Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-19
STATE TO HOLD ON
To ALL THE LICENSE
FEES COLLECTED
Senate Defeats Bill to Divert
One-Half to Cities and Towns
for Road Work.
NO SHOW FOR WILMINGTON

Special Dispatch from STAFF correspondent
state House. Dover. March f9.
After animated discussion and many
ioline remarks. tn. senate. this morn
ing iy Il vote nf to l. defeated tho
senate hill diVcrting from tho Stntc
treasu, On" half of lieon4' fees collect
I'd h, clerks - the peace, t. tho use Of
incorporated cities ~ towns and hun
dreds not included in such cities and
towns. for the purpose ~ improving
roads aud highway therein
Senators HiRhncid Lutz. Richnrds and
Robertson voted afilrmnfiv.iy.
Senator Robertson said the question
would probably bc asked what Whining
ton would get Wilmington, h" sud last
year paid sll2 600 in manufacturers and
mercantile licenses and consequently
would get 900 hack
lie argued that Wilmington should be
given something back. lie said the
people of Wilmington consider the state
first and tn" city next. but II Is from
Wilmington that the state expects TO
get III, greater share of the revenue
needed. fIc inquired what would hnp-
pen II Wilmington was wiped out.
status Of Wilmington.
Scnate Alieo remarked W. would
stul have our corporation mill would
~, not
THAT would b. about All We would
have" Senator Robertson replied.
That's all We have now. according
to wilmington. senator Alice retcTted.
Senator Bennett thought the matter
has been looked upon from the wrong
angle II the tax is too great. let
II be reduced" he suggested. lie said
the people Of Wilmington may be pay
ing one-half Of the taxes Of the State.
but they are also receiving one-half
~ the protection Of the State govern
ment Without the state government.
what would Wilmington be2 Or II you
nut a fence around the city, how long
would she exist" Senator Bennett
sked II. added that the people of the
STATE are proud Of Wilmington.
Wilmington Does Not Pay All.
Senator Alec cited State revenue sta
tistics He said Wilmington does not
nay all the mercantile licenses amount
iag 10 SI62 600. OF all The income tax.
amounting to $50 900. He argued that
Wilmington as all other parts OF the
state should help maintain the ex-
.cutiVe department. various State offices
department of justice, etc. He said a
large part of the funds for child vel
farc mothers pensions and Americani-
zation goes To Wilmington. The great
bulk Of the money Tor State highways
KaS spent last year near Wilmington
and the henetitS from such highways
accrue directly 10 Wilmington.
4 claim. said Senator Alice. that
+ nearly 80 per cent Of tho revenue comes
i'm because we are a sovereign State and
metropolitan centre This is a fallacy
about Wilmington paying so much and
getting so little and il can be proved
~ figures.
Senator Robertson remarked that he
was not surprised at the stand taken
hv Senator Alice. He said that of the
Sl62 900 merchantile and manufacturers
licenses paid into the State treasury
last year. sl12.000 came from vii
/ mington
For the sake of argument ! hav,
agreed that all came from Wilmington
Senator Alice replied.
wilmington only wants what she i,
entitled 10, senator Robertson stated
+ Would the State be richer OF poorer
by having Wilmington wiped off L
wilmington Was cornhed would tn,
state be richer or puorcr2" Senator
Robertson asked We might have
little more corn. But there would b,
nobody to cat It or pay for it." he added
Senator Palmer asked Senator Rob
crtson if Wilmington was in need o
money. and remarked that If Whining
ton is in need of any legislation L
enable the city TO raise more revenue
be would be glad 10 vote to give II I,
the city without taking il from the stat,
/ treasury.
Senator Robertson inquired If he un
derstnod that Senator Palmer woulC
support any measure for Wilmington
! IN raise revenue within its borders. Al
to income tax or other ways.
Anything fair and reasonable" Sen
ator Palmer said.
Il will take the Senator az hts wort
on that" Senator Robertson replied.