Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-04
]. s. HAMILTON MAKES
TAX LEVY PROTEST
Shows City Council How Reve.
nue. Can be Secured From
Untouched Sources.

OtllOuCflcu SOuiC
In letter to City Council Thursday
John S. Hamilton not only made
vigorous protest against the continued
taxation OF business while other and
more available sources are untouched,
but he offered several suggestions as
TO how additional revenues could be
secured, which members of Council
agreed are good and worthy Of con-
| sderation. Councilman McManus.
| chairman of the finance committee. TO
which Mr.. IIRmilton's letter was re-
| feWed. promised to give II very care
! full consideration with n view to de-
! termining whether any of his ideas
could be put into practical workable
shape.
In his letter Mr.. Hamilton said:
/ Let mo protest az one citizen.
against this policy OF yours Of taxing
business while you let easy and unpaid
FOR money go free,
! Let ME suggest something TO you.
! We have two public utilities in Will
mington which utilities have received
authority from the local Board OF Pub
lie Utilities to fix rate which win pay
an eight pee cent dividend on a valu-
alton made on their property when
war prices were at the peak. I speak
about the local telephone company
and the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company.
Il have not the figures before me at
the moment hut they are easily avail
able for you.
phone company Is collecting q divi-
dend from Wilmington on $4,000. O00
OF value for which value il pays no tax
, e. Wilmington and the Traction Com
pany. as remember IL. has an an
taxed value ~ more than four millions
which is demanding its toll.
Does not this valuation. every col
lar Of il. demand from the government
Of Wilmington as much or more than
the dollar that Is charged against the
real estate 81 WiimingtonP
Does not this valuation. which Is
escaping any taxation. insist on
] schools and police and FIRE service and
! streets opened and bridges built and
D everything: the house the man lives
in or the factory he works IN or the
store the merchant tries 20 make his
taxes in? Why tax the coal bin and
the roof and tho blanket ON the mans
bed and allow these other values q
escape?
Why, We guarantee these people
their profits. Could l tell YOU that OF
tax the man who takes his chances fl
= government ana allow the mar
who takes no chances TO so untaXet
, would l not Ice telling you something
:, which taxes and rcbukes all reason
;, Yet that Is what you arc doing.
This siN million of dollars | speal
J.. about. If Il was paying what II Shout,
. pay and what il must pay. unless WI
:. mington is ruined, this six million
" dollars at our present tax rate woul,
>, add 10 the income OF the city STA.
Il 300 the year. And there are othe
/" utilities waiting their time to get thei
share OF this easy money which come
out OF the blood and sweat OF an in
W uoceut people.
Another thing. The other day
saw a statement in a newspaper b.
Tax Collector Jester. which statemen
WAS 70 the effect that bank stock wa
exempt from the school tax law
Does not Wilmington bank stoc
- demand police and harbors and school
and fire department and all that In
- mans house or coal bin or blanket De
- mand? Why should bank be exempt
do not banks make bis money? Wha
10 is there holy about a bank whic
80 would suggest that IL is entitled to Ii,
= on The sweat Of the community?
- Now. gentlemen, j believe Il 20
- LOOK IL UP you have the authority
- get money 10 ray for WILMINGTON
~ government. but don't let the big ma
.. escape while you are outragiug II
- little fellow"
~ Mr.. McManus thought this Won
:. have been a good letter 10 read befo
= a session Of the State Legislature, f
= much of which he complained cou
=, not be rcmedied without legislati'
-, action. He said the State laws ha-
- 10 be changed and he thought N
"A Hamilton should have been broa
AZ minded enough to have known tn
W fact.
on Councilman McNabb said Mr.. Ham
Nc, ton is n close student OF munich
~ affairs and he thought his ideas al
Ve opinions worthy OF consideration a
np he wanted to know why hanks a
,rt bank stock and public utility sto
10 could not be taxed. Mr. McAIan
cb thought they might be able 10
IRE something with some Aof Mr.. Ham
3" tons suggestions. but # they do &
as tempt 10 tax the banks there will
es- another howl of protest, he said, t
n same as other taxables have put
ing and those who are advocating it "
ng. then be silent.
ars The members got into long debs
he on their legal right to tax railroa
fas and trolley companies and it develop
The that there was a State law PERTAIN
.ag 20 this matter but no one seemed
ion be quite clear as to just what that Il
vas provides. some arguing it prohib
AS municipal taxation OF these utilit
beyond a lump sum per year The
the nance committee. however. win ha
Of a report to submit later regarding J
Hamilton's suggestions.
-
Address by Rev. &. w. Clash.
-, J3o,r -. w CIacy, ,.act0,. ~ Es,,,,,,.