Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-03
Circulation Every 1Cc0E
Evening Yesterday l3OUO
FRIDAY, SEP PTEMBER 8, 1920
Reluctant to Pay More Taxes.

Wilmington show a decided reluctance to
fork over the additional tax money they
are compelled to contribute through the
''occupatonal taxes" imposed this year for
the first time by the City Council, under
authority conferred by the present Legis-
Iature. These taxes. while they will afford
revenue for which the city administra-
ton has pressing need, are very irritating
and. in the opinion of many taxables,
unnecessary.
II is the entire tax situation, however,
that the people of Wilmington are so
restive under, a situation so oppressive
and so unjust as TO incite natural IN
clination to open rebellion. They are
taxed numerically and without reason,
and for purposes from which they derive
little or no benefit.
The imposition of ''occupational taxes"
bv CITY Council makes a double burden,
because it is in reality double tax
Taxes of this character have been imposed
bv the State for years and years upon the
business and industry of our city. and
rived generous income, not penny of
this Wilmington tax money reverting to
the support OF the city administration.
Then came an additional injustice in
the form of the State income tax. fully
three-fourths of which is paid by the
people of Wilmington, and every dollar of
which is absorbed in the outrageously in
creased expenditure for State administra-
ton. What direct benefit thecity receives
from this costly State administration, to
which it contributes such large sums of
money annually, the victims can readily
estimate. That il is small compared with
the money exacted from Wilmington
taxables goes without saying.
Our citytaxpayers are further burdened
BY excessive county taxes, increased be-
yond the limit of endurance by advanced
assessments and higher tax rates. for the
purpose Of meeting the extravagant ex-
penditures of an incompetent and in
oonsiderate county administration
purely partisan machine whose directors
serve what they believe to be the interests
of party rather than the interests Of the
public
These exorbitant. excessive impositions
of tax burdens on the long-suffering people
Of Wilmington have come 10 pass during
the past quarter OF a century. And they
began with the advent OF the Republican
party TO continued power ia State. county
4 l.
from the necessity Of new roads-now
largely met by private generosity and
bond issues should not be called upon
to exDend much money for the annual de-
mands of administration. But the cost Of |
State administration has increased be- |!
yond all proportion TO the increase in |
population. and tax impositi have been /
res rted to in order 10 cover the rsmifca- !
tions Of an administration that is in
effective and split into numerous cumber-
SINE, overlapping and costly agencies, /
thus wasting good money year after year.
And despite an annual revenue of amaz-
ing extent from charter fees and franchise
taxes-now approaching two million dol
lars annually-our partisan taMnasters
res3rted TO an inouisitive and annoying
income tax to meet the continually ad-
vancing eEcesses Of maladministration
Meanwhile, the burdens Ct county adj
ministration kept pace with the mounting
State expenditures-the natural result Of
partisan Indifference and iDefficiency-
and now comes the superimpc sed Hoccu-
pational tax" TO dig still deeper into the
pockets of tortured taxables of Whining
ton for the support of an equally incom-
petent and Indifferent partisan municipal
Here is a very serious situation. The
people know how they are taxed, what ex-
cessive amounts they are compelled 10
contribute to keep up extravagant and
administration in State,
county and city. And today they are
faced with conditions, in county admins
tration especially, that are really threaten
ing, all the result of official incapacity and
partisan rule.
There was time when these outrageous
conditions did not prevail. Old-tnne
administration 10 Delaware
State, county and municipal-may not ;
have been as progressive" as at present,
but at least it Was honest and economical,
and not outrageously expensive.
Do the people prefer prevailing tax con- I
1itions to these of the past2 il they do,
they can continue them indefinitely, with
every prospect of going from bad to worse,
by their determination as expressed at the
coming election. Or they can demand re-
'orm and get it. No change would be
worse. and unless there shall be a check |
70 the present dangerous trend, bank {
uptcy will soon face the city of Whining I
on and New Castle county, with still &
,pstiier burden Of taxation for the State r