Evening journal., 1922-03-21
ROBERTSON SEES
TAX RATE SOAR
(Continued From First Page }

"It is nothing hut mud hole and
viii never benefit the masses of the
people OF the city" Senator Rob
ertson asserted. 1T is a scheme
to- enrich the Golfers of few So
iect Commercial concerns Of this
city. The city does not own foot
OF land on the Delaware river front
and this scheme is located off that
river and up in the Christiana.
'It is fact that TO keep thai
channel open the United States
Governments has officially warned
the city that 10 will require t175.-
GOO a year. And I repeat that this
scheme will benefit only private
concerns and increase the value on
property adjoining 81. not an inch
OF which - city owned" he added.
Senator Robertson said that II the
harbor and school bond issues are
approved the total bonded indebted
ness Of the city will reach 1.-THE
staggering hgure NJ si0.356.0 600.
within approximately fl.OOO.000 Of
the limit OF the city's borrowing
capacity.
'If We go this far. we are in a
dangerous position II will become
/ increasingly dimcult 10 sell the
city's bonds and we are adding =
tremendous sum 10 our already large
interest charges" Senator Robert
son said that a bond issue for an
additional tl.Oo0.o00 would bring
the annual interest charges which
the city must meet up 10 s45o.Ooo
He said that would mean an in-
4 crease in the tax rate OF II 1-2
cents. The Sena-~ said the tax
rate which the citizens would then
he called upon TO pay on real es
tate would reach f3.22 including tho
county tax rate OF S1.01. These
madcap spendthrlfts must be
checked or the city will soon face a
s. tax rate" Senator Robertson
warned.
Senator Robertson then presented
several plans for increasing the city <
revenues f3sO.O0O annually He
said that the city should demand
so per cent return on license fees
paid the State and said that n the
proper methods were used" this
could be accomplished
He advocated tax on marsh
lands within the city limits. This.
he said, would yield $4,000 a year.
He scored members or the Cham
her OF Commerce. Rotary and Lions
clubs" whom he said owned marsh
lands and fought a tax on them.
The consolidation or city depart
ments would yield $50. 900 a year
I'D
10 the city charter which failed Of
passage AZ the last session OF the
Legislature. He called it "a
political balloon" and said that ID
the Republicans had not killed it IN
the Senate the Democrats would
have "strangled IL in the House.
He said that this was true despite
the fact that he supported 60 anc
. mustered II votes In the Senate fo
. IL.
The speaker advocated a reduc.
tion IN salaries now paid city EN-
ployes TIE salaries OF some on
, cials. he said. had been increased ~
per cent. or more since 1915 HI
advocated a reduction OF not mor'
than so per cent. Of the increase foi
b
crease n IS per cent. or more 81
their salaries. and a reduction NJ %
e per cent OF the increase for thos'
r who have received less than IS PEI
cent increase. Such a reduction. III
T said. would save the city Si5O.OOO.
A., Senator Robertson spoke at con
siderable length on salary increase
, in the city departments. He sal,
that the present annual salary b.l
o OF the city. outside the Board o
= Education. amounted 10 S704.OOo
Several OF his hearers question:,
him concerning this figure and n
quoted the following departmen
figures which does not include Ia
10 borers:
Park Board. $4,000. miscellaneous
$4,000: police. t262 900. fire. 1919.
900: Street and Sewer Department
: t3i.5O0. and Water Department
, S31. 500. a total Of S7O4.Ooo He sal
{, that these figures represent an In
crease Of 17S per cent. and as IN
;. taxpayers have had 90 take wag
j, cuts during this period. the city EN-
ployes should be reduced.
4, Robert d. Kemp. president Of IN
/, Sinking Fund Commission. spok'
following Senator Robertson In ref
b, erence 10 the latter's warning lbou
Z reaching the city's borrowing capac
ity. He said he wished 20 repea
the warning he had given City "ouu
-. ell several times that TO continu
4, borrowing was dangerous to IN
interests OF the city" Mr.. KEN
defended Councilman James NJ,
Msnus chairman Of the finance CON
~ mittee OF City Council. saving ths
m he had big task and was doin
il we'll"
. Prior to the discussion. Dr. Davi
n A. Ward. superintendent Of school
Il explained the present school syste
II in Wilmington.
II DR.. Victor ID. Washburn a men
II her Of the School BOARD spoil
II against the plan outlined by Ser
I ator Robertson. saying FOR Ia!
\ man 10 state that $500. 900 is enoul
II money 20 build a school is a We
II dangerous statement" Speaking
ii the position OF the board. ne SAL
Il I'VE are Of the opinion that a scho
\ with a pupil capacity OF 1000 is
II step In the right direction"
Or. Washburn said that a sing
II $1,000. 600 structure would not sol
the school problem Of the city b
II that it could logically he followed