Milford chronicle., 1927-01-28
PIERRE S. DU POINT
SAYS The STATE TAX
LAWS ARE EQUITABLE
continued from first pageJ

of the State tax on real estate,
barely enough to cover the adminis-
trative expenses of the State. THE
entire school system, including the
University of Delaware, and the en-
tire highway system are no burden
to him directly or indirectly he de-
clared.
Reduction Talk Futile
Mr.. DUPONT mentioned two grave
problems that must be settled by
the State before there is any talk
of reduction of taxes. These are, he
said, the payment of county road
bonds and the school building ques-
tion. He referred to the present
surplus in the State Treasury is a
medium of aid towards the settle
ment of these matters.
He asserted that no radical or
revolutionary changes in the present
tax law are planned and that he is
opposed to any increase In the tax
rate. The final stand of the law, he
said, depends upon the action of the
State Legislature,
At the conclusion of the address
MIR. dupont was asked numerous
questions relative to the tax law by
his auditors, in accordance with the
custom of holding open forums es-
tablished by the club.
UphOlds Corporation Laws
In the course of his remarks he
strongly upheld the corporation
laws of the State, under which he
showed $2,965, ,641.67, or 43 per cent
of the total taxes are collected, and
which represents no burden what
ever upon the citizens of the State.
These corporations, most of whom
do not conduct business operations
in the State, he called 'the goose
that lay golden eggs"
Woe betide Delaware" he warn
ed, IF any attempt is made to kill
the golden goose Or~speed the pro-
duction of golden eggs" He said
the State must encourage the incor-
poration of large concerns in this
State, especially as many states are
looking with enviOus eyes at Del
aware's more reasonable tax laws.
Another share of the State income
which he discussed was that derived
from franchise taxes which amount
ed to S2,O67 ,608.24. This amount is
distributed as follows: 4,S34.66,
from gasoline taxes and automobile
licenses, every cent of which is eX-
pended in building and maintenance
of highways; 1855, S,953.72, taxes levi
ed upon railroads, telegraph, tele-
phone and electric companies, banks
and insurance companies; S2O3,-
2O7O9, miscellaneous licenses OF
which over half or $112,87S.O6 is
paid by merchants and manufacture
ers; $188,037.67, tax on the capital
of corporations doing business in
Delaware; $61,071.11; income from
treatment of patients and hoard Of
inmates in the State hospitals
homes and Industrial schools; $751;
OO3.99, made up of small sums that
are not direct taxes.
These taxes, or Is per cent of the
total revenue of the State, do not
represent any direct burden on the
people.
In discussing the possible reduc-
ton of taxes the commissioner said.
"if we keep on with our present tax
rate we shall dispose of our school
building problem, and then we shall
be in a position to reduce taxes. "
If the people were willing to issue
bonds to finance this program, he
said, taxes could be reduced now
but it would take 40 years to pay
and the citizens have expressed
their intention rather Ito pay as you
60"
He deplored the present discrep-
ancies in the assessment on proper
ties throughout the State and urged
the preparation of a large mar
that would show every property II
the State with it's proper assessed
value as a glance.