The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-30
THAT UNNECESSARY BOND
ISSUE.

A4G@@4 O@~ W. @AS
that issuing State bonds at this timt
wasneither warranted by the condition
of the penitentiary, o Of the Stat,
Treasury. Telegraph, express and in
surance companies have been paying
az per cent. tax on their gross receipts
from operations in this State for thC
last twenty years, and when telephones
entered the State e few years ago they
were subjected to the same two 2 pei
cent. tax. We contend that If it il
right to collect 2 per cent. Of the gross
receipts of these companies, for their
privileges in the State, there are many
more and decidedly stronger reasons
why the railroad companies which en-
Joy go many more privileges should
pay the same or a higher rate.
We stated last week that the total
valuation of the railroad property OF
the State in 1898 was $32. 525. 421 SO In
1897 it was $28 461 391, 90. which shows
an increase of "a O63. O3O % in one year
(Chanks to the Railroad Commission
The official reports for 1897 show gross
income from operations in the State
$11, 252 358 So (R9port Of 1898 does
not give this item This shows that
in 1897 the gross receipts were over 40
per cent, of the value of all their prop
erty in the State. So then it appears
that for the use of these roads in the
State it COSTS the State every two years
and six months an amount equal to
the valuation of all the roads, nclud
ing their franchises, or in other words
the State pays for the roads every
thirty months, at their full Valuation.
Wake up your lightning calculator.
Put him to the test. Figure out the
benefits to any community, on the
line, the most favored location, city,
town, township or county. Are the
railroads in by or through any such,
worth their value to these said com
munities every two and a half years. II
then the best enterprise the State
can embark in is the railroad business.
Convert the penitentiary into a grand
central union depot and build railroads
to every town and village in the State.
Do this at once, and in a few years
North Carolina will be the richest gar
den spot of all creation, and wealth
and luxury will be the lot Of the
humbles5 of our Inhabitants. 1t may
be you can point out a hotel or a bust
ness block in some city that receives
such benefits, but how about the State
which grants these charters and privi
These railroads are tapped by spurs
and side tracks all along their lines,
and the most astute lawyers are ready
at every turn, curve or switch to side
track you. If you say the railroads
must pay taxes like other corporation
enterprises or individuals, your train
Of argument is at once switched eff on
the Niger Rule side track, or the
white supremacy spur, or the tar #,
and the train loads OF lawyers pour
into your State and National capitols.
And your railroads are not taxed.
They are given more and still better
advantages, the Corporation Conm;s.
sion increases their tariff rates, and
the railroad kings go on their way re
joicing-once in two years if often
enough for them to pay taxes. The
chairman Of the campaign committee
Is the man to whom they report, and
when 1t Is agreed who the candidate
shall %, and what ne will do for them,
thu check is passed in. The racket
and the faaI wind up is always
the same. Will it continue thusR How
longs The voters in the different par
ties must answer.
D0u't forget that the gross earnings
operations Of the railroads in
North Carolina in 1897 were Eli. 252.
SO. Two per cant. of this amount
a just 1925 ,047. II, which should have
been paid into the State Treasury. A
Ike amount for 1898 and 1899, and 80
IN, would greatly relieve the strain on
)ur poor farmers who cannot escape
share Of the burden.
This 2 per cent. straight or a grad,
lated tax arranged according to mile
earnings, should have been placed
these companies, and it is evident
these taxes coming in quarterly
with the telegraph. telephone, express
and insurance taxes, there would have
no need for placing a heavier
upon the honest tax payer to
meet the interest on more bonds. All
our interests should be mutual; each
should bear it's proportionate part of
he burdens of the State. We contend
hat the railroads do not bear their
hart and that If thew did othnr tbjnoo |