Milford chronicle., 1931-01-16
Spccial Commissions

During my tenure of Office l have
faced from time to time important
subjects which it seemed to me
would eventually be given to you
or succeeding legislatures to solve
or remedy-matters that could not
intelligently be passed upon except
after extended thought and careful
study. Not possessing the time or
adaptability in ONE instances to per-
sonally conduct the Investigations,
and recognizing the multifarious du-
ties imposed upon the members OIL
the General Assembly, named spe-
cial commissions to study some OF
the different problems and endeav-
: ored to select in each instance citl-
zens who could be counted on as in
terested and singularly qualified TO
carry on the work. To these many
individuals I take this opportunity
to express my sincere thanks for
their willing and considerate help
/ The special appointments include:
State House Commission.
Oyster Commission.
Commission for State Office Build
ing in Wilmington.
Automobile Liability Insurance
Commission. -.
Old Age Pension Commission.
Aviation Commission.
Historic Markers Commission.
Reports received from several of
these commissions have been print
ed for your information and in one
or more instances bills they have
prepared will be presented for your
consideration.
Inheritance Tax Law
The omissions and mistakes oc-
curing in the Inheritance Tax law
by reason of an amendment to it,
attempted at the last session of the
Legislature, ought to be promptly
corrected. The act is an extremely
important one as it affects income
to the State and it should be re-
drawn and passed without delay.
So long as Delaware retains this
law, the State should provide means
for the proper auditing of apprais-
ais and accounts-rendered by eX-
ecutors and administrators-upon
which the tax is computed. Under
the present system there is no au-
dit, the State accepting what those
charged with the closing of an es-
tate determine the tax to be. This
is manifestly lax business. Respon-
sibility for this work might proper
ly be made an additional duty of the
tax commissioner and | recommend
that the Delaware law relating to
taxes on estates be so amended.
Survey OF County Government
A tax the State cannot relieve the
citizens of, is that levied by the
counties to meet the cost of main
tanning their governments. Local
government should never be usurp-
ed by the State and to the counties
credit it can be said that they can
always be expected to retain their
own. and having it they will ar
range to nay for it. To do this the
bill. as now, will likely continue to
be proportioned among the land ow-
ners and the money necessary TO
pay it raised by taxes. If these taxes
are to be lowered it is self evident
that the cost of county government
must be lowered. Not a few believe
this is possible if county offices
could be consolidated, unnecessary
ones abolished and modern business
methods employed in place of sys-
TENS that may be antiquated. TO
this end the State can materially as
sist by authorizing and paying for
a survey of each of the systems now |
in use. A survey of the sort would
be work for specialists who could
point out defects there may be and |
submit recommendations to correct |
them. In other words it is first ne
cessary to find out what improve
ments could be made and then de-
eide if they are wanted.
Should this assembly by resolu-
tion request me to determine the
cost of such a survey, 1 would be |
glad to do it and report back to you :,
before the close of the session, when |
if you decided to appropriate the
money to defray the expense, the |
work could be undertaken and a re-
port made ready for the Legislature
in 1888.
Merchants Licenses
have been told, though / cannot
verify the statement, that the State
loses a good many thousands of dol
lars from year to year, an estimate
by others in $4,000 annually, i'll
revenue due from merchants Ii
censes. These taxes are now collect :
ed by the clerks of the peace of the
counties assisted by the State reve-
nue. collector. A more business-like
and l think q better
would be to place this re-
in the hands of the
State Tax Department, with the rev.
enue collector as their field agent.
The Delaware Commission For The
Blind
This bureau of welfare work is not |
by the State, though it
receives substantial aid from the
State. For 1880 and 1881, $4,000
each year was appropriated by the
last Legislature.
My knowledge Of the work of the
Delaware Commission for the Blind,
gained in part from a personal in
,pection of the shop and home al
ows me to recommend for your fa-
consideration any reason
able request they may have to sub
nit.
Furthermore, bring to your at
ention that a number of articles