Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-06
.xVppYIN0 THE WATERS.


II pleasss tho Dover state Senu-
mel, ardent defender of the ridiculous !
and impossible "f,ling tax for school
purposes, 10 insist that Every Evening |
n purpossiy sndcavoring to muddy |
the waters" no that the public will
not be able to sec the wisdom and SUI
pepr,or virtue OF this notable enact
mcnt. But. Judging by the vagaries
of our Dover contemporary. and Its
insidious squirming In endeavors to
make the law appear fair and straight.
Il is not only cndesvoring TO muddy
the waters" but is succeeding so far
ss its alleged arguments are con-
ecrned.
We are prepared to say. emphau-
cally. that Every Evening has never
opposed any measures to require all
our people to pay something annually
towards the support Of their State
and local governments. All that we
have objected 70 were devious schemes
of our lawmakers. for many years,
90 unload the larger part Of the ex-
pense upon the people OF Wilmington,
In n shamclessly unfair manner. to
the decided benefit OF the rural sec
,ions of the state. How this has been
done for years Is plainly apparent in
our State Revenue laws. and most
conspicuoualy In the manner In which
tho State Income tax has been as
aess.d and collected In the past, as
shown by official reports. We hardly
believe our Dover contemporary. with
all i,s efrrontery, will hold that this
law was fairly administered in the
rural sections. And our objection TO
the films tax il not based upon its
cs,ens,hie aim 10 compel every citi-
zen 10 make contribution Of three
dollar. annually towards the support
OF the schools. but the ridiculous man
nor IN which provision is made for
the assessment and collection Of this
ux. and the humiliation these mea-
surcs viii impose upon many persons.
our contemporary says that Ever,
Evening has been in-istent upon MAX
ing real estate carry the whole tax
burden OF New Castle county. This
is surprisinr. indeed. when for years
Every Evening has been fighting tas
systems which operated in that dlrec-
tion. We have protested against the
abolition Of laws that required ths
payment ~ capisation tax by all vot-
err, and the subsequent constitutions
provision for payment OF a dollar reg
ssustion fee m each year Of a genera
election Here were taxes that reache,
IN. individual. thus tending to reliev,
real estate. bat they were abolished an,
voting made absolutely free. How
Gan real estate escape unjust burdens
of taxation when all endeavors Il
reach the individual. even TO a Sigh
extent. nre thus abrogated?
As to school taxes IN Wilmington
which. In the opinion of our Dove
contemporary, are mystery TO th
taxables, there " no nisunderstandin
on the part Of the latter. The sys
tenn for years has provided for
separate school assessment and tn
levy,nE OF separate school tax, not
withstanding that for long perio
the schools have been maintained
snnu~i appropriations allotted by Cit
Council. Each taxable knows to n
last cent how much OF his municip;
tax goes 10 school purposes and no
much 10 city purposes. The divisio
up to the present time has been cles
ard distinct.
We have shown how the Dove
State Sentinel proposed to relic,
poor and distressed taxabies from II
fl.ng tax imposition through the at
nnEis,satorr OF the law using the
judgment" Now it takes dinerel
course although trending in the san
direction. by intimating that when
comes down TO the details OF pra
teal operation the administrators
the law will not be lacking in II
mice discrimination that separates II
poor from the good citizen" So, Il
law ir 10 be enforced against -xo
citizens' only But does II conta
any authorization Of such palpal
discriminationg
chc truth of the matter Is that I
INV. despite lis practical and bul