Evening journal., 1920-05-20
COUNCIL. near
REVOLT OVER
STATES GRAB
OF FCITY'SCASH
CONTINUED From First Page.)


by the several municipal departments.
For the present the Councfmen
who participated in the discussion
have asked that their names be not
used, for the reason that within
, few days, concerted action OF
some sort probably will be taken
looking 20 a demand upon the State
officials for recognition Of the city's
claims.
In this demand, the Colmcilmen feel
considerably encouraged by the
strong showing made recently in the
/ legislature by which Senate Bin No.
9, increasing the cfty's tax paying
/ powers was passed But while the
bull has passed both. houses at
Dover, it was n t signed by the
Governor within ben days after its
passage, and a dispute has arisen as
10 whether II is law or not. Nothing
short OF a suit in the courts, It is be-
lieved, can settle the question
Just as soon as we attempt TO levy
new taxes under the act" said one of
the members OF Council. I'VE shall
ind ourselves face to face with suit
charging that the tax levy is Illegal
and that Senate Bin No. Q is not on the
statute books because the Governor
failed TO sign it. even though the
ing had passed.
"To fight such a suit all the way
through the courts is likely to require
at least two years. Meanwhile the
city's hands will again be tied tightly,
and prospects for raising additional
| money necessary to run the municipal
government viii go aglimfnering.
This declaration called forth an
other by one Of the most influential
members, who said somewhat sol
emnly:
Il am law abiding citizen. be-
lieve in the law. / try TO uphold il,
but, gentlemen, by the gods, can not
see how we are to avoid an orderly
revolution" He paused, then went
on: "By an orderly revolution / mean
that we shall have TO simply tell the
State we shall not nay another cent OF
the tax money collected in the city
into the States Golfers.
"Our American cOlOnists fought old
Britain. the mother country, because
OF taxation without representation
That today is exactly Wilmington's
position. We are taxed without being
properly represented in the State
Legislature.
wilmington has one-half the pop
ulation Of the entire State OF Della
ware" he continued. warming to his
subject, "yet Wilmington contributes
70 per cent. OF the States income from
indirect taxation Out Of that 70 per
cent. Wilmington gels only about .
per cent. benefits in form Of i'm.
proved roads and school money.
Thus we are paying an unfair pre-.
ponderance OF the States bills while
, the city is going begging. Is tha
fair2"
mo. no. cried virtually an tn,
other Councilmen in a breath.
] well, then, what are we going {,
) do about IT," went on the speaker
I'VE have pleaded our case in thi
5 past, but 10 no avail. The down
4 State crowd has The control-absOlutl
( control-Of the Legislature, and won
} yield us fair representation. Ou
hands are thus tied
Z Baltimore faced the came condi
2 tions at one time, and Baltimor'
r broke away. Today Baltimore i
= properly represented in the Marylanl'
Legislature. Today Baltimore is abl
in her own borders on her own gov
Z ernment and for her own improve
: ments and advancement.
why, recently, while ] was Il
Z Baltimore, felt almost ashamed o
, Wilmington. When / saw the vas
amount Of civic improvement worl
= going on all about me, ] felt. We'll
, Wilmington is only a little pike
town. kept so by the unfairness o
the state in dealing with her don
! like to have such thoughts, eve
when they are forced upon me.
, "Yes, and in Baltimore they hav
four street lamps TO a block" spok
up another Councilman. And her
we can hardly raise money enoug
. to pay for two or three"
-Gentlelnen," resumed me frs
: speaker, 'ithese are the condition
e which make me think we shall hav
: to have what / call an orderly re
I volution-' We shall have 10 max
the State understand That We no long
!. er ask for our rights, but deman'
I them and viii not pay any more taXe
p to the State until we get them
e "GOOdW exclaimed several OF MI
d ! co-workers in the COuncilmanic body
p "Of COURSE" concluded the propose
OF this program, If we refuse TO pa
over the tax money, we shall b.
traitors or rebels OF Whatever har
), name the down-State people want q
4 call US; but we shall win They ma
# try TO put some Of us in jail, but
b think from what ! know Of the pres
ent temper Of the city, they will hav
: TO put every official and every citize
r in Jail before they can force us D
4 Weld. ="