The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-10

Total 49,. 900. ....S 9.ioS.So
In addition TO the above
there was OH deposit in the
bank, II part Of the
amount and turned over to
Secretary Thompson 1913 2.o6G1i
nr. Thompson'S books show that he
collected during the first year Of his
administration that is up to January
LIST, 1893 as follows:
For Commission Tax .....S 59.0o1.oi
For License Tax ....a.. 2o,ad3.62
Total -. :. ........S S5,o1o.G3
So II will be seen that the collec.
lions in 1896 under the Cooke admin
iStration exceeded the collections of
1890 the last year Of the Coke admin
istration by $I1,005.41. The increase
in 1896 over 1897 would he accounted
for by the increase in The number of
Insurance Companies and the extension
OF the business and the increase of Sec
rotary Thompson's administration for
1897 over 1896 would be accounted
for by the increase on the amount of the
This alone would amount to something
over $4,000. There has also been u
slight increase in the number Of Com
panes. and the increase of the COM
mission tax on account of extension of
the business has been much. Those who
have not investigated the development
If the insurance business of North Car
DINA have no idea to what extent and
has tnlI xxsY1
in recent years. 4 reference to the
annual statements Of Secretary Cooke
made in 1896 and to that Of Secretary
Thompson made in 1897 shows that IN
one year this increase amounted to over
a quarter Of n million dollars for six
teen life companies. and the increase
i'm the commission tax thereon to more
than five thousand dollars.
The license year of Insurance Com
panes is from April to April. Some
Of the taves-aggregating over two thou
sand dollars for the year com
mencing first of April. 1896 and end
ing first of April. 1897. which were
collectible under the Cooke administra-
ton were collected by Secretary Thomp-
son after he came into office. Some OF
these were from old companies which
had been doing business in the State
for some time and who bad made their
reports regularly and their solvency ap-
proved but the tax had not been paid
nor new licenses issued to the COM
panies. The other companies were do
ing business without license and without
the knowledge of the Secretary of State
who had no means of detecting them
in SO doing. When these companies filed
reports Mt the beginning Of 1897. their
reports showed that they had been do
ing business in North Carolina in 1896
and Secretary Thompson rs was always
the rule of the office collected the full
amount of taxes which they should have
paid in 1S96-before authorizing them
70 do business for 1897.
1t appears from the report of Capt
Coke that the collection from the first of
April. 1891 to April. 1895 amounted TO
| S1G6.994.60 an average of Sal 1866
Now the fact that the amounts collected
per year by Secretary Coke were less
than the amounts collected by Secretary
Cooke and Secretary Thompson ought
not to be considered as any evidence
Of unfaithfulness on the part Of Secre-
tary Coke for the reasons: that it is
accounted for by the increase of the
license tax and the large extension of
the insurance And this applies also
TO the collections made under Col. Sam
ders' administration. During the early
years of his administration the insur-
ance business was insignificant as COM
pared with what it is now. and during
the last six years Of his administra-
ton the license tax was only $1,000 II
year for all companies. whereas during
Secretary Thompson's administration 1t
| is $4,000 n year for Life Companies
and $4,000 year for Fire Companies.
During these six years the annual
amount Of license tax could not have
been more than about 5000. A greater
| in ustice could not be done to the MEM
DRY of the brave and honorable man
than to suggest this as ground for inn
peaching his character either for integri
| ~ or faithfulness.
| On the day of DR.. Thompson's qualif-
| cation as Secretary of State / presented
| to him balance sheet showing n bal
ance on deposit to the credit Of Secretary
| of State on all accounts of 50. 16664,
which amount | Immediately turned over
| to him. / ut the same time turned
| over to him the books of the office in
| Guiding two lcdgers which contained a
| full account of my administration of the
office. / believe Dir. Thompson is an in
| telligent and efficient officer. AS he did
| not call my attention to any error found
in the office | am obliged to conclude
that he has given out no statement
TO any one which reflects in any way
upon my administration of the office
and that he is in no way responsible for
the publication referred TO i'll the begin
hing of this communication.
G. NJ COOKE.
Louisburg, \. c., Aug. 8, 1898.