The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-25

Increase over 1895 - SIG. 1so.66
Total increase over 1898. SO, So. 220. 65
1898. Value of telegraph
property ...........S 500 $4,000
1899 Value Of telegraph
ITNptIII ........ OSb.4 50
Decrease from 1898 IS 117.O30. II
Net increase of all prop
erty over 1898. .S3.435. 100. 40
The figures here presented would nat
urally Indicate an increase OF revenue
from read and personal property for the
obviously simple reason that there APP
pears to be an increase III the value OF
the same. As a matter of reality. how
ever. the revenue from this source is
actually less than was reported for 1898.
This condition is accounted for by the
fact that the Boards of County Com
missioners Of the various counties. acj-
ing under the provision OF Section -
Of the Machinery Acr. permitted changes
in values as at first reported. and thus
released, in the aggregate, an abnor-
mally large amount Of property val9e
from taxation The method of reporting
such releases is not, and appears to have
never been. uniform among the counties,
and therefore a tabulated statement
showing them in detail is impracticable.
\ summary Of the reports for 1898 shows
that the amounts credited 10 sheriffs and
fax collectors, or various counties. ON ac-
count of the general fund, aggregate S.
07s.95. This is equivalent TO the re-
lease, from taxation, of S3,4S0. $500 of
the value of real and personal property
originally reported. Ii is therefore seen
that while the original reports for 1893
show an increase in the value of this
property Of 81. 106,040 over the year
1897. there is an actual decrease in the
value on which taxes were collected. Ac-
cording to the figures here presented this
actual decrease i'll value appears to
amount to $774.S0S. Tn connection with
reference to releases allowed ON property
values, it may be stated that summary
Of the reports from the various counties
for 1898 shows tae total number of
taxable polls TO be 256.307, OF which
number, 1t Is shown, not less than %
C93 were relieved from taxation.
The increase in the taxable value of
railroad property for 1899 does not APP
ear to be excessive. Under an assess
ment made ny the Corporation Commits
sion the increment of this class Of
property over the preceding year was
made TO appear as 80, 0.S10.30. Various
railroad companies resisted the operation
Of this assessment by process in the
courts and the issue thus created is. as
Yet, unsettled. The existing result is that
bo
IN the assessment made ny the Railroad
Commission for 1898. Such companies
rs did not resist the assessment made
.cr 1859 are those from which an in
{ rease III taxable values is reported. The
Corporation Commission also made as
scssment c. telegraph companies for
1879 which was opposed with the exist
ING result that such companies paid. in
1899. tax on less value than in 1898.
COMPARATIVE OBSERVATIONS.
IL may be interesting to offer some
comparative notes in connection with the
receipts and disbursements of the Pub
.ic Fund for the fiscal year Ia doing
his it should be stated that the receipts
are derived from taxable values and Il
ense taxes reported hy the counties for
With the existing Revenue Act which
was enacted by the General Assembly,
f 1890. The receipts from taxable values
Of real and personal property, and from
license taxes on occIIpati tons etc. viii
not be reported under the existing Reve
nue. Act till the close of the fiscal wear
nding November Both, 1900. Other re
,eiTts. such as revenue from railroad
W hon l. IL
ees, tax on building and loan assocla-
.icnS, fertilizer licenses tax. tax ON teie-
@raEh and telephone companies, express
companies. various departmental fees.
ales of bonds and few minor matters.
are reported from the volume OF busi-
ness and such assessments rs were
uaa:ntaned in 1899. The report of ex-
Ienditure directly represents the regular
Disbursements for the fiscal year.
The receipts for the Public Fund were
81 90, go; an increase of 500. $3.50, Az
ever the year 1898.
The disbursements for the year were
| 5o4 1916 an increas1 of exp mixtures
ever the year 1898 of S310.7 1906.
While there is an increase of receipts
over 1858 on some taxable subjects, ule
total increase is more than accounted for
ly extraordinary items not connected
with the Revenue Act or direct taxation;
such for example az S120. 202.59 derived
from sale of bonds fer payment of State
Prison debt; $50. 2J0.00 for sale of bonds
Ter the purchase of farms heretofore
leased by the State Prison; $40, 704 sc
from the United States Government Oh
account Of the Spanisn-.AiIlerican war:
5000 from Accumulated Land Grant
Fund.- S5.134. 0S Of the State Hospital
(Morganton) Fund which was on deposit
in the Piedmont Bank. and returned to
be State Treasurer; So, $4,000 from At
ante and Moth Carolina Railroad whicl
was. in fact, semiannual dividend for
1898. but was not reported till 1899. 1t
is seen that these items Of receipfs,
which are extraordinary and not regular,
aggregate the Gmomnt of $22S, 55T14, or