New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-09

A statement of the sources Of the State revenue,
lately issued from the Controllers Department OF
the State of North Carolina, contains some curious
items. Nobody, it seems, can get married In North
Carolina without paying q tax OF one dollar TO the
State: and from this questionable source Of reve-
nue. an income was derived last year of ; ,059 Is
the odd seventy.fve cents, We suppose for three
quarter marriage.
A much more reasonable object of taxation are
bowie-kniyes and pistols, each taxed the same sum
Of one dollar, and bringing in yearly revenue of
$l,9l9. We respectfully suggest to the Legsla-
ture Of North Carolina 10 consider the expedlency
If raising this tax to four or ten dollars, es
pec.lly in the case of all bowieknves and pistols
secretly csrred about the person. Dirks aud
sword-cane would seem to be decidedly less in
favor among the good people of North Carolina than
bowie knives and pistols. Though taxed but fifty
cents, they are so little in use TO produce but
S95. Pianos, we know not by what rule or
reason, stand in the North Carolina financial
point of view on the same level with pistols
and bow knives, being taxed at the same rate;
and what is odd, the amount produced
by the tax is very nearly the same, being
1924. But we mus; not conclude from this
that the nineteen hundred and odd qusrrelsome
men who carry these deadly weapons, are precisely
set of by The same number of harmonious young
ladies' who finger or attempt to finger the piano.
The latter ia bulky article, not so easy to hide
from the eyes of the assessors, while we suspect
good many pistols and bowie-kniyes escape us-
taxed. Harps o. two dollars each produce 81 IN
come to the State Of S64. Why should h,rps be
taxed twice as much as pianos, sni why should gui-
tars, fddles, bass-yols and wind instrg-
ments generally escape taxation at ALL As,
n the interest of the ladies', we pro-
ties. sgainst taxing marriage licenses, so in the
same interest we protect against the taxes harps
and pianos. Playing cards, attwenty-fye cents
pack, produce 1891 %; billiard tables at 800
each, 1850; and bowling alleys, at S25 each, $50.
Circuses ADD shows produce $3.50. There is no
tax CD dancing parties, at which We are little
surprised. Privileged voters, at forty cents each,
pay 1916 80. Who are privileged voters
That is one of the mysteries of North Carolina on
which we are unable to throw any light. Gold
watcher, at one dollar each, produce SO, 942 silver
watches, at twenty FIVE cents each, 81, liS Gold
buu ru'cI P'otc anu Jo"chy Ply WIZ Pa WV
on the value, and produce 81 l25 IS. Pleasure
rages pay from fifty cents to four dollars each, and
produce $751; Carriage vendors pay from $50
to SlOO each, producing 1850 Drugs and medi-
cines sold by agents ore taxed twenty five per cent
and produce 1926 SO. Peddlers pay license of
$50, producing S2,75s. Retailers pay license Of
500, producing 1921. Tayerns and inns and
Livery stables pay SO each, yielding $3.50. Horse
drOvers, taxed at the same rate, yield 1910.
Capital in merchandise, al one quarter Of one per
cent, produce S33, 95l 81 Capital in the negro
trade at the same rate produces 81 2S4 q. Capital
in the liquor trade at Eve per cent, yields S46 800.
The auction and commission business does not seem
to be very hOurishing. The one quarter Of one per
cent auction taI produces only S12 80; the
oDe per cent tax on commission merchants brings in
$50 70. There is a tax Of $500 on express compa-
nies but it would seem there is no company 10 pay
ii. Insurance companies pay $1,000; brokers, at
500 each, $500; turpentine distilIeries, 1902.
Polls, at forty cents each, pay Ss4,9l3; land at
twelve cents per 800, Sos, 1876; town property,
at the same rate, $4,000. Interest received pays
three per cent, and yields S49, 900; dividends on
stocks, at the same rate, S4,5S}. Including few
other items, the sum total is $3.50, i37. The items
above stated are not calculated TO give high idea
Of the wealth or luxury Of North Carolina.