The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-02-25
CAPITAL. A SNEAK AND A LIAR.

CAPITAL, A SNEAK AND a LIAR.
IL isa notorious fact that interest
bearing wealth" Is the greatest tax
dodger on earth. IL gets all the pro.
lection that law can give IL, yet II
never pays IT'S share OF the expensc OF
Government. Real estate cannot hide.
Much Of u 4, not productive for various
reasons. bat no reason can be advanced
that ever " III allow IL TO escap. taxa
ton. Asa matter Of fact, this species
Of property = called upon TO almost
support the entire fabric Of local and
state government.
shape Of notes, mortgage, etc, could
be compelled TO bear its share OF gov
eminent expense, there could be and
would be n scaling down OF taxation
on both, this species Of property and
real estate. This would Tighten the
burden Of the farmers and agricultur-
unduly burdensome on the note holders
and mortgage holders and bond hold
ers, etc, all OF whose property is, by
reason Of its interest bearing nature,
working night and day to rake in the
earnings OF the people against whom
the notes, bOnds, etc, are held.
A few days ago the State Auditor
called the especial attention OF
the joint legislative finance COM
mittee TO the matter, and sug-
gested a plan which might lead
TO the securing OF more equitable
share OF revenue from hidden wealth
than it was yielding. The sugges-
ton wa, that every note, mortage or
bond representing a Solvent credit"
should show that it had been listed
for taxation by some certificate, and If
It did not show such evidence, it
should be non-collectible by law.
There Is nothing complex or unjust
IN this plan. IL does not seek to do
injustice; but great wave Of Opposi-
tion was developed, and that raggedy,
rotten old chestnut about driving out
capital is being resorted to. Well, if
capital does not want to do the honest
thing, let's see if we can make it do so.
This cry of capital being timid is
somewhat true. 1t is timid to the ex-
tent OF sneaking cowardice. When
ever 1t sees an opportunity to Cypress
somebody, enslave some body and draw
to itself the produce of Drawn, brain.
sweat and blood, 1t is bold enough. 1t
will then come out with grand dis
play Of courage and call upon the LAW
to sustain it in it's CALLING, grinding
grasp. But IL capital be asked to pay
for the administration of the la W, then
It becomes "timid." Then it begins to
talk Of legislation '.prejudicial to CAPT.
tai" and that such and such thing
will drive capital out of the State, etc.,
etc.
Well, it seems very difficult at times
to know just what is the proper thing
TO do. 1t Is certain, however, that the
people never desire to play the role of
oppressor. They like fair play, and
like that everything may have even
chances. They don't care to be op-
pressed by capital, but not enough of
them have yet learned sense enough to
prevent this. 1t is time they were
waking up, and it is time that men who
are credited with sense enough to
make laws should show that they are
not afraid to enact laws that will COM
pei capital to bear its proper burden
There should be no prejudicial or re-
strictive legislation, but capital should
be told this: "YOu are here in our
state. You have our protection while
here. You have got to pay your part
Tor this protection. Only your just
share is wanted, and il you don't want
TO pay that, why, get out and be quick
about it.
Capital san arrant liar and never
tells the truth when it is simply trusted.
In order to wiring the truth from
capital, it must be made to show some
evidence of its statements. Likewise
1t never tells the truth when it is al,
turing some one into a speculation.
Truth must be forced out of il. and
that is why We favor the plan sug-
gested, in this article, for making in
terest bearing notes, mortgages, bonds
&c. come out into the light and help
TO pay for the protection they have
Let the plan be adopted.