The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-13
GREENSBORO, N. c., Dec. 2 -,

III compliance Nil
the request of the Attornev.G" VIVA
to give you the benefit OF wbatevosita
formation I might obtain reIatinaA
railroad taxation during nv w."
sioual investigation of that suhiaot
take the liberty of calling YOU 49, l
ton to the vast and unacconntsII
discrepancy between the vaIu ALTON w
taxation Of the railroads in this o,s"o
as shown by the auditors renort ~
1889, and the capitalize ton of tTI
same roads as shown by the ut ~
the Inter State Commission on P.1
way Statistics for 1888.
One instance will suffice: The Wo,.
ern N. @. r. R. is assessed for r.T"
ton at $3.50 75 and is eoortad -.
capitalized at SIS, 735, 900, nearly ~
times It's AK valuation, and 6ftv NJ.
cent. greater than the tax valuation ~
all the railroads in this State, which
is given at $40, OO3, 1872 O5.
This capitalization comprises e.
600, 600 of stock and ST. 1876, 600 ~
bonds, being stock at the rate OF S43,
128 and bonds at the rate OF S4l.72I
per mile, a~ggregating a total capital
ization per mile of $84, $40.
The stock and bonds of a railroad
company are presumed to represent
the cost of it's property; which in the
absence of any evidence to the con.
trary is a fair criterion of its value.
and private property in this State ia
said to be assessed on an average, at
least one half it's value.
By this standard the Western N. G.
R. R Co. should be assessed at ST..
867,5OO instead of $3.50 375, as
shown by the auditors report.
Such gross disparity between the
burdens borne by corporation and the
citizen demands redress, espec ally az
it exists, in a great degree, as to other
roads; as for instance, the StatesvIls
& Western, which is assessed for
$56,4OO.OO and capitalized at $780,.
900. 90.
Acting upon the maxim of one Of
the sages of the law, that: BLESSED
be-, not the complaining tongue, but
the amending hand" I venture to
suggest a possible remedy. That is
the creation of a Railroad Commission
consisting of the State Treasurer,
Auditor, Commissioner of Agriculture
and the Chairmen of the finance Com.
miEtees of the two Houses of the
Legislature.
All questions of railroad taxation
should be referred to it, with an ap.
peal to the courts.
This commission would not increase
the actual NUMBER of Offices and would
cost but little, as the members would
pc paid only their actual expenses md
a reasonable per diem while actually
in session. In their different positions
they would acquire information peCp
liarly fitting them for the work of the
commission; while the tenure OF their
Offices and the different sources Of
their election would effectualIy pre-
vent any suspicion Of the commission
being packed in the interest of the
railroads or against them. The Com
missioner of Agriculture should be
member, as he is familiar with the
productive value of farm lands, which
pay the greater part of our taxation,
and which, in their present depressed
condition, should certainly bear only
their Just burdens. When one article
escapes taxation, the rate is necesss rily
increased upon what is taxed; and
what the locomotive fails to pay, must
be levied upon the mule.
The commissioners of the different
counties should assess all railroad
property in their respective counties,
and should send their lists TO tae char
man of the commission. These assess
ments would be simply for the lntOF
nation of the commission, ald mol
binding upon it.
The commission should have TIE
power to elect its own chairman "
sit at different places in the Sta"
when necessary; to summon Wines"
and send for books and papers, and
require such reports from all RAILROADS
as it may deem proper.
In all contested cases the State, "
well as any county or railroad inter
ested, should have the right to appear
by counsel.
While s 1ch a commission would %
created primarily to secure a Just anu
uniform rate of railroad t~aXau)n; J"
the scope of its powers could fro9
time to time be indefinitely ex.endeG
so as Ultimately to include, If oeeD'J
advisable, all the vexed questions"
railroad control.
1 have thus briefly attemPtea y
sketch the general plan of the propose
commission, leaving it to y'ur oS.,I va
Indignant to fl up the details suou'
it receive your favorable consldsrs'lon
W., -iU von1i11y GOO that IN b~