The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-25

and in fixing the value to take :nrn
consideration the shrning capacity ~
the property.
''I'm perfectly willing to vote for =
resolution instructing the Railroad Com
mission to increase the ad va;orc,n tGv
ON railroads, bat | don't believe tho
principle involved in this tax on gross
earnings is right.
Let us not fix this precedent If we
do what is to prevent our extending the
principle TO cotton mills. EHtand t 10
cotton mills and what prevents applying
il To the store -
Mr. Boushall-'Don't you know that
cotton mills and merchants already nav
a license taxi"
Mr. Justice said the two cases wern
not analogous.
Mr.. Harts6ll, Of Cabarr,IS. wanted 10
do nobody an injustice corporations or
individuals. But he thought that there
ought to be q re-adiustment of taxes.
I'VE have placed tax on all other
corporations, ON all othe-- businesses
why not ON railroads."
He took the case of the undertaken
with q thousand dollars capital He is
taxed $40 ON the 81 900 capital. 80
license on his business and $40 license
fax. Taxed three times-in all $3.50
Do you mean to say that this tax is
more burdensome on railroads than the
tax is on undcrtakers?
And there are other businesses in the
same fix. They have not complained.
IF the principle involved i'm this rail
road tax is not correct. then the whole
Revenue Act is a fraud"
parture for the Democratic party-tile
levy Of this tax. He thought the prjn-
ciple of it identical with that of the in.
come tax.
Certainly it is as just as the tax on
doctors, lawyers, merchants, undertake
ers, agents, liverymen, bar-Keepers and
other interests. Because the railroads
are richer and more powerful is no -ea-
son they should be exempted. I'd cut
off my right arm before I'd vote to tax
the weakand let off the mighty"
Mr.. Curtis, of Buncombe. added that
the weak did not come to the Legisl:l-
ture and complain and plead poverty as
the rich and powerful corporations were
doing.
Mr. White. of Halifax. took up the
figures giving the valuation of railroads
and showed that they were escaping
their just proportion Of the taxes.
1t was at this POINT that Judge Con
nor poured oil on the troubled waters
with his resolution of instruction 70 he
Railroad Commission.
''In public as in private life the high
est moral principles should control u.s.
tho government ought to do nothing
that the citizen cannot afford to do"
This is the epigrammatic statement
with which Judge Conner began his
speech.
''1'he suggestion that North Carolina
needs money should give no warrant to
violate a sound ethical principle in get
ting it. As it is net allowed the indi-
vidtlal to resort to indirect methods to
secure support for his family, so a gov
ernmenthas no right to raise -evcnue.
however, much it may need it, in other
than the most honest and just manner.
Law is the collected win of the peo-
pie. If this viii is governed by high
moral principles, the laws arc wise and
just When it IL otherwise there is
degradation, moral and political.
More injustice has. been done through
unjust taxation than ln any other way.
revolution that has ever been fought was
waeed around this question of taxation.
"We are confronted here with matt
ter Of deep import. 1t is a question
that Will make its impress upon the
people of this State for generations to
come. Let us apply the standard Of
high ethical principles and the decision
of it must be such as we will not regret
in future.
81 say here, as / said yesterday. that
| am in favor of free trade. and | hope
ITO sac the day when all restrictions ON
commerce will be swept away: when
trade will be untrammeled and the gov
eminent will do directly that which it
now does Indirectly.
"Now as to the problem before rs to-
day. We must seek n compromise
of principles, but of method. We must
come together on some c0nsnon ground.
And in doing SO we must remember to
be just II matters not whether we are
dealing with railroad or with the
nan that gets his bread by the sweat of
his brow, the same standard must be
used.
~ know that in dealing with capita
llSthc enterprises Inefc Is anyways udHScI
of being swayed to one side OF the other.
I'm not one of those who believe that
as we get more wealthy we get more
yirtuous. I'm fact / know that we do
not. But / do believe that we become
more conservative"
Judge Connor spoke in most aTprecia-
tive terms OF the work of the Finance
committee. The State of North Caro-
lima. he thought owed ii debt Of @rati-
tude, and certainly the House did, for
the work it had performed so faithfully
and well.
Taking up some figures relating to
railroads and the valuation of their.
property, he said he learned from them
that it was undoubtedly true that rail-
road property in North Carolina had not
been fully and properly taxed.
Il am tald by these figures that the
railroad property in this State is valued
for taxation at S33 100000, in round
numbers. Their net earnings amount
to $3.900,000. In other words they make
about 10 per cent. on their investment.
Nov an individual is allowed to
take 6 per cent legal interest. Why
NOT tax the railroads on say S66.O0oo00
value, which would be a 6 per cent basis
of valuation