Milford chronicle., 1930-12-26
MILFORD PASTOR
WRITES GOV. BUCK

{ The following letter has been
mailed to Governor c. D. Buck by
Rev. J. L. Nichols, of Milford:
December 20, 1880
Governor c. Douglass Buck
Dover, Delaware
Dear Sir:-YOur address before
the Taxpayers Research League of
Delaware as published in the Every
Evening and the Milford Chronicle
has interested me.
The data you give certainly shows
splendid condition of affairs in
Delaware.
congratulate you on this and
upon the fine administration you are
giving this State as its Governor.
believe that today Delaware is in the
best condition, both morally and fl
nancially, in its whole history.
The matter that has led me to
write this letter, however, is your
statement that you would ask the
legislature this year to reduce the
income tax, because of having such
a fine surplus this present year.
Certainly that is evidence of thrift
but I am impressed that while it
would be a fine thing to reduce the
income tax, there is another tax
that might be reduced that would
benefit a very much larger number
of people. 1 refer to the automobile
tax for tags and drivers licenses.
The cost in Delaware for tags is
just about double the Maryland tax.
1 am not familiar with the cost in
other states but many cars in Mary
land use our roads more than most
of the Delaware cars. But the real
reason that appeals to me is this:
There are thousands of people us
ing cars to go to and from work. 1t
is one of those instruments that,
while it is a useful tool, it is also a
luxury at times and one of the few
luxuries within the reach of poor
people.
Again, reduction of the income
tax would not benefit any but those
whose incomes are great enough to
more than own car, but all would
share alike this reduction for prac-
tically every person in Delaware
who pays income tax owns a car or
cars.
1 am really (and very earnestly
making a plea for the poor man.
There are hundreds of people in
our State who have work at this
time because they have cars and can
work at a distance from home. Very
few of these will ever have income
enough to be taxed.
Again, Mr.. Buck, if your patience
will hold out to read this poor plea,
there are always those who are
ready to make a plea for the man
of means but the poorer man, some-
how, does not get much defense in
such things. The fact is that those
very people that we call poor, are
working people. They are the people
who produce the wealth of the coun-
try. The great business men may
be generals of business" but the
general can get no where without
an army.
Just at this time it is obviously a
hardship for many a poor man to
pay $14 for license to run his car
next year. OF course some license
is necessary but it seems to me that
if we have a surplus and are in the
fine condition to be able to reduce
taxes, the right place to begin would
be where it is more a necessity than
a convenience.
l would not be at all surprised if
some of the members of the legisla-
ture have less income than enough
to be taxed and would share the
benefit if the automobile tax should
be reduced.
AS a citizen of Delaware l would
like to suggest that the cost for tags
be reduced at least fifty per cent
and that the drivers license be ex-
tended to cover three years or be re-
duced to So per year.
1t seems to me that it would look
more symetrical and far more dem
ocratic to begin our tax reduction in
this way.
l have the honor to be,
Most respectfully yours,
J. l.. NICHOLS |