Evening journal., 1921-03-11
COUNCIL FAVORS
new TAX BILL
Thinks Towns Should Have
One-half of License
Fees
BALKS ON NEW
SCHOOL BOARD

City Council was in session two
hours and a half last night one and
a half hours OF whic htime was de-
voted 10 a meeting Of Council in
recess for the purpose Of discussing
measures OF interest TO Wilmington
now pending In the Legislature.
Council was agreed that Senate bill
No. 81, which would divert from
the State treasury one-half OF the
license fees collected by the clerks
Of peace Of the counties OF this state
Nto the use OF incorporated cities and
Ftowns, and the hundreds not includ-
ed in said Incorporated cities and
towns for the purpose OF improving
the roads and highways in said in
/ cororated cities md towns and hun
/ dreds; and Senate bill No. 175
would repeal all acts and parts OF
. acts exempung marsh lands and
other unimproved land within the
corporate limits OF the city OF VIII
mlngton from taxation. should be-
/ come laws. but when Il came 10 en-
/ dorsing the proposed measure for a
| change I'm the Board Of Education,
although the unanimous opinion
voiced by the members was that a
change Is desirable, Councilman Null
vena opposed any action by C0un-
/ ell in the way OF endorsement be-
cause Of a paragraph in the report
Of the government survey relative q
the evils growing out OF ward repre-
sentation, particularly that portion
which states that zone OF the i'm
portant results Of the change from
ward representation 70 election from
the city at large in any city Of aver
age decency and intelligence. is tha'
the inevitable representation from
these "poor-wards" is eliminated
and the board as a whole comes e
partake Of the best characteristic
Of the city as a whole"
When Council adjourned at 1o.3l
o'clock It was 20 meet as com
mittee Of the whole at s o'clock oi
Monday night when the school meas
ure will again be discussed
A committee comprising Council
men Forwood, Mulvena. Murray, Nc
Manus and Johnson, was appointe'
by acting president OF Council Alex
ander J. Abrahams to solicit IN
cooperation and endorsement Of tn
- Chamber OF Commerce, the Mercan
y tile Section Of the Chamber Of Com
! merce, Rotary Club. Wiwanis Clu
, and all other civic organizations
y These organizations VIII be asked {
' get back Of Senate bills no. 81 an
. IT'S. and aid Council in securin
Z their passage.
II is claimed that both OF thes
measures should be passed as logie'
and legitimate sources Of revenue 10
effort is put back Of these bills q
the city. and IL was stated II the sam
I, has been the case with the propose
= new city charter. the legislators ca
" be convinced Of the necessity fC
= favorable action
y The exemption OF marsh land
g fom taxation, as covered by the e,
istinr act II was claimed, is vron
II in principle and detrimental 70 IN
lt growth Of the city. These mars
n lands are now exempt from taxatio
e until ten years after they have bee
d filled in and improved. This, II
's claimed enables the ownes OF sue
It lands TO sit tight while the growt
d OF population and the activities
the communities and those who pl
r their land TO good use constant
p enhance the value. In addition, II
n contended. public improvements, Il
a which others are paying taxes ne
.e to increase the value OF these mars
h lands. and as long as the mar'
"A landlords are exempted from taNl
- ton. there is little probability
"a their making any effort TO impro'
their holdings