The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-21

262, 500 acres, thus showing q differ
ence between one year and another.
during the past five years, OF 3i,o"O
acres in that county.
Similar instances could be cited
from nearly every county, but these
will serve to illustrate the fact that
something in the system of listing
needs looking after. Only one ccun-
ty (TyrrelD in the State during the
past FIVE years has returned q uni
form number of acres of land for
taxation every year.
If such irregularities as are here
pointed out can occur under the ex-
listing system with property which is
always visible and stationary. and
with records that ought to make il
easy to account for any change in
volving q decrease or increase, is il
not reasonable to suppose that much
greater irregularities can occur and
will occur in connection with prop
erty that is not yisible-such prop
erty as franchises, stocks, mortgages,
notes, money and other personal
property.
A partial remedy for such discrep-
ancies in returns as are above indi-
Gated rests with the Board OF Coun-
ty Commissioners of each county.
The board is empowered and re-
quired by Law to selec. list-takers
each year whore duty IT is to re.
turn an abstract of the property iu
certain territory for taxation. II
the various county boards could
summon the courage and acquire the
determination to select competen,
men for this duty, immense bene
fit would accrue to both county ana
State. The selection of competent
men involves compensation for ef
fective effort. Ii is not q very usua
thing to ses men capable of doins
good and thorough work renderin6
their services for merely nomina
recommpense. Public service shoult
always be procured with due regart
for economy, but such economy onl,
as can command efficient publ,
service. Such fiiciency as is nee
essary to SO important work as list
taking c.n seldom be commanded
for a ''poblic salary" Of one or tw,
dollars per day. Patriotism doe
not necessarily extend to an exclusiv,
rendition of the best service, In pub
lie business, for any length Of tim,
for a poor remuneration.
Comparative Observation.
The receipts of the public fun,
for the year ending November Both
1896, were 81 ,259 45S. 40. The receipt
for the year ending November 3Oth
1897, we're 81, 292 547. Gan increas,
over 1896 Of $50. OS9 %.
The disbursements for the yea
1896 were 81. IA, 9l7.57. The dis
!, bursements for 1897 were 81 BOB,
904 Ian increase over 1896 Of $50,
9S6 81. The fact that the expen se
Of session Of the g sneral Assembly
are including the disbursements 70
1897 accounts for the increased ex
penditure.
The revenue receipts from res
and personal property we're 50 1SI O
less in 1897 than in 1896; but the rev
enue derived under schedules "B'
and &C." known as privilege taxes
for 1897, exceed the receipts of 1896
from the same sources, by $l7 ,377, ~
The most notable increase OF rev
enue from any one source for 1887
: over the previous year, is in the re
turns Of collections made by tn
: Secretary Of State. The excess o
receipts through that department
over 1896, amounts to $50. 739 80.
The revenue from railroad prou
, erty exceeds the receipts of 1896 b
IS. O3O, 43.
A change in the license In
' schedule on piano and organ deal
ers by the General Assembly of ls9
. has caused . loss of 4 300 90 fros
that source. The receipts in lS9
were 81, $50. 90; in 1897, $3.50. 90.
! There is an increase of 81 COZ. @
. from telegraph and telephone CON
panies. the tax being two per cen
] on gross receipts.
? The increase of revenue from n
: on incomes is $50 Or. The Rros
amount Of incomes returned for tax
alton for 1896 is $63O. GA. Tn
gross amount Of incomes returne
for the previous year was $3.50 1913.
Circuses and .menageries yielde
. Tor the year 1897 an increase q
! 81, 1865 80 over 1896.
D The receipts from merchant,
. purchase tax" shows an increase q
} 81 822 81.
There is an increase Of 81 .jO5. @
from lawyers, physicians and dem
. ists over the previous year.
. White polls Increase from III 81
to liz, 2Sl, while colored polls sho,
the small increase between 65 6s
and 65, $40.
During the year 1897 q very lara
: number of applications for pension
: were filed in this department.
r must be said that the gene raj prese,
l tations made in these application
r are of such character as to make
difficult, in most cases, to satisfact,