The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-27
HOW TO RAISE MONEY
FOR WITHOUT MORE MONEY
THE SCHOOLS CANNOT BE
BE MADE BETTER.
A TAX ON DOGS is PROPOSED
Also Tax on the Gross Receipts of Railroads
and Other Corporations that Do Not Pay
Just Shar, of the Public Burdens.

To the Editor: Now that the most eX
citing political campaign that has ever
been waged in North Carolina is over anC
it is reasonably assured what the political
policy of the State shall be for years to
come. it would seem that our people could
now turn to those things which will tend
most to elevate our citizenship, and
build up our material interests The
political contests which we have wit
messed for thirty years prove beyond
doubt that our first and greatest need Is
education for the masses. 1t is no longer
denied by any one that intelligence is the
first qualification for self-government.
If proof of this were desired it can be
had by a reference to numerous examples
in our own midst. 1t is also established
beyond question that the education of
the masses must be accomplished by the
State. North Carolina has steadily but
very slowly advanced along educational
lines. We are proud of what she has
done, but she might have done better.
But it is useless to try to satisfy our
selves by finding fault with the past.
We must act in the present and plan for
the future.
The General Assembly which will con-
vene in January, will be perhaps the
most capable Legislative body ever as
sembled in our capitol. 1t will be COM
posed of men who are not only capable,
but who are unselfish in their devotion to
our peoples best interests. There are
many things to do and undo, and III the
short space of sixty days il will require
unceasing labor to accomplish all that is
expected OF course it is understood that
such safeguards as are needed to pre-
vent the recurrence of such bitter con-
tests as we have just passed through,
will be provided. This done, is it ex-
pecting too much TO suppose that their
wisdom and energy will be used chiefly
for the requirement of the two things
which will add most to the happiness
and prosperity of all the people. namely,
THE EDUCATION OF THE MASSES
and THE DEVELOPING OF OUR
NATURAL RESOURCES? / wish to
offer some suggestions as to the former
now and perhaps later will have some
thing to say about the latter.
In order to have efficient free public
schools the things of first necessity are
UI6Hlt III ulOutt Il EuON 'shoN' -
tenn. The former has never been had
and the latter only to a small extent. be-
cause it depends largely upon the former.
Under our constitution limit is placed
upon taxation, which forbids the raising
of any large amount of money by an ad
valorem tax. Without a change in the
constitution, land change to increase
taxes is not probable, if desirable) our
n,>Ix- bono of iporaa cinu tho school fund
is by special taxes and voluntary taxes.
In my opinion there is an ample field
for special taxes if the proper course
were taken and 1t would not be exces-
siyely burdensome to any one. In many
of the States corporations are taxed for
schools by privilege or license tax and
q levy upon gross receipts 1t is a notorious
fact that there are corporations doing
business in the State whose incomes are
sufficient to pay enormous salaries foI
slight service, to pay dividends at a
good rate upon watered stock, and at the
same time contribute to put aside surplus
funds. This money all comes from the
people. and if institutions which derive
their right to live from the State and
their large revenues from the people are
unwilling and refuse to make charges for
lust. then they should be compelled TO
return to the people, through the State,
at least a part of their large earnings.
The education of the masses is not high
nj any nrice. Those who have most are
benefited most by government and they
should contribute most toward that OBJ
iect which will make government safer
and better The man with a hundred
f1oncapd 1ollapc worth of nronprty
much concerned, or should be, about the
education OF the people who work for
him as they are themselves. Ignorance
is much more expensive than education
and if the few who own the substance
of the State are so blind as not to see
that is to their interest to have intelli-
gent labor and intelligent voters to Sc
lect those who govern. then the tax gath
erer should be armed with authority tc
omen their eyes. We should therefore
look to q cooperation tax and an increase
tax to contribute most to our school fund
Another source of income to our schoo
fund should be q tax on the thousands Of
dogs in the State. A small per capita
tax on dogs-say twenty-five or fifty
cents-would produce a considerable sum
1t will require more courage than any
Legislature has ever possessed to lev!
such tax, but it is hoped that the pres
ent educational awakening will cause III
present body elect to impose such tax
1t may not be universally popular, bu
| believe that for such a purpose tn
great body of dog-owners would willIngl!
pay such tax.
The law allowing voluntary taxation
by townships should be modified and con
tinued. There is no question in my min'
that with separate management for thu
white and colored schools this law VII
be much more popular than was mani