Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-21
GOVERNOR EAGER TO
PROTECT CHARTERS
FROM LICENSE FEE
Wants Legislature to Consent to
Have New Bill introduced
This Session.
HIGHER TAX RATE LIKELY

A bill that would protect corporations
seeking charters IN Delaware from being
compelled TO pay license fee, has been
drafted at the request OF Governor own
send, and Mr.. Townsend will seek to
have il introduced before the Legisla-
ture. as a substitute for the Home Rule
bill which became law because he failed
to veto it and announce his objection
To the LEGISLATURE within ten days.
The time for introducing bills has by
concurrent resolution of the Legislature,
long time passed. Only through the co n
sent of every member of both houses can
the substitute bill be introduced
This, IL is said the governor Will en-
deavor to bring about, SO that his ohIec-
tions can be heard by the Legislature
Whether the governor can obtain the
consent Of every member Is question:
il is said because Of the bitter feelings
that have been aroused through the activi-
ties Of the Legislature and certain move
ments in which the governor has taken
prominent part
The new bill contains the objection that
would save foreign corporations from any
license. but it also contains something
else. that CITY Solicitor Huxley IS opposed
10 and that is to relieve these corporations
from paving any tax, which IS now paid
bv all outside corporations. II the COVER
nor will agree to slash this phrase about
taxes. then the one that prevents retalla-
tory legislation in the Home Rule blli
will also be agreed to, Mr.. Huxley saws.
/ All this is in the event that the governor
can get the unanimous consent oi ali
/ legislators to permit him to introduce the
new bill.
4 prominent official and a man who at
( first opposed the Home Rule bill, SAID
TODAY in discussing the request OF the
4 Central Labor Union, that the city impose
4 a license Of $40 on every corporation that
+ No did not believe any corporation that
\ wanted 10 take out a charter IN Delaware
would hesitate because i was called upon
| to paw such fee, III the charter laws
of this State are SO attractive as 10 n
| drcc cornorations 70 come here 70 bepir
business. then the $40 would not trighten
\ them away, said this official.
The Central Labor Union has estlmatec
that UPWARDS OF 500 900 would be derived
in extra revenue to the city through ter
dollar license on corporations, and thI
would prove Of considerable and 10 tn
city in its financial problem
Charles Forwood, chairman q tht
Finance Committee of City Council
said this afternoon that il i more hkeil
than unlikely that there will he rais'
in the tax rate in order that the city maN
meet its expenses.
The Finance Committee has beer
wrestling with the financial problems 0
the city for several days, said Mr. For
wood. 1--WE have called each city dc
partrnent into conference with US IN orde
that we might learn how much could b
chopped from the APP opriations the,
have asked Of the city We expect by mex
Thursday night to have ready for pres
entation to council the amount that "
believe the taxpayers should be asked I
meet. Ii is practically certain that tn
total cannot be met from the sources Q
revenue available from present assess
ments and tax rate There is but on
alternative that IS to raise the tax rate
.'The legality Of the Home Rule bl
NAV be attacked as soon as city councI
attempts to levy any license on anythin
and this would mean that the bill woul
be tied UP il the courts for a year or two