Evening journal., 1921-03-14
SEE School
BILL DEFEAT
LOOMING Up
continued from first page)
the bill as amended until tomorrow


the bill as amended until tomorrow.
Andrew c. Gray. Of Wilmington.
who is opposing the corporation tax
feature of the bill. will probably be
given the privilege Of the floor this
afternoon to oppose IT,
When legislators arrived in Dover
at 10 o'clock this morning II was
generally conceded in the corridors
that the school bill would be passed
by the House. Twenty minutes
later there was just as persistent a
report that the bill was dead so far
as favorable action OF the House was
concerned II was generally circu-
lated that the railroad interests who
some time ago succeeded in having
the railroads exempted from the 3
per cent. corporation tax feature
were back Of the school bill and
that friends Of the railroads in the
Legislature were working to pass
the measure. There seemed to be
reason for this report this morning.
as members Of the Legislature who
generally are looked on as favor
able to legislation the railroads
want seemed to be jubilant early in
the morning and predicted sure
passage by the House Of the bill.
When the alleged attitude of the
railroad people was reported about
a movement was started at once to
offset il. An amendment will be
offered TO the school bill to again
put the railroads under its pro-
visions as TO the 3 per cent. tax.
All the railroads operating in the
State at this time pay $4,000 State
tax. which is placed in a lump sum
in lieu of all other tax.
The law on the matter was look
ed up and it is announced that the
State tax paid by the railroads is
made up as follows: p. b. and W.
Railroad Company. $4,000; Della
ware railroad. $4,000; Baltimore
and Ohio. $4,000; Maryland, Della
ware and Virginia Railroad. $500:
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia,
$500; Wilmington and Northern,
$4,000
The corporation tax and the al
legged attitude Of friends of the
railroad. however, were not all the
matters that entered into the gem
eral proposition resulting in
change of sentiment among some Of
the members OF Legislature
The Democratic members OF the
House in their conference. it was
learned, took no definite stand on
the school bill, but decided to vote
on the amendments today and defer
the final vote on the bill until to-
morrow.
on the final vote each Democrat
was left free ovote as he pleases
It was said after the conference that
majority Of the House Democrats
is opposed To the school bill as it
now is drafted.
The Wilmington delegation against
the per cent corporation tax fea-
ture in the school bill. did fine work
from their point OF view in Dover
today They managed TO turn what
looked to be a certainty into de-
feat within a comparatively short
time. and that is something not often
accomplished.
When the tax features OF the bin
are reached this afternoon move
ment will be likely started TO sep
crate those provisions from the
school bill. Arrangements have
been made for several prominent
men Of Wilmington to talk against
the per cent corporation tax.
Among them in addition 10 Mr.. Gray
will be G.. G, Rheuby, of the Her
cules Powder Company; Herbert II,
Ward and Willard A. Speakman,
president OF the Speakman Com
pany. Mr.. Speakman will probably
speak on the proposition brought
out at a recent hearing before Gov
ernor Denney OF raising additional
taxes by increasing some taxes al
ready in force including those of the
railroads and manufacturers.
There was a conference with Gov
ernor Denney on the school bill to-
day by some interested in the meas