The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-03

Mules per head, AZ 80 ~ 53 o. w 0aot o. lo
Asses per head. 49 OF So 30 81 18 BAL 59gI
G sttjs per per head head a5 y IS IS SO
E Hogs per Ssr head head 80 e e 1 5S Isl Isl a
DISTRIBUTION OF TAXATION
A statement as TO the distribution
of taxation relating Ito subjects and in
dividual taxpayers may be interesting.
OF the S1,036, 20196 gross revenues de-
rived from all the real and personal prop
erty of the State, there was of nd valo-
rem taxes:
On lands (outside of town lots,) $780,,
TS1.G5, or 23.14 per cent of the whole.
On town lots, 500, 52S.7S, or 8 per cent
Of the whole.
On railroads, Sill, 62446. or 1880 per
cent of the whole.
On all personal property, 1891, 26E0G
or 81. 06 per cent of the whole.
Outside of railroad, steamboat and tele-
graph properties, the distribution among
individual taxpayers OF THE above sub
jects is suggestive. Taking Wake coun-
ty as an example-and it ;s above the
average in assessment of values-'the
average value OF hand per acre being
5000. while the average for the State
erty is remarkable. Over sixty per cent
Of the individual taxpayers of the county
(aa carefully verified by the tax-hsts in
the Office of the Register of Deeds pay
taxes on real and personal property of
less than $500 assessed value. To give the
figures exactly, there are 6,4S4 taxpayers
in the county who pay on less than 5000
of real and personal property; 1,521 who
pay on $500 and less than 81 600; 1,564
who pay on $1,000 and less than $1,000;
221 who pay ON $4,000 and less than
$4,000; 100 who pay on $4,000 and
above. Total number of IA xpayers IN the
county, including the city and the towns,
9,a2a. Or these ], 535 of the first named,
418 of the second, $40 OF the third, IA
of the fourth, and la of the last reside
in Raleigh township, which includes
much property outside the city limits,
making 2,790 of all the taxpayers Of the
lcolTnty residing in Raleigh township.
Upon comparing the several counties with
Wake, a most reasonable estimate for the
State shows that fully eighty per cent of
the individual taxpayers pay on proper
~, real and personal, for all purposes
State, county, schools, public debt, etc
valued at $500 or less. The levy made
by the State on real and personal prop
erty for all purposes is 43 cents; by the
county for general county purposes,
% % CENTS, making the G6 % cents al
lowed by the Constitution. 1t must be
agreeable to at least eighty per cent of
the taxpayers to know that the entire
cost ito them individually OF supporting
their State and county goYernment-ev-
1aozy ylnYsfvy nd
personal, incident to such expenses-is
only So, 33 1-3 cents or less. No higher
tribute can he paid to the honesty and
economy with which the public affairs of
the people have been administered in the
past.
SCHEDULES AB" AND "C'' TAXES.
There has been some increase in this
class of taxes-known as privilege tax
mostly from the tax levied by the last
Legislature upon doctors, lawyers, dem
lists, hotels and boarding houses, and
corporations other than railroad or bank
ing. This increase, as compared with
1894, was SO, 1919 Or this sum 3d.
$500 were derived from hotels and
clearinghouse, $18,790 from doctors,
lawyers and dentists, and SIS, $40 from cor
porations above specified. 1t will be in
teresting to the people to know there are
only 5,136 bedrooms" in the entire
State kept for "boarders, transient or
permanent" it ought to be some COM
fort, however, to learn, as the tax returns
show, there are only 1879 doctors, law
yers and dentists in all the State.
The decrease in the "gross incomes and
profits" is fortunately only $15,663, but
it is to be regretted that the total amount
of gros sincomes and profits only reaches
S550,S93 from all sources and on prop
erty not otherwise taxed"
The merchants purchase tax" in
creased $2,948.S1, from $17,246.26 in
1894 to $40, 195.07 in 1895. The tax on
dealers in liquors--first class" increased
81, 083 .05, from 81, 776.11 to $6,859.16. On
dealers in liquors, second class, in
creased $297 %, from s1,302.75 to 81,
10000.
In the last report Of this department.
suggested to the collectors Of taxes the
Importance of giving more careful atten-
ton to the taxes imposed in these sched-
ules, especially Schedule 'B." | am
satisfied these taxes are not looked after,
in too many instances, as they should be.
Sheriffs are humane people generally, and
of most kindly disposition. Their SYM
pathies are easily aroused, and their feel
ings oftentimes get the better of the
revenue laws made and provided. But
OF all subjects, next to the country doc
tor, which the law givers have solemnly
said must and shall pay tribute unto
Caesar for exhibiting within the jurisdic-
ton Of this Commonwealth, that which
stirs the bowels Of compassion of the
tax-collector from centre to circumfer-
encc, appeals to the sensibilities az the
grave and reverend county commissioners
and the freedom-loving county attorneys,
the circus heads the list. 1t is the "song
that reaches the heart" Notwithstanding
the revenue act says tax OF 800 shall
be" collected from each circus or mena-
gerie foF the State, and the same amount