of their Intention TO tax aTomo-
biles. and the statement In said ad-
vertisement that the amount has boen
tentatively fxed at s. per car Is not
only absolutely unwarranted but Is
also absolut ly false and Is made for
the sole purpose OF affecting legisla-
tlon vital 10 the interests OF the city.
The advertisement further states
that any vehicle can become liable to
tax as soon as II enters the city. The
aot specifically provides that no IL
oense shall be required from the own
CT OF any vehicle who Is not a resi-
dent OF the city OF Wilmington Where
does the Wilmington Automobile r.ade
Association get its facts upon which
TO base such a statement2
'sThe third statement In said adver-
It's ment is equally without foundation.
The statement: Result. all vieitins su-
lomobiles will avoid Wilmington is
equally unfounded. The proposed at
will In no way affect automobiles
owned by non-residenis OF The ch7 OF
Wilmington be he a resident Of Della
WarA resident OF Wilmington or res
idcnt OF another state.
II the Wilmington Auto II Hde As
sociat'on Is so interested In this leg-
lslatlon. why has II moi appeared BE-
fore the Council OF Wilmington. the
governing body OF the city, which IS
unanimous in supporting this BIZ Not
a single person has so appear d. II
IL Is so vitally interested in this mat
ter. It 10 use the language OF lts sd-
vertisement should understand the
bill II IL does, II has deliberately
published som thing which II cannot
but help know 10 be false, and II II
does not. it has published as facds
certain statements without gong to
the trouble OF verifying them AMI sole
ly for the purpose OF Injuriously az
fectlng legislation vital 10 the csty's
inter sts."
Councilman Charles Forwood. chair |
man OF the finance committee. said:
everyone who understands the
needs OF our city agrees that we must
have added funds to manage our az
fairs. The mayor, memb rs OF Coun-
Gil and the besa citizens OF our city /
are working 10 devise means to raise
this needed revenue in a manner that
will be fair to all our people. The |
that a tax OF s. on auiomo-
blles Is planned Is untrue. No such
tax has been suggested By any mem
Der OF this body.
IN is deplorable that any body OF
men in our city would deliberately
misr present the bill which has been
presented al Dover. The statements
contained in the advertisement and
statement issuesd by the Wilmington
Trade Association are un-
true and thu members Of that body
have not even taken the trouble to
read the bill"
Councilman Abrahams said: "The