Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-17
Revenue-Report of the Public Treasurer.

of Mr.. Battle, the efficient Public Treasu-
rer, in submitting a Revenue bill to the
General Assembly, but have not found
space. To-day, to the exclusion of editorial
and other matter, we publish it in full. Its
Importance to every man in the State, the
patient research into the financial Ques-
tons it exhibits, and the great statisti-
cal and historical interest with which it
abounds, mark it as a most valuable State
paper, connected with the subject of Reve-
nue., which every citizen of the State should
be in possession of.
The report was accompanied by a Reve-
nue. bill, which is before the Finance com
mittee, and will doubtless form the basis,
at least, of the bill which will ultimately be
passed, and we should Judge, from the gen
eral favor with which it was received that
it will not be amended in many important
particulars. The report is rs follows:
To tie General AsSeneJy Of NORTH C0'Oliau:
In accordance with the requirement of
An Act, ratified the Bird OF February 1866,
I submit Revenue Bill, with rates SO adj
justed as to raise sufficient sum to sup
port the State government for the current
| fiscal year.
Should it be determined to pay interest
on the public debt, the rates can be easily
raised for that purpose.
Table \, hereto appended gives an APP
proximate estimate of the expenditures of
the State government for the fiscal years
ending Sept. 3Oth, 1868
I have ventured to recommend more
general al rdiOre0e taxation on property
| hos harat nf hnan 'Ih0t
should contribute to the support OF the
! State in proportion to the property they
| possess, seems to me in accordance with
fairness and equity. And Justice to all citi-
Zens requires that no honorable occupation
should bear greater burdens than others
| Such policy should be adopted as will give
! assurance to men of all trades and pursuits,
and all investments of capital, that they
will be impartially treated under our laws.
| think 1t best, however, not to recommend
IL change too violent in the Old mode of
taxation. Though preferring general 0{
ral0rem system, [ have placed subjects,
which, III this State, have always been re
garded rs Of Il sumptuary nature, in Il list
by themselves, to be charged with heaV
Ter rate, though still according to value.
short reference to the history Of the
Revenue Law IN this this State will show
that while we can discern no attempt ut q
consistent system, and defects existed al
most beyond belief. there has been n slow,
but certain approach to the policy l now
recommend.
During the war of the Revolution, except
in 1892, when a tithing law was adopted,
there prevailed, for the most part, general
al U0lOreDe taxation but the machinery for
carrying the assessments into effect seems
not to have been well ad jCsted.
After independence was achieved, for
decades of years, lands and polls, stud
horses, jackasses and pedlars, and occasion
ally billiard tables, had the exclusive honor
of supporting the Government of the State
and its Counties. In 1911, merchants were
added, and at various times, anterior to
1913, were introduced negro traders, jew
elers, turnpike roads, brokers, and tavern
keepers In 1913, when the State embarked
on extensive expenditures for Internal I'm
provements, the financial net was extended
to bring in monied capital, investments in
trading, salaries, gold and silver plate, &c.
The income tax was added in 1853, but the
law was nullifed by the construction, not
warrented, perhaps, that income from prop
erty taxed in any other manner was exempt.
Their construction enabled all, except pro-
fessiOnal men, to avoid the law.
1t is impossible to believe yet such was
the fact, that from the close of the Revo-
ing to quduti,y SO that an acre of barren
huckleberry land on Mt. Pisgah," paid
the same as an acre in the fertile bottoms
of Roanoke. From 1914 to 1884, the as
sessment on land was accordingto its value,
which was ascertained by the oath of the
owner This led to such extensive frauds
that, in 1884, on the recommendation of
Gov. Swain, whose message to the General
Assembly OF that year pointed out i'll strong
terms the inequalities and crudities of the
Revenue laws then existing, the present
plan of valuation, by freeholders selected
for the purpose, was adopted.
Ct is interesting to observe that 1T has al
ways required the patriotic impulses in
spired by war, to induce our Legislators to
do Justice in taxation. In the war Of the
Revolution, the dd ruiOrena system prevailed.
In HE d" second war of independence, the
assessment of land by the acre, enormous
~ oppressive on the western counties, was
abolished and in the civil war of 1861.
there was II near approach to the equal tan
alton of l776. In the fall OF 1861, was
passed al imperfect al raIOrene Revenue
law, and, in the following year, the able
Chairman of the Finance Committee, our
present Governor, reported, in my judg
ment, the best Revenue Bill ever presented
to Il Legislative body III North Car0lina.-
The General Assembly declined /" adopt
all the recommendation made, httt assent
ed to the principle OF taxation on property
according to value, and TINS principle was
not entirely departed from during the war
rhe Convention of 1865, apparently I'M
Irr the idea that it was best to place all
things, as far as possible, stat" qes0 ante bel
Ltm by ordinance, declaring what laws
and ordinances are in force" repealed the
Revenue Acts passed during the war, and
restored the acts of 1858 80, as amended
by the Act of 1860 81, chap. 30.
The last General Assembly made the Act
of 1858 the basis of their action, renew
ing and making more effective the tax on
" Income and few other items, dimin-
ishing the rates of land and monied capt
tai, but making no change i'll MANY other
subjects. The inequalities of this law will
appear from the following Illustrations
Under the law of 1866, land and monied capital,
on the 500 value pay.............. 10 cents.
lnvestme Its III CORPORATE rs aud steam
- vessels .'-.-..... .....- ~
Merchandise, total purchases for year 80
Salaries, cross receipts. 100
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