The Wilmington Democrat., January 12, 1901, Image 1

About The Wilmington Democrat. (Wilmington, Del.) 18??-19??

Image provided by: University of Delaware Library, Newark, DE

                
THE WILMINGTON DEMOCRAT
)■
The Only Democratic Newspaper Published in Wilmington
WILMINGTON! DELvWARL SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1901.
PRICE TWO CENTS
VOi,. 3, NO. 2
I
The State
Defrauded
of Revenue
THE PROOF IN THE CASE OF
THE PHILADELPHIA,, WIL
MINGTON AND BALTIMORE
RAILROAD COMPANY.
We said last week that this railroad
ought to be paying the state $122,000,
while it only pays $40 000; making a loss
to the state each year of $8a,oco.
[864 the Delaware Legislature
placed a capitation tax on railroads ol
ten ptr cent, per passenger.
In the twelve months beginning with
December 1864 and ending November
1865, the P. W. & B. R. R. Co. actually
paio to the slate Ihe sum of $toi, 7244 >.
What would that tax produce now i(
In
honestly collected ?
In 1869 it placera tax on railroads of
ten per cent, on their net earnings ar.d
one half of one per cent, on the market
value oi-their capital stock.
The United S ates Supreme Court up
held this law alter the P. W & B. R R
Co. had fought it until the court of last
resoit decided against the railroad.
In 1873 this railroad jumped at the
chance, (and presumably worked the
Legislature to get the chance) to com
these taxes "until otherwise
promise
directed by law" for the sum of $41,000
per annum. _
What ought this railroad to pay the
sta'e now, even on this basis oi com
promise ?
The business of the railroad in 1871
compared with the last yeat'fc furnishes
this comparison ;
Passengers carried in 187t, 1,608,033;
in 1899, 8,465 523 (On whole system )
Tons ol freight hauled in 1871, 348.2t6;
in 1899, 8,193742 (On whote system.)
Gross earnings in 1871, $2,678,865 c6;
in ifk)9. $5059,167.11. Net earnings, less
ppera'inv » xpe.nsesin _)87(, » 1 .<69 "'V 7 °l
in 1899, ^1,635929.08. Amount ofVTpital
stock outstanding, at par in 1S71,10997 -
900; in 1899,, $11,819,350.
If the capitation tax in 1864 was $101,
624.40 what would it be now ?
II the railroad company wotked f.r
and jumped at a chance to compromise
its taxes for $40,000 in 1873, what ought
it to pay now ?
Let's try to figure it out ;
The proportion of the line of the P.
W. & B. Railroad in the state of Dela
ware is approximately twenty-five per
cent, or one quarter ot the whole line.
Oae-tourth its net earnings were in
(871, $267,485; in 1899, $408,982.
One-fourth the maiket value of its
capital stock was in 1871, at $50, $2,249,
475; ia 1899, at $75; $4,432. 25 6 -
Its capitation tax in 1864 was in round
figures $ioo,oto. We can only guess
what it would be now. Suppose we cut
that amount down to only $60,000. The
railroad company cannot complain that
is unfair treatment.
The par of the P. W. & B. R. R. Co.
s ock is $50 and the maiket value is $75
per share, while practically it can hardly
e /er be bought at that price, and the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company holds
the cor trol.
This then is what the company ought
to be paying to the state according to a
moderate calculation :
loti on X its net earnings,.. $ 40,892
)4 of 1% on X°f the maiket
value of its stock.
Capitation tax only guessed at
22,161
60,000
$ 123.053
Total tax ought to pay .
Annual payment actually
made .
40,000
See what the state is losing.. $ 83,053
Now "What are you going to do about
it?"
That's the question Boss Tweed asked;
that's the question the Railroad Boss of
Delaware dares the newspapers to talk
about, and if they do so—no m >re free
transportation.
Take the case of the P. W & B, R. R.
from another point of view :
Put it on the same basis of taxation as
any honest and industrious mechanic in
Wilmington who owns the little house he
lives in, worth say $iooo. What tax
does he pay ? Why 50 cents on the $100
to the county and $1.50 on the $iod to the
dty, or a total of $20 per annum.
Now take the railroad. Its balance
sheet of October 31st, 1899, showed it
-possessing property worth $24,591 270.8S
One lourth ofthat great amount is $6,147,
817.72. That amount represents the
prayo-i'»'! of the railroad in Delaware.
It certainly ought to be taxed as much as
the mechanic's house. If it paid taxes at
the same rate the state would get rot
$40,000 but $122,956.35, or just about
what we figured out above under existing
laws.
Why is the W.lmington mechanic who
can't get special acts of the Legislature
passed for his benefit, discriminated
against in favor of the railroad whose
business is created by law.
What will the people do ?
The Legislature is in session—let the
members answer. "
Have we proved the case against the
P. W. & B. R. R. Co. in favor of our
Mechanics and Manufacturers?
The case of the Delaware Railroad
Company comes up next week.
Local News
and Comment
Ex-Levy Court Commissioner Harry
M. White, is wearing a happy smile
again, we suppose that the old political
tide is drifting his way.
If you want to get good returns for
your advertising use the columns of The
Democrat.
Who will be our next candidate for
mayor ? .
The stock holders of the Hartmann
and Fehrenbach Brewing Company held
their monthly meeting last Thursday.
The new city charter is a good one
and should meet with the approval of all
good citizens.
Do not forget to read our articles on
the merchants and manufacturer tax.
There is plenty of time for our law
makers to help the state and repeal all
laws against the merchant and manufac
turers' interest.
Manager Jesse K. Baylis, of the Grand
Opera House, has been indisposed for |
some Cme but hé^rrïS^soon be around'
again.
Chief of Police Eugene Massey lias so
far made a very efficient officer and has
given general satisfaction to the citizens
of Wilmington.
Advertise in The Wilmington Demo
crat»
John D. Kelley, proprietor of the
Logan House, seems lost since his old
kicker fell iu the hands of our peace
guardians. Some of Kelley's friends
says that there has not been a kick
around Hotel DeKelley since long ears
wandered from his own stable yard.
Why don't the Every Evening help us
to save the State Revenue ?
Well, the boys have passes and the
owner is a director of-the railroad. So
they »ay.
Why will our merchants advertise in
the railroad newspapers when they will
not help to relieve them of taxatk n ?
Think of it, meichants. We are trying
to help you. Give us an ad.
The Harlan aud Hollingsworth Com
pany shipyards present a lively appear
ance, also the Pusey and Jones Company.
Third street bridge repairs is progress
ing slowly and causes a great deal of
delay to the street car travel, aud there
is no end to complaints.
•it*
The burned building of F. A. Mitchell
will soon be toru down to the foundation
walls, and when the new building is
complete he will have one of the finest
in this city of that kind.
The Ferris Reform School inmates
finished last Monday putting in oue
hundred tons of ice.
extra help employed.
TSere was no
1 he Cleai field Repub'ican, one of
the strongest and best Democratic
weeklies in the state, has been sold by
Owen & Short to the Clearfield Pub
lishing company. George M. Bigler,
a prominent member of the Clearfield
county bar, is the new editor. George
E. Owens, who has so ably conducted
the paper for the last four years, will
continue to contribute to its columns,
at least for a while. He is now in
Harrisburg to report the legislative
proceedings for city papers. Under
its new management The Republie: n
will continue to advocate Democratic
principles.
I
IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE.
Don't fail to show this papjr to your
Republican fiiends who knov members
of the Legislature.
Republicans and Democrat' alike
interested in relieving our me: hants and
manufacturers; get them to write their j
members what they think of i te platform I
"Repeal taxes on merchants nd manu- 1
facturers."
Make the railroads pay their just
taxes.
are
•*
We understand ihe P< nnsylvania
Railroad Company is trying Ho kill o'T
the steamboat line betwee - Frederica
and Philadelphia.
Representative Hardtsty aid his con
stituents know all the facts'? What do
they think of the pialfotm ? ,
1
Repeal the taxes which b irden down
our merchants and roanuhnurers and
make the railroads pay their ust taxes.
That is our platform; here ■* no
special politics in it, just p!ai ; L justice.
A Democratic friend wan f us not to
give out pointers on this Rdlioad Tax
matter because the Addick ' is in the
Legislature will take it up aril make lie
railroads pay fair taxes and yrus get the
benefit of it for their party.
We can't see it that » ay. Simple
justice to our oppressed merchants,
manufacturers and fanners is what we
want, and we believe if the knowledge
and appreciation of the facts can be mace
clear to Democrats they will.be on y tco
glad to right the wrong and .hare in the
applause the people of this
give.
state will
The Smyrna steamboats .have given
cheaper grain rates to j^iladelphia.
Senator Clements and Rdt
M .ore, Hutchinson, Wright)
and their constituents knv<
entail ves
(ï-Scotten
he tacts
What has the railroad donelJ break down
water freights ?
What will you do about i' l 3 '
How do you like our i#» I'm—"Rt
peal the tîixes on merchant-Maiid manu
facturers and make „the à&roads pay
their just taxes.''
|
fiîeTîîlawaie .»i
duced the wages ot its sec^l
maintenance of way men *
* t
1 hands and
ho have no
Union. The men struck. ;In less than
sixty days the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, which owns and j operates the
Delaware Railroad, paid a!n extra divi
dend.
01127 na I
m,ig(.w I
» 402 , 792.91
RAILWAY NEWS.
Dover, Jan. 10 .—The FoTty-oiinth con
secutive annual meeting of tho consoli
dated Delaware railroad Company, was
held at he offices of the company at
the depot here at noon to-day.
The report of the direi tors submit
ted makes the following showing for
the year ending October sjl, 1900 .
Total mileage, 224.38
GENERAL* INCREASE JACCOUNT.
Earnings:
Freight ...
Passenger
Malls, express, etc_ 100,183.97
ilas.
l
1899
. .$1,101.434.16 »896,833.92
444,422.21 404,576.44
Gross earnings ...»1,646,86(1.34 »1,391,536.46 |
Increase— »286,123.88.
Expenses:
Total
1900.
operating
penses .>1,112.44' .9:
Increase— »265,123.88.
»988.743.52
19/
Net earnings ..»534.21o.37
Increase— »131,426.43.
1899
!.-•
Net increase . »430,540.72 »332,390.16
Increase— »98,150.66.
After deducting amount transferred
to extraordinary expenditure fund,
the report shows that there was trans
ferred to the profit and loss credit,
» 11 , 313.22 as against $G 3 , 162.66 trans
ferred to the same credit, in 1899 , an
increase of $ 98 , 160 . 66 , and 1 the total
balance now to the credit of profit and
loss ls $ 898 , 206 . 41 .
New passenger stations were built
during the year at Fairmlhgton, Towns
end and Brldgeville. The trln mileage
freight and passenger, during the year
was 1 . 057,670 miles, an increase of
36.884 miles.
The general balance sheet shows as
sets to be $ 5 , 621 , 569 . 72 , an Increase of
* 278 , 083.32 over 1899 . Liabilities, $ 5 ,
621 . 569 . 72 .
Sinking fund No. 1 ., receipts were
$ 13 , 939 . 69 ; expenditures. * 13 , 752 . 50 .
No. 2 .. receipts, * 19 , 770 . 29 ; expendi
tures, * 19 , 387 . 07 .
The meeting was followed by a ban
quet at Hotel Richardson.
Forty were present at the meeting.
The only change In the hoard of di
rctors was the election of Walter O.
Hoffecker for John H. Hoffecker.
H. F. Kenney was elected president;
E. Tatnall Warner,
Manlove Hayee. secretary and treas
urer. All were re-elected.
A banquet followed at the Hotel
Richardson.
vice president;
THIS DOG BELIEVES
IN EXPANSION.
New Castle, Jan. 10 .—Seventy chick
ens in the coops of Joseph Murray, John
King and Mrs. Mary Kirkhead, were
killed by a dog some time Monday
night. In the coop of Mr. Murray every
chicken was killed. Should the dog
resume its death dealing mission any
time in the future the animal will Be
dealt with mose severely, for every
chicken! owner in the city has a loaded
run or revolver in waiting for tho
beast.
THE DEMOCRATIC DUTY.
Forces Must Combine and Con
solidate.
0ABBOT BET ABIDE PEINOIPLES.
Question of Leadership Is of Least
Importance and Will Bo Decided
by the Voters—Test of Party Mem
bership—Fealty to Platform and
Candidates.
-
There have been several ebullitions
from Princeton, and there have been
speeches delivered in Lincoln!' all of
which mnst stand for the Importance
the Democratic votera of tho country
may choose to give them, says the At
lanta Constitution.
The battle for Democratic leadership
.Will »of course run along with the ef
forts of the Democratic voters to .place
themselves where they can be most ef
fective. The voters have been balked
by defeat, but wherever a compact
mass of 0 , 300,000 men is to be found,
coming within a fraction of being the
majority, tho majority for the time be
ing will be uneasy, while men who snt
upon the fence, as well as those who
fought In the ranks, will hasten to get
withlu the limits of probable success.
The man who sleeps in battle receives
the same treatment in court martini
with the one who deserts, military law
recognizing no difference In conditions.
It Is not often that a draft Is made
upon the enemy for a leader or that
the one who furnished aid and com
fort to the enemy Is exalted above the
men In the trenches. There are today
two sets of men in the country—the
defeated Democratic hosts, haggard
with loss of blood and not yet recover
ed in spirit. Their depression of feel
ing Is honorable to them, since It has
come as the result of a good fight and
marks the political party as wounds
do a soldier. The other class is form
ed of thebnemy and of the opportunist,
the one fought us openly and the other
screaming out the derisive taunt of "1
told you so." Very well, l^Jjthnt be the
extent of their service. The taunt may
be unpleasant, but it neither disposes
'the fighter to surrender nor Improves
his opinion of the dodger.
As ȣ. Bryau has declarecL Demo
cratlc principles still live. TriedTTr tTTÇ
battle, true to his party, he Is entitled
to all the honor accorded by tradition
to be nominated chief of the party.
Another, who was not found where
fidelity and gratitude demanded that
he should be, sententlously says, "Give
the rank and file a chance." riaelng
these two exponents side by side for
the present purpose, their expressions
amount to the same thing in effect.
Democratic principles cannot be set
aside by opportunists, but In the hands
of the rank and file they will he up
held on every proper occasion. The
defeated nominee for the governorship
of Indiana speaks for the Democracy
of his stale, and In the same spirit will
the answer come from all along the
red line marking the conflict of oppos
ing forces. But there Is one point
which would be well to keep in mind,
I nna that ls the D <t moc,ntlc llm ' ls now
I aI1 flle The rank stau ,i s wide open
Whether those who
have heretofore Btood In the favored
places shall continue to do so depends
altogether upon the will of the file.
This brings us to the point which we
desire so much to emphasize.
form of government every popular
movement is from the ground floor up.
The file is on the ground floor, and it is
composed of the men who have sup
ported the party action. It matters not
that they may have differed In policy;
that some would have preferred one
course nnd some another. The test is
the deposited ballot. In every state
this file will move In its own way. a
unit upon basic Democratic principles,
but divergent more or less upon tem
porary or current Issues. By and by
these leaders will be called into nation
al convention, to which they must
bring their works ns the best claim to
a hearing. There an agreement must
be reached in which all cannot be suc
Sorue men must surrender
| tor promotion.
Under
our
,
cessful.
cherished opinions for the public good,
but the sacrifice will be on the altar
of party for the good of tlie country
which enn best be served by that party.
In 1802 tbe Democratic presidential
candidate, in a letter to tbe editor of
The Constitution, claimed as bis right
the personal support and vote of every
Democrat, notwithstanding their oppo
sition to his financial views. The claim
made by him was that the party had
acted nnd that the success of tlie gen
eral principles of the party was of more
importance than the success or the de
feat of some personal view held by the
candidate. Answering this appeal to
party loyalty, the Democracy of states
Intensely free silver in tone voted for
Mr. Cleveland and elected him. The
fact that Mr. Cleveland In the election
following failed to stand by his own
declarations as to what constituted pap
ty loyalty Is his personal misfortune
and does not affect the principle at is
Be
BUG
There will be another movement
among the Democratic hosts.In which
Democratic principles will lind expres
sion in language best suited to the par
toe couTÏJétlée or* the' fflSSBea will tie
called Into leadership. That the views
so expressed will he to the liking of cv
ery voter Is a mental as well as a phys
ical impossibility, but It will be the du
ty of all Democrats to stand by the
platform and the nominees, whether
such act brings victory or defeat.
The battle of consolidation and of
education-Is the Democratic duty, and
the file will see to it that. it is carried
on.
LOSING Hla SEfi LEGS.
Mr. Ilnnna la fils Anfter Has Drop
• ped His Sheep's Clothing,
Mr. Hanna caused himself to be re
ported as saying that the lobby Is on
the side of the ship subsidy bill op
posed to him, and that he wishes that
bill to go through the senate on Its
merits, says the Kansas City Times.
He expressly- names the owners of
foreign steamship lines us opponents
of the bill. This is partly true only,
like all else advanced in Its favor.
With the ship subsidy bill a law Mr.
Hanna would direct, through middle
men, the purchase or charter of every
English steam tank now lying up In the
estuaries of that Island, holding the
chartered ones at a certain rate that
would give him all the fat oft the sub
sidy. Tills done, he and his railroad al
lies would cover the north passage with
these hulks, all filled with freight and,
having limited passenger accommoda
tions In conjunction with the transcon
tinental roads, hold a veritable clncli
on passenger and freight trafiic for 20
years at an enormous gain on the cost
of chartered or purchased ships- These
ships would cut Into steerage nnd sec
ond cnbln fares enough to take profit
out of that service as now performed
by the regular mall and passeuger
lines, and so they oppose it-a very
natural thing for them to do. Thus
far Mr. Hanna is right, but who will
admit that the opposition of foreign
stenmship owners Is a good reason for
voting $200,000,000 into the pockets of
native steamship owners?
If anything were needed to prove the
unmitigated cheek of Mr. Hanna, it is
found In his daring threat to cause n
special session of congress to pass his
pet moasiin* iu case It falls during the
present session. What a reflection this
is upon Mr. McKinley, who must call
this extra session If there is to be one!
Is It not fair to assume that all this
shameful scheme is intended as a
means to repay campaign subscrip
tions? Is *' not fair to assume that
- hfnryus -Aui^v.uiiUc* A."
sees the everlasting dingbats knocked
out of his scheme by popular Indigna
tion, Is losing his sea legs and becom
ing "gnllled" and Is dropping the
sheep's clothing in his anger? Is it not
true that Mr. Nautical Hanna has bur
dened the people enough for one ses
sion and that he and his robber scheme
should be squelched?
a
to
AMERICANS INSULTED.
Taft Commission Appoints
llshinan to Govern Ben Knot.
It is certainly deplorable that the
Taft commission for the establishment
of a civil government in the Philip
pines should have considered Itself re
duced to the necessity of appointing as
governor of the province of Beuguet,
under tho American flag, a subject of
Great Britain rather than a citizen of
these United States, says the St. Louis
Republic.
The logic of this action, even dis
missing Its unhappy slgulflcnuce in oth
er respects from our consideration. Is
depressing to the American miud. If
there are no American citizens capable
of intelligently performing the duties
of the governorship of Benguct, there
are no American citizens capable of
governing the remaining Philippine
provinces. If British colonial experi
ence was found necessary to the proper
management of the affairs of this prov
ince, the same experience will he nec
essary throughout our civil administra
tion of Philippine affairs. We must, it
seems, trust to the superior intelligence
of men whose allegiance is pledged to
the union Jack, praying that they may
be inclined to faithfully serve Old
Glory until we can develop an Ameri
can Intelligence equal to such service.
The American people will not agree
with tlie Taft commission on this Is
sue. They are disposed to believe that
If we must govern the Philippines we
can best govern them through the me
dium of American service—the service
of American men Imbued with the
American spirit. They will fall to see
the wisdom of appointing the English
man Whitmnrsh to an important ad
ministrative post where the dignity and
honor of the American government are
vitally concerned. The Taft commis
sion Is not Justified In its coutempt for
American intelligence. It has allowed
its administration Toryism to overcome
its American patriotism.
F. na
to
Nnraerj of Dividend*.
The shipping subsidy hill is not for
the crew, but for the owner. It will
not serve as a nursery of seamen; It
will be n nursery of dividends for ves,
sol owning companies.—Chicago Trib
une (Rep.).
• ill OJill
O'to. *nd G,» ..
If Griggs bad arguvd.ak-'Mfwogtyn^l^^j
against trusts as 1>4 to*. to.,** 0Wi£i
•S°- - -*ttO*gTO 9dl
THE SPORTING WORLD.
Great satisfaction has been express
ed at the decision of the syndicate that
Is building the new America's cup de
fender for the New York Yacht club
that Captain Uriah Rhodes has been
chosen to command the new boat. Cap
tain Rhodes came Into prominence
while sailing the yacht l>pfendeg,when
she acted as a trial boat for the Colum
bia . He displayed such a knowledge
of seamanship and so many goon qual
ities that It was unanimously voteeL$o
put him In charge of the new boatir
Captain Rhodes lias been skipper of
several well known yachts. Six years
ago he Bailed the famous racing schein
m
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CAPTAIN URIAH RHODES,
er Lasea when Mr. John E. Brooks
took that vessel across the ocean. Last
season he was In command of the
schooner Emerald, owned by Mr. W.
E. Iselln. Rhodes was horn and bred
on Long Island and knows the Sandy
Hook course like a book. He is still in
the prime of life, alert and cool beaded
and possesses the nerve that Is neces
sary In a cup defender skipper.
Pan-American Sport».
One of the features of the Pan-Amer
ican exhibition, to be held In Buffalo
next Bummer, will lie a carnival of
sports, embracing all forms of athletic_
competitions. For this purpose an im
mense arena has been erected. It cov
ers nearly ten acres of ground and has
a sealing capacity of 12 , 000 . The com
mittee In charge of the contests Is ar
ranging an elaborate programme.
Th? astute of tho sports win bo
varied. Amateur athletics will be
strongly encouraged, and college sports
will be made a special feature. Pro
fessional events will be appropriately
featured, and tbo foremost representa
tives will participate. The character
of the prizes that will bo offered has
not yet been definitely determined
upon, but assurance ls given that they
will be of value as souvenirs of suc
cess at the exposition.
The national game of basebaU, which
Is quite as popular Iu Canada as In the
United States, will receive the consid
eration due It. There will be profes
sional and amateur college games be
tween representative teams of North
America.
The Marathon race, which was the
principal attraction at the Olympian
guinea four years ago and again in 1000
at the Paris exposition, is planned, the
start nnd fiuisli to he in the stadium.
The game of lacrosse, which Is ex
tremely popular In Canada and becom
ing so in tiie United States aud else
where, will he played by the strongest
teams.
The celebrated Caledonian games
will he seen, and the popular German
diversion of turning will he a feature.
In the fall there will be exciting foot
ball matches, participated In by the
best college teams.
There will be cross country runs,
wltb finishes In the stadium; cycling,
basket hall, roque, sheeting, gymnas
tics, military maneuvers, cricket, bowl
ing aud other sports.
Two days will be devoted to world's
championships.
"Ken Blow»" In PnKlllsm.
The talk of "new blows" iu pugilism
will not cease. The latest ls a "scissors
punch" to ho used by Ruhlln on Jef
fries. McCoy's "corkscrew punch" was
so thoroughly exploited that many per
sons really believed that there was
such a blow. Frequently fighters In
training say that they have Invented
new blows, and they go into details
about them too. But Fitzsimmons ex
ploded the whole business Inst summer
when he said that Inventing new blows
was all bosh.
"When yon are In a fight," said FItz,
"you have got to punch a fellow good
and hard. If he hits you a crack on
the jaw, you have no time to think
about fancy movements or tricks, but
you have got to sail right in and fight
the best you knoW hbW. If you see an
opening for m solid smash, either in the
body or on the jieqq, Jet your hands go
In for, all you are worth. That's tho
way I believe In doing business, aud I
tove found' It very effective."
isqrqaw :n ? ; M ! 6)—
i!ir.>orrl»»)T«**ajf«tf^! Expense.
ueb legal right to
general as Con
*
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Flu* had to be retired as
0Wi£i ÄT- jca*tel<t,liato IP as«loii und char
tolLf* seul, 7 Ol tiw btf.
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