The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-06-06
ODD SUBJECTS OF TAXATION.
w. 8.

the lire of taxation that may be inter
estipg TO the younger people and some
OF the older citizens. We give below
a few subjects of taxation some OF
which sound a little unusual: Every
vehicle kept for pleasure or convey,
ance valued at $50 or upward was
taxed q per cent. on its value; also
persons selling foreign made vehicles
were taxed q per cent. on total sales.
Every watch, except those worn by
| Confederate soldiers or ladies was
| taxed % per cent. on the value; every
harp In use S.; every piano in use 81
every silver headed cane in use 90;
every gold headed cane in use 81; every
dirk, bowie knife, pistol, sword, dirk
cane aud riff cane use1 or worn ebout
the person of anyone at any time dur
ing the yea 81 25. Arms used for
mastering we're exempted.
Daguerreoty pist, o known by the
more reasonable title of photographers,
were taxed one per cent. on their gross
/ Fece1pES WDen ABOVE SOUU.
Il appears that the lightning rod
man was not considered worthy Of
much encouragement or loved much
more than he is in these days, as he is
put down in the same lot and section
with the iEinerant liquor dealer and
subject 20 the same tax of $500 per an
mum.
The head OF the family was rec tired
to Iist.ell che dogs on the p~laL.atIon
above two, and every man not the
head Of a family should list al his d3gs
except one and pay a tax of 81 81 on
each dog go listed. Dogs under eight
months Of age were not required 10
pay a license T8x on their ~exlsteEc5.
We find that a Tax was collected IN
der the mead OF privileged voters. "
It would seem from this that some by
pay ing a tax were allowed special
doub5 as to the section under which
this rax was collected, but we think
this was the tax cJllec5ad from voters
who became Of age at Ter the first day
Of July and were allowed 70 pay their
poll tax ana o.e in the next eiectIon.
AS the last legislature found q kind OF
voter which they seem to think could
be placed in the ballot boxes some
member of that body would possibly
be competent authority to decide who
were ''privlleged voters"
We would judge that the giving and
using OF free passes or dead heads Is
not a late development in North Caro-,
lima, and our law makers had TO deal
with the business before the creation
Of q Railroad Commission to which
they now refer all important matters
relating to railroads. The Stase held
stock In several railroads within the
State, and by some means it seems that
not only the politicians and statesmen
small and great, managed to secure
dead beRds' over these roads, but
even . honest private citiz d Oh
tanned that much coveted pri vllege OF
''to'rin'" a pass. This continued to
such IN * eD. that il threatened the
financial safety Of the roads. Many
Of these we're not q IarEerIy or even an
nual passes, but were a lie time privi.
lege. SO you see it Wasa knotty ques.
ton out the legislature was equal to
the necessity. They could not revoke
the dead heads" SO in 90 che G 9neraI
Assembly imposed on Y q ira
cling over these roads on dead heads
paying less than 81. per mile, a tax OF
233 per mile for each mile 60 travelled
during the year by them selves or any
member OF their family. This amounted
about the same thing as riding on the
roads and at the end of the year pay
ing the fare to the State. But in spite
Of this sagacious law it seems that the
dead headers" fourished, and the
law makers were not satisfied, though
WI find that a considerable amount
Of revenue was raised from this source.
So in IS they placed the following sec
ton in the revenue act:
Every person except the Governor,
who shall hava travelled on any rail.
road in this State, In which the State
has an interest as a stakeholder or
with which the State may have ex
changed it's bonds, paying nothing
Commonly known by the name Of
dead hesds) or paying lees than 2I,
per mile or any member OF whose
family shall have so travelled, except.
ing officials and employees travelling
in the actual discharge of their duties