Milford chronicle., 1957-12-27

llSLeT, MlfiS. fTyOTs QulSicy, hcSui
Richards, Snockley, Simpler, Sne-
decker, Snowden, Walls, West.
Answering not voting-Reps. Ap-
pleford and Keller.
Absent-Reps. Kaufman, Living
ston, Spicer, Tribbitt and Wolf.
In the Senate only Senator Hoey
voted mo-. There were 10 yeas and
six members absent.
The Senate table earlier roll
calls on both bills because it ap-
peared there were not enough votes
for passage. On the personal in
come tax, Senators Behen and Mel
son voted mo-, and Senator Steen
went on record as not voting. They
all switched to "yes" after consid-
cradle off-floor maneuvering.
The same trio switched on the
corporation tax measure, thereby
assuring it's passage. Senator Steen
had been recorded as voting mo-
on this item the first time round.
The new personal income tax
schedule is:
One and one-half per cent on the
first 81 900 of net income; two per
cent on the second $1,000; three per
cent on the third $1,000; four per
cent on the fourth $1,000; five per
cent on the fifth 1000: six per cent
on the sixth $1,000; seven per cent
on taxable income between $4,000
and $4,000; and eight per cent on
income exceeding $4,000.
The old schedule was: per cent
on the first $4,000; per cent on
the next $1,000; 3 per cent on the
next $4,000; A per cent on the next
$4,000; 5 per cent on taxable in
come between $500 and 100000,
and per cent on income over
100000.
The corporate income tax bill
was changed to exempt insurance
companies and to clarity language
exempting trust funds on deposit
in Delaware banks.
A new bill embodying these
changes and Tightening some of the
language at other spots was draft
ed after a public hearing at which
business and bank spokesmen urg-
ed the Assembly to consider any
corporate income tax very care
fully before enacting it.
The gist of arguments presented
during the hearing was tLat a
poorly-written bill might drive
some business firms-particu1a
those which have been attracted
to incorporate here by the liberal
corporation laws and the franchise
tax-out of Delaware.
Speakers included George P. Ed
monds, president of Wilmington
Trust Company; Edwin P. Neilan,
president of Equitable Security
Trust Company; Frank A. Gunnip
of the Delaware Society of Certified
Public Accountants; Gerrish Gas
saway, executive director of the
Delaware State Chamber of Com
merce; Carl w. Harvell and Guy
II. zimmerman, representing life
insurance companies, and Louis
Schneider of the DUPONT Company's
legal department.
1t was Mr.. Schneider who esti-
mated the tax might bring in twice
as much as the expected $5,000,000
a year. He said a survey of the tax
DUPONT and IL other firms-not all
of them large-expect to pay indi-
Gates their share alone will total
about $6,00O,000 a year.
Also given final approval by the
and signed into law by
the Governor last Friday morning
was a bill revoking $602, ,120.45 in
appropriations to the State High
way Department for a series of
public works projects.
This item, held up earlier last
week by opposition in the Senate,
went through unanimously after
Senator Williams failed in an effort
to amend it.
The Roselle Republican submit
ted an amendment which would
have restored $4,000 for a flood
control program on Little Mill
Creek. 1t was batted down, after
an argument, with only six of the
nine votes needed for adoption.
Also approved by the Assembly
and signed by the Governor last
Friday was series of bills aimed
at restoring state taxes on cigar
cites and beer sold at military
posts, notably Dover Air Force
Base.
Three iof these proposals, all of
which were approved unanimous
ly, are designed to put the three
cent tax back on cigarettes sold
at the base, where Senator Behen
said the tax exemption is abused
by civilian purchasers. The fourth
bill restores the state tax on beer
sold under similar circumstances
All told, eight bills were approx
ed by the upper chamber early
last Friday. First came the Della
ware Park bill and then in quick
the bills on cigarette
and beer taxes, which were re-