The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-03
TAX ASSESSMENT CASE.

alton Commission. composed OF three
honest and honorable INC Just men.
increased the assessment on the rail
roads to something like 81, OOO, OCO.
whereas the market value of the rail
roads in the State far exceeds $780,
600. o 1t was a moderate and conser-
vative assessment. and the railroads
ought to have been Glad hat it was
put on the tax books at less than hall
Of its true value in money" Instead
Of that they applied 10 Judge Simon
ton for an Injunction restraining the
commission from increasing the as
Sessment. OF course they got the re-
straining order. When the hearing
came off at Asheville. the railroad at
torneys asked the Judge to appoint a.
Master to ascertain whether other
property was assessed like the rail
road property. Simonton declined TO
do this and said that he would deter
mine the case as presented. lie de
cided that the Legislature had not
conferred on the Corporation Commits
SO the power to make the assess
mcnt and thus avoided 4 decision OF
the facts. Later the Supreme Court
Of North Carolina held that the Leois-
lature had conferred hat power on
the Commission. bound by that de-
ciSiOn. Judge SimOntOn then did what
he had declined to do at Asheville-ap-
pointed q Master to hold hearings
throughout the State. After delaying
the hearing IS long as possible. the
railroads finally announced that they
were ready to begin on Wednesday
of this week. 1t lasted only a few
hours, and has nov been adjourned
till Judge Simonton can pass upon
the questions raised. That insures de
lay until after the Legislature of 1901
has ad journed, and that is what the
railroads are fighting to secure.
In the Wilmington hearing the at
torneys sought to compel the private
corporations to exhibit their books
while keeping their own books closed.
The appeal to Simonton is virtually in
these words: Dear Judge: We are
III IL noie ABOUT inns assessment mat
ter. In order to force the State to a
compromises, we are trying to make
cats Jaws out of the cotton mill men
by making them think they are in
danger. We wish YOU to compel them
to feel that they must stand by us
by deciding that they give all inside
facts as to their business. and at the !
same time we want you to say that
nobody shall look at our books. This !
may be a difficult thing to do, but YOU
have never failed us before and we
think YOU can find a way ito sever
and divide a hair twixt West and
Northwest side Please help us out
@ or we Will nave to pay our taxes
like other folks"
The owners of cotton mills and 9th
Ell private enterprises are too smart
to be used as cats paws to pull the
ch~estnuts out of the fire for the rail
roads. vt the regular time. before the
proper tribunals. they gave in their
property for taxation and paid the
tax assessed by the assessors. They
exert great influence in the State. and
the railroads want that influence to
help work up a public sentiment in
favor OF a compromise. These enter
prises have so far refused to respond
to the Invitations Of the railroad.
viii you walk into my p~arlor?!" a Ia
The spider to the fly. And so they
thought to extort their support by
putting the screws on the private cor
porations by q threat of exposing their
business. VIII Simonton come to their
help? We shall see.
This paper, voicine its own convic-
ton and what it believes to be the
sentiment OF the people Of the State.
declares:
l. That no excessive assessment on !
railroads wouid be approved by the
people.
,. That the assessment made by the
Corporation Commission is moderate
and conservative, and has been APP
proved by every voter who understood
all the conditions except the railroad
INNS "ht ihoSC uilhtI tleli liIuehct. !
). That no compromise viii be con-
side'ed or tolerated. 1t is a fight for
a moderate assessment and the roads
must pay every cent assessed against
them.
!. That the private corporations
have nothing to do with If. and Will
hardly permit the railroads to use
them to pull the chestnut out Of the !
fire. /
New York "sassiety" is greatly
moved because a member Of the 400