Smyrna times., 1929-01-16
CAPITATION TAX OF $500 ON
ADULT DELAWAREANS is SEEN

HULL UlLHIIhIlLHII0 Id OLLn
THIS To SUBSTITUTE THE $500
FILING FEE OF TWO YEARS AGO
If Such Bill Passes 1t is Believed
Kent and Sussex Will See Lower
Taxes-Legislature Down to Work
With the Inauguration over, the Del
aware Legislature to-day settled down
to business and much activity from
now on will take place in both Houses.
There is every indication that the bill
providing a 50 per capita tax for
every adult resident of the State will
be passed by the Legislature. It is
said that the members of the Senate
and the House from Kent and Sussex
Counties are in favor of the measure.
One of the reasons given is that Viii
mington and New Castle County have
the most taxables, and the lower coun-
ties see a chance that the revenue will
be so increased there will be opportun-
ity for other taxes to be reduced. The
capitation tax will go into the gen
eral school fund. The capitation tax
is to replace the old filing fee of So,
which was repealed two years ago.
The filing fee was probably one of the
most hated laws on the books. People
in all parts of the State protested
against its payment and thousands
did not pay it until the tax depart
ment began to bring them into court,
collected the tax and imposed fines.
1t is also expected that the school bud
get Of S3,OOO,0O0, for two years, will
be passed with the backing Of the Ad-
ministration. Although no promises
have been made, it is practically Ger
tain that, if the appropriation is made,
Wilmington will get S1,OO0,00O from
the State to ad it in conducting its
schools, instead Of 100000 as form
erly.
Move For State Utilities Board
Though but little has been heard o.
the proposition Of State Wide It'll
I ity Bill since it was first proposed by
the State Grange, it is declared that
the matter is not asleep and if the
proper kind of bill is framed it Is
not believed there will be any serious
objection to its passage. On num-
Der Of occasions efforts have been
made to pass such bill but the plan
was opposed By the public utilities Of
the State and the measures were kill
ed. In the past few years however,
there has been vast change in utility
matters. The automobile buses are
cutting in On the business of the rail-
roads and at present there is no effec-
tive method Of controlling the bus
business outside the city Of Whining
ton. It IL pointed out by some, that
unless a way is found to control the
number Of bus lines and the number
Of freight truck lines, the business Of
the railroads is going to continue 70
slip away from them. What was re-
garded as interference a few years
ago, would be regarded as protection
now.
Opposition is Believed to Be Remote
Numerous representatives Of utili-
I ties VINO nave ulSGuoo6u liz AAeA1SSi
with friends, informally, have declar-
ed that the utilities were not likely to
fight the proposition provided that the
bill provide for salaries sufficient to
insure the appointment of the right
kind of men and the place was not
made a mere political proposition. It
| is declared that the Grange had no
idea Of politics when it decided to pre-
sent the measure and therefore the
bill is expected to be of the kind that
will command general respect. Action
on the Senate Bill which would raise
the salary of the Secretary of State
from $4,000 to $4,000 a year is expect
ed. Senator w. A. Simonton, of Will
mington, who introduced the bill last
Wednesday, pointed out that it will
not INCREASE the pay of the Secretary
of State, due to the fact that the hold
er of that office now derives a salary
of $1,000 annually from duties as sec
retary of the State Board of Supplies.
As it is proposed to do away with this
board in another bill to be presented,
the salary of the Secretary of State
will remain the same. The work OF
the supply board will still be carried
on by the Secretary of State.