Evening journal., 1920-03-23
CITY DESIRES
MORE WAYS To
GET REVENUE
continued from FIrst PAGE.

Continued from First Page.
city OF Atlanta. Ca, OF about the same
population. has no less than 800 sources
OF municipal income.
Much Of Wilmington's natural income
is swallowed up in the mercantile taxes,
all Of which money now goes to the
State. Atlanta, and virtually every
other municipality in the country reaps
the benefits from such tax leyies il
self.
Furthermore there are no special as
sessments in Wilmington. such as are
In effect in many other cities, such as
assessments on opening, grading or
paving streets or alleys. In lieu Of
this, Wilmington charges benefited
property for the entire cost Of side
walks, and In addition 65 cents per front
line for straight curbing and 90 cents
per front foot for circular or return
curbing. For trunk sewers the Will
mington proptry owner pays a nat
rate Of 30 cents per front foot and one
cent per square foot, while for later
al sewers the benefited property is
assessed The entire cost.
All OF these assessments are levied
for public Improvements. For public
services" there are no special assess
ments. Within recent years the taxes
on motion picture houses and theatres
have been raised TO $500, and circuses
to S3O0-but the resultant income is a
mere drop in the bucket compared with
the imperative expenditures OF the city.
A serious and searching comparison
OF the incomes Of cities Of the same
population and general class through
out the entire country has been made
by the finance committee Of Council
and Mr.. Huxley, assisted at times by
the Mayor and by Col. Weller E. Stow
er, president OF the Board Of Tax As
sessment. As a result they feel in po-
sition to go before the special session
armed with unassailable arguments,
evidence and data that Wilmington
should be granted a greater opportun-
fly to provide for her just expenses,
and should have a greater share OF
the income produced within the mu-
nicipality
TO back up these arguments, Il was
unanimously planned at the special
meeting last night that after Mr. Hux-
ley had set the machinery in motion
at Dover for consideration OF WilIhing-
tons scheme Of greater municipal in
come, the Mayor and entire Council,
irrespective Of party lines, shall go to
the State capital in a body. and attend
hearings in committees on the bills in
troduced.
Leaders OF both the Democrats and
Republicans in Council are a unit In
their belief that Wilmington must be
given greater provision for internal
revenue and relieve the present burden
and strain on real estate, and have been
working in harmony for weeks 10 bring
about a rectifiction OF what they now
consider the injustice done the city.
These leaders, and they are supported
by Council as a whole, Furthermore are
OF the belief that there is no better
time than the present to make their ap-
peal to the Legislature because n the
attitude of the Governor and legislative
leaders towards a greater division OF
the States's revenues among the cOun-
ties and an ease-up OF the burdens now
imposed upon real estate.
Mr.. Huxley expects to go to Dover to-
morrow to pave the way for the ap-
pearance there Of the Mayor and Coun-
cil II also is probable that when the
time arrives for hearings on the meas
ures It is purposed TO present at Dover.
citizens Will be invited
to go along with the party.