Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-19
A WAY TO RAISE MONEY.
Says Per Cent. on the Gross Income of
Railroads win Pay the Schools $500. 600
-Ralcighs New Census Tho weather
For the Month of November Tho Cues
ton of New Superintendent of tho
State Penitcntiary.

lie forecast OF his report to the next
General Assembly.
The report is somewhat at length,
and considers the question of public
education from various standpoints.
1t is perhaps the most comprehensive
ever submitted to the Legislature of
this State, and contains the result OF
much investigation.
That portion of Mr.. Mechanics report
that will attract most attention is the
part wherein he advocates taxing the
gross earnings of railroads, the taxes
thus derived TO go toward the main
tenance of the school fund. He am
nounces himself as unqualihcdly i'm
favor of this proposition. and takes
nigh ground In his argument in it's
favor.
italicised assertion: 1--WE must have
more money before we can hope to ed
ucate the great mass of the people
Most every one will admit that
In order to Increase the school terms,
and In order to secure better and more
efficient teachers, we must have an in
crease of school fund"
He then asks: Where are we TO
get me money? Replying to his own
query, he says: The letters following
VIII show where other States get an
abundance of their public funds"
OTHER STATES.
Then follows letters from thirty
States, number of which state that
the Gross incomes of the railroads are
taxed, and in many of which the
amount so collected is applied to the
school fund. Among the States in
are taxed are New York, where 5
mills on the dollar is collected; Yer
mont. which collects % per cert;
Rhode Island which gets 1 per cent;
F1anH
one fourth of which goes to the schools:
and Pennsylvania where n tax of S
mills on the dollar is levied
lie states that while North Carolina
mas n sweeping statute on the sub
Ject, ii does not receive one cent from
the gross receipts or gross earnings.
The statute providing for 1 per cent
assessment on the gross incomes of
railroads, he says was emascuated by
the proviso NO railroad or canal com
nany shall be liable to this tax if it's
property is taxed"
He continues: Il advise the General
assemble to impose tax upon the
gross receipts of the railroads in North
Carolina for the benefit of the public
schools. We find taxes upon gross
earnings in fourteen States. Why not
have 1t in North Carolina?
RAILROAD EARNINGS.
The gross earnings of the railroads
In this State are more than eleven mill
non dollars. Suppose We had Il law like
Minnesota taxing the roads per cent
on gross earnings? What n handsome
sum OF more than three hundred thou
sand dollars TO give instruction ana in
teinSence to the great army of poor
boys ANA girls now cropping in dark
ness, and who must under present con-
dltion of educational facilities grow
INTO manhood and womanhood burden
ca Win All the disadvantages Of the
ignorant In addition TO this.
lei us nave the same tax on gross earn
1nSs OF telephone companies, telegraph
companies, express companies ins,lr-
ance companies, and then we will have
Il school fund from these sources of !
about four hundred thousand dollars !
Think OF having four hundred thou
sand dollars added to the school fund
by the General Assembly of 1901
lie concludes this part OF the report
as follows:
THE railroads in North Carolina
now net five million dollars annually
over and above 4 per cent of the real
value or their property. These roads
could stand tax of per cent on their
gross earnings which would give ne !
100000 annually, and then leave them
S4.3O00oO to carry out of the State. Lei |
us have . per cent on gross earnings
and give it all 10 the school fund"
RALETGH'S NEW CENSUS.
BY the middle of this week Raleigh's |
new census will be completed. All sorts |
OF guesses are made as to what il will |
reveal Some persons express the be- |
lief that 1t will not vary 30 from the |
census of the government while others |
say they think it will show as much as |
1900 difference.
WEATHER FOR NOVEMBER.
The weather report for this State for
November was issued Yesterday The |
month was remarkably fine for farm |
work Mild temperature. with sum-
cient moisture to keep the soil in good !
condition caused rapid termination and !
excellent growth of winter wheat 4
very large crop was seeded. good stands |
were secured and the crop generally !
looked fine though badly damaged by |
the Hessian lily in eight counties. The |
mean temperature was 52.6 degrees |
which is 80 above normal. The mean |
in the eastern district was 55.G, central |
SIC, western 49.S; the highest Co. at |
Southport: the lowest 1876. at Linvilic. |.
these being respectively the warnest |
and coolest places in the State. The |
highest absolute temperature was Sc:
the lowest l3. The mean temperature |
Tor the State was the highest since 1872 |
The average rainfall was Al inches. |
nearly an inch above normal. At most /
stations the first killing frosts occurred |
Ihere were many thunderstorms.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
One of the questions which is being
talked of just now Is who will be the |
new superintendent of the pententiary? |
The Legislature will searchingly in |
vestisate the management this year /
and last year The Supreme Court |
prevented the Legislature from taking |
control. Since the decision by the court |
the board of directors have been the /
merest fiGureheads. They say as much |
There are Varioue surmses as to who