The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-07-20
Then and Now.

lnen ana NOW.
What the News and Observer
thought was a fair assessment last
and what it now applauds
as meeting the demands of equity. d
From News and Observer February
26, 1899.
The sworn statements of the rail-
roads in North Carolina put the
total cost of the railroads at $87, 974,-
lib. As the big systems are worth |
much more than the cost, this is q |
low basis of the actual value of the
railroad property in the State If
Judge Connor's suggestion that the
correct assessment would be a sum
equal to an earning basis of six per
cent. should be adopted, the assess
ment would be 500, 1S0,750. If we
discard the earning basis and adopt
the plan that prevails in assessing
the property of individuals, the
assessment would be $65,979, 1894 in
stead of 500, 619, 1868. loan assess
ment all out of proportion to the
sworn value of the property. Is it
not the duty of the Legislature to de-
clare that the discrimination in favor
of exemptipg much of the property
of railroads shall ceasei Will not
every business man in the State who
pays taxes on an assessment of three
fourths of the value of his property
be glad to see the Legislature taking
steps to put railroads on the same
basisf Will not those who have not
kept posted be astonished that dur
ing ali these years they have been
paying tax on their property at three
fourths its value, while the railrods
have escaped at about one-third of
its sworn value7 We would not ad
vocate and there Is not a Democrat
in this Legislature who would vote
for any system Of taxing railroads
which believed would be burdensome
or oppressive. This whole agitation
and discussio arises from the fact
that for long years railroads have
enjoyed an exemption from just taxa
ton and that exemption has forced
heavier burdens upon all other tax
payers Tho correction of that in
justice is all that has been attempted
or will be attempted.
From News and Observer July l,
1899 after the Commission had in
creased the assessment only one third
what the News and 0 oserver though.
it should be last February.
| The Corporation Commission has
justified the faith proposed in it.
IL 4
The tax payers of the State will
applaud the action of the Commits
sion. They will rejoice that at last
q Commission has been elected all OF
whom are honest, :air, judicious
and wise enough to do what is right
and just.
i The return of the Democratic
party to power is signaliz ed by an
action that is truly expressive OF
Democratic sentiment. The people
of of this State are tired Of two
classes of demagogues-t the one il
the employ of CORPORATIONS who how
. till they are red in the face if cor
porations are required to observe thu
laws and pay taxes like other folks
and the other q set Of blatant
anarchists who would rob corpora,
, tions and persecute in order to make
the people believe they are servsne
their interests. OF the two dema,
gogues, the first is the worst because
he is q secret hireling whose prosti.
titution is not always while the blat
ant demagogue is so loud-mouthei
that the public takes his measure AND
soon destroys him and his short livei
madness.
4 The Commission has given NJ
heed to either Of these public pests
1t has done its duty honestly AMI
conscieutiously, and the honest peo
pie Of all classes will say, "Wel
1 done.''