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

In a letter TO City Council last night |
John s. Hamilton not only made a
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-
sideration. Councilman McManus.
chairman of the finance committee, 60
which Mr.. Hamilton's letter was re-
fered. promised to give It very care
ful consideration with view TO de-
termining whether any OF his ideas
could be put into practical workable
shape.
In his letter Mr. Hamilton said:
Let me protest as one citizen
against this policy of yours OF taxing
business while you let easy and unpaid
for money so free.
Let me suggest something to YOU.
We have two public utilities In VIII
mington which utilities have received
authority from the local Board of Pub
lie Utilities to fix a rate which win pay
an eight pee cent dividend on a valu-
alton made ON their property when
war prices were at the peak. | speak
| about the local telephone company
| and the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company.
II have not the figures before me at
the mopent but they are easily avail
able for you.
MY recollection IL that the tele-
81. l..
dcnd from Wilmington on $4,000 900
of value for which value Il pays no tax
to Wilmington and the Traction Com
! pany. "a l remember il. has an un-
taxed value of more than four millions
which is demanding its toll.
Does not this valuation. every dol
lar Of IL, demand from the government
OF Wilmington as much or more than
the dollar that is charged against the
real estate OF Wilmington?
Does not this valuation, which is
escaping any taxation. Insist on
schools and police and fire service and
streets opened and bridges built and
everything: the house the man lives
i'm or the factory he works i'm or the
store the merchant tries to make his
taxes inT Why tax tho coal bin and
the roof and the blanket on the mans
he'd and allow these other values to
cscapep
why, We guarantee these people
their profits. Could I tell YOU that YOU
tax tho man who takes his chances in
government and allow the mar
who takes no chances to go untaNcd
would I not I've telling you something
, which taxes and rebukcs all reason
, Yet that is what YOU are doing
, This siN million OF dollars I speal
I about. II Il was paying what Il should
I pay and what Il must pay. unless WI
mington is ruined. this ak millior
4 dollars at our present tax rate woul,
s add 20 the income Of the sity Sll4.
q 900 tho year. And there are uthe
= utilities waiting their time 10 get thei
n share Of this easy money which come
n out OF tho blood and sweat OF an in
: nocent people.
y Another thing. The other day
saw statement in a newspaper h,
v Tax Collector Jester, which statemen
= was to the effect that bank stock wa
{, exempt from tho school tax law.
I Docs not Wilmington bank stocl
n demand police and harbors and school
r and fire department and all that IN
: mans house or coal hin or blanket de
Inland? Why should a bank he exempt
K Ia not banks make big mcncy7 Wha
a Is there holy about q bank whic
a would suggest that It is entitled TO liz
o on the sweat az the community
II Now. gentlemen, believe II yo
S look IL up YOU have the authority [
h get money 20 pay for Wilmington
i government. hut don't let the big ma
\ escape while you are outraging III
q little fellow"
Ia Mr.. MCManus thought this won
have been good letter 10 read befol
Is a session OF the State Legislature. {,
d much OF which he complained cou
q. not be remed.ed without leg!slatl-
S. action. lie said the State laws ha,
n. 10 be changed and he thought N
is Hamilton should have been broa,
ID minded enough 70 have known III
r fact.
re Councilman McNabb said Mr. Ham
ton Is a close student OF municip
IN affairs and he thought his ideas al
re opinions worthy OF consideration a.
Is he wanted TO know why banks al
is hank stock and public utility sto,
TO could not be taxed. Mr.. McMan
thought they might be able 10
something with some OF Mr. Ham
IT tons suggestions, hut If theys do 8
tempt TO tax the banks there will
es another howl OF protest, he said. {
same as other taSables have put
and those who are advocating it "
IL then be silent.
~ The members got into a long deba
he on their legal right 20 tax railroa
ne and trolley companies and It develop
&C that there was State law pertaini
se o. this matter but no one seemed
g be quite clear as 10 Just what that J:
'ct provides. some arguing Il prohib
ye municipal taxation OF these utnit
he beyond lump sum per year The
de nance committee, however. will hs
M a report 10 submit later regarding }
SIS Hamilton's suggestions.