The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-06
TAXES.

power to tax involves the power to
destroy. 1t is a provision which the
people, if they are wise, will be slow
to amend, and it cannot be done ex-
cept by their direct vote. 1t is a
safe guard thrown around our homes
which will protect them and shield
them from the results of revenue
| legislation. AS it is more than
probable that the people will never
vote to abolish so salutary provis-
ion. let them be diligent to see that
It is not evaded. Let them heed the
signs of the times. Remember all
power resides with them, and. if
they fail to apply it. they alone
are bIamable, We frequently
hear men say that property in North
Carolina is valued too low; that
this fact acts injuriously upon the
State by repelling Capital and by
driving emigration from our border.
Such arguments are, we think. wlth>
out force and reason.
The probabilities are that the val
uation throughout the State is far
from uniform. Uniformity Of value
is a result which the legislator ought
to strive to bring about, but q gen
eral increase of value by the Legis-
islature would be unwise. Our OBJ
servation is that property sell
dom brings as much at
cash sales,-public sales, we mean
as is valued a. for taxation. The
mortgagee almost invariably is the
purchaser at all foreclosure sales, and
at less figures than the taxable val
ne. 1t may be said that this is not
a fair criterion Of value. We Will
not now discuss this question, but
we wish to say that this suggestion
Of a general higher valuation is a
specious way by which the provision
of our constitution above referred to
can be evaded. Here is the way it
can be done: A horse is now val~
ued 500. Sixty~slx and two third
cents are paid upon him; increase
his valuation to 5000 and one and
49, 100 dollars are paid upon him.
Now, If there was any necessity
for higher taxation-if the demands
upon our treasury were such that the
present rate could not meet
we should say amend the consti-
tuition and not evade it.
Equalize-neake unif orm-the vaf>
uaSion of property throughout the
whole State, but let there be no
wholesale increase of value. Such a
procedure would put vastly more
money in the state treasury, but
there is. no necessity for more there.
The present rate upon the present
valuation brings in sufficient to NEE.
all just and legal demands. Our
charitable and penal institutions are
well cared for; The salaries of our
offices are high enough, and the
appropriation for free-schools is
ample and sufficient.
1t may be said that as population
increases there will be need of more
officers therefore a demand for more
money. This is true. but there
will be corresponding increase
of property, hence an additional
source of supply. .... -.
1t may be said that the salaries
Of our offices are too low. When
we see the office begging for the
man, We will admit that, but as long
~ there are six or a dozen applicants
for each office, we shall hold that
the supply is equal to the de-
nand at present figures, hence no
necessity for higher prices. 1t may
be said that present salaries are not
sufficient to command the best tai.
ent. This is not so, or else the
fattering notices of the press when
one is made an officer and when one
dies are grievously wrong. We
can see no reason why an officer
should dress better, live better, have
finer furniture. more costly equipage,
spend more time at the sea.shore
and other places of amusement than
other people. 1t is the States bus>
mess to provide salaries sufficient
for the comforts Of its officers, not
for such wants as folly and fashion
and extravaganza may dictate.
A wholesale increase of valuation
ofproperty is one way by which the
article of our constitution referred
to car be evaded. In our next issue
we shall point out another way by
which it is possible for the same
thing to be done.