The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
THE TAX ON PHYSICIANS.
House Tries to Exempt the Country
Doctor and Can't

House Tries to Exempt the Country
Doctor, and Can't.
Over the section (35) imposing a tax
IF So on lawyers. doctors and dentists,
here was some discussion
Mr. Carroll. of Alamance. also Mr.
Davis, of Haywood, amended to strike
out the words ''practicing physician.
To this amendment Mr.. Carroll spoke.
paying high tribute TO the old-fashioned
country doctor.
"They are among the noblest and most
unselfish of mankind. There's no class
Of people that do more charity work
or do it more freeiy-no people are
greater blessing TO the community in
which they i've The tax on them is.
| know. small, but I'm unwilling that
they should pay penny"
Mr.. Holman had talked to many ply
sicians and he had found only one that
seriously objected to the tax
Mr.. Gattis. of Orange. said the tax
was TO the interest of the city physic-
an. as this section relieved him from
license tax by the city hut to the coun-
Try doctor it was a burden. without any
.ompensating benefit He favored aboli-
ton OF the tax so FAR as ii applied to
physicians in the country or in small
towns.
Mr.. Curtis. of Runcomhe. said after all
the sick men had 10 pay the tax
Mr. Davis. Of Haywood. favored the
amendment and Mr.. Williams. of Yad-
Kin. opposed it. both assigning the same
.easons-that the Legislature had only
/ few days ago passed an act raising
he standard for physicians applying for
license
Mr.. Davis said tax would be an adj
ditional hardship on the Young men ap-
plying for license.
Mr.. Williams wanted il 10 stay in SO
that the doctors already having license
would have 10 pay for the monopoly
hey had created by requiring thar every
applicant for license hereafter should at
tend medical college three years.
Judge Common corrected this state
ment to the effect that the law passed
did not require attendance upon a col
lege three years, but it did require n
diploma from a college OF good stand
ing.
The amendment--exemp all ply
sicians-was lost by vote of Al to 81.
by Mr.. Patterson, of Caldwell to ex-
empt country physicians and those in
towns of less than 1900 inhabitants.
Mr. Ray favored this and hoped il
would pass. He thought it no discrimi-
nation against the city doctor. since he
preferred paying the s. State tax to
taking the chances ON being taxed by
his city.
Mr.. Boushall didn't desire to antagon-
ize the amendment, but he didn't be
lieve it was constitutional.
Mr.. Alexander suggested that if doc
tors were exempted it would be only
fair to also exempt lawyers in small
towns.
Mr.. Gattis favored the principle of ex-
empting country doctors. AS TO the con
stitutionality of such an amendment
he'd leave the Supreme court TO attend
| to that.
Judge Conner didn't think it constitu
tional but he wouldn't oppose it on that
account He wanted, however to ash
| that the amendment be so drawn rs not
| to exempt lawyers. He was sure tho
| lawyers of the State wouldn't care f
have that done. They were willing t.
pay a just and equitable tax.
Mr.. Mcneil. Of Brunswick, who il
himself a physician. opposed exemptinl
physicians and the amendment was lost
| This section. as finally adopted. reads
as follows:
ION each and every practicing law
yer. practicing physician and dentist
| the sum Of five dollars: Provided, thai
no city, town or county shall levy amy
additional license tax on lawyers, ply
sicians and dentists