The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-30
AT THR COMMANDMENTS.

Not only have a number OF towns vo-
ted bonds to establish schools or i'm
prove those already established,
but from the various commandments
of high schools, academies and colleges
comes news of increasing interest in
school work and greater enthusiasm on
the part of those interested in such work
Nearly all Of the schools seem to have
been we'll attended during the past
session, and nearly all report that the
outlook for the future is decidedly en-.
couraging. This is indeed gratifying
to The Progressive Farmer, whose
motto is, 1.-THE industrial and educa-
tional interests Of our people para
mount to all other considerations of
State policy"
At the commencement Of the Nor
NAL and Industrial College in Green's
boro last week, Judge CLARK made a
telling speech in defence OF a plan to
il Increase the efficiency of our public
schools. Readers of The Progressive
Farmer remember that Superintendent
mebane, in his recommendations to the
last General Assembly recommended
that a three per cent. tax be levied on
the gross earnings of railroads for the
benefit of our public schools. With
a few improvements this was the plan
presented and advocated by Judge
Clark.
After referring to North Carolina's
failure to properly support the cause of
public education, he said:
But we constantly hear that we
have not the means, and especially as to
higher free education it is only com
manded as far as practicable But
we know that a half million of dollars
or more can be added to our school fund
annually from sources hitherto un
tapped, sources which can best afford
to furnish this contribution, and with
out levying a dollar more upon those
subjects that are already taxed. This
half a million additional to the present
appropriation would give us nine
months Of public scho d aud swell the
appropriations to higher education to
an effective point, go that it would be
felt in new life and impulse given to
the whole State.
Among these untapped sources of
revenue may be mentioned an income
and inheritance tax, graduated accord
ing to amount, and exempting all small
and incomes, while falling more
heavily upon the larger ones. This
furnishes a very large part of
the revenues Of the British Government
and l believe of all, or nearly all. the ma
tions upon the continents. No tex
W Juld be more just or would be less
felt, for it would be levied only upon
the surplus wealth, and only in pro-
portion as il is surplus. It would be a
light tax of this kind that would not
produce more than 800, 900 annually
in North Carolina Upon the same
scale on which it is levied in England
it would yield considerably more.
Then our able and accomplished
superintendent of Public instruction
in his last Annual Report, pointed out
to the legislature where a further
of $4OO 900 could be raised "a ii
tably, from a hitherto untaxed source
by levying a tax Of 3 per cant, upon
the gross earnings of railroads, ex-
press, telegraph and telephone com
He showed by an itemiz d
statement that fourteen of our sister
States raise revenue by levyiug a tax
upon the gross earnings of these corpo-
rations, that Minnesota raises an an
nual gum Of 81, 600. 900 by a tax of 8
per cent. uFon such earnings and that
Illinois laid a tax of Z per cent. upon
the gross earnings of the Illinois Cen
trail. Since he made that rec0mmen-
the State of New York has
been added to the list by laying a to
of 3 per cent. upon the gross earnings
Of it's railroads and street car lines
10 North Carolina last year the
gross earnings Of the railroad were
over $12, OOO, 600 and a tax of 8 per
cent. thereon would yield So, 900, 900
and Mr.. Mebane calculated that the
same tax upon the gross earnings of
the other corporations he named would
swell the total aid to publish educa.
ton to $4OO 600, which added to the
BOO, 600 1 have s. mentioned would
make the total addition of half a mil
lion annually to our schools and col
'Olt of the $l2 900, 600 groas earn.
levied by the railroads upon the
people of North Carolina. SIS 600 600