Milford chronicle., 1921-10-21
TAXES

CBy Robt G. Houston Editor Sussex Republican,
The appointment of the new State Tax Commissioner
is reminder that have new tax law in this State
A new tax that is not only new but an innovation
in Delaware this law taxing the corporations do
ing business in Delaware. The law is not just what II
ought to be- but it is a step in the right direction
Delaware rich in corporations and limited in area
There is sufficient land, however, highly valued to
support the different graduations of government State
County City Town, hence it follows that some
other of wealth other than land must be found to
support and maintain increasing governmental ex-
penses
In later years the Federal Government has resOrted
to direct taxation Money had to be had to meet the
growing expenses of the national government and, as
necessity is the mother invention had to d
taxation Right there the government encroached
upon the revenue the States and their subord
nate government There should be clear line of demark
alton between what the United States and the States
should tax and just distinct line between what the
States counties should tax, and should not en-
croach upon the others source of revenue.
The counties limited to what is within their linn
its or Jurisdiction in the State hence the land should
be left free to be county purposes and liens upon
that land State should not encroach upon this
revenue except to the extent of equang taxes
The should conne its of revenue to those
sources within its reach, licenses income tax and cor
poraton tax The National government should live on It's
and indirect taxation like internal revenue
Delaware be rich in capita wealth This
is, untrue and grossly misleading because Ill
fact the wealth of the individual citizen in Delaware is
not high. We many people. We have a large
number whose daily earnings represents lne
only wealth. some people of means, and few
very few rich men, and these very, very rich Inc
large wealth of the latter when added to the small
wealth of the many divided by the total of our popu
laton large per capita average but every czeh
has not that per capita wealth and we all know IT,
1t is Juggling of figures which sounds big but is alse
We recall only few years ago, one OF W1lmlngtons S
wealthy citizens income three was about
the same as the total of Sussex County Such
men are able and should be perfectly willing to support
their government accordance with their ability to DO so
and they are good citizens they willing to do So
Delaware is small it has the same governmental
machinery as other larger States, not as much OF
course but in proportion her ability to maintain them
it were not fact that Delaware is rich IN cor
porations and men financially able to maintain her. Ii the
tax laws of this State equalized as to require
each citizen to pay the support of the State ana her
subordinate units, according to his or her
ability to do So forgetting that corporation as m
individual Delaware could lead the Union in educaon
roads, and all other evidence of progressive cVlzaUon
This is what the enforcement of the new income TAX
law and corporation to Delaware 1t is epoch
making Deawares future is largely dependent upon IT,
and every citizen will follow with deep personal IN
terest it's administration.