The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-03
THE RAILROADS
AGAIN APPEAL
TO S|MONT0N
Saying: Help Me Casslus or
Sink.
SECURE ANOTHER DELAY
Want Their Books Closed and q
Folks Opened
SECURE ANOTHER DELAY
WOULD USE FACTORl S IS CA1'S-P VS.
Judge Shepherds Letter Referring to Judge
Simonton, the Questions Propounded
by the Railroad Attorneys
at Wilmington.

The taking of testimony at VII
fore Hon. James +. Shepherd, stand
ing master, did rot proceed very Far.
For parts of two days it crawled
along and then stopped with a Bang
until April 17th-after the State con-
yentiOn.
And this is what brought the thing
to its close: The railroad attorneys
some weeks ago announced with a
flourish that they would prove, When
the taking Of testimony commenced,
tina cotton mills. fertilizer factories
and other industrial enterprises, along
with other property Of the State, were
not, assessed for taxation at ANYTHING
approaching their real value. To do
this, they said, these concerns would
be compelled to produce their books
ard papers to inform the court as to
the real value of the plant and its
earning capacity.
SO, the second day of the invcstiga-
ton at Wilmington. they had Mr..
Henry Savage. secretary n treasurer
of the Acme Manufacturing Company
an independent fertilizer factory
summoned to come before the Master.
bringing his books for the purpose of
showing that the assessed value of
the property for taxation is at least %
per cent less than the true value OF
the plant, and to set forth its gross
earnings and operating expenses"
Mr.. Savage declined to bring his
books and make Il showing of his bust
ness to his competitors. contending
that the information sought was ir-
relevant and incompetent.
On this point Judge Shepherd de-
clined to rule, and counsel for the
railroads asked that he refer the ques-
ton to Judge Simonton for decision.
This he has done, and in doing sc he
has added another point as follows:
Whether or not evidence is admissible.
tending to show that railroad proper
ty even now is not assessed at its full
value.
The question came up in this way:
The railroad attorneys put on the
stand Nh. j. w. Norwood. president
OF the Atlantic National Bank, to
prove that the banks were not taxed
at their full value. So far alright.
but when it came to the croSS-eXam-
i@nation it developed hat Mr.. Norwood
was also 4 director in the Wilmington
and Weldon Railroad and so the at
tOrneys started in to prove bv him
that that sac was not assessed for
taxation at anything like its real val
ne. For instance they asked the ori-
ginal value Of a share of stock. and
what was its present value, with such
certificates of Indebtedness or of stock
IN other corporations as have been
added thereto: also what is the
amount of the outstanding indebted
ness and what the market value of the
bonds issued by the Wilmington and
Weldon Railroad.
The railroad attorneys wanted to
know the purpose of these questions.
When told that they were Il show the
value of the road-bed. and other prop
erty of the Wilmington and Weldon
Company included in the tax assess
ment made by the Corporation Com
mission. they objected and asked that
the matter be referred BY the Master
TO Judge Simonton for decision.
1T has been done. the letter Of refer
ence accompanied by exhibits of the
testimony IN question: was sent YES
terday and is as follows:
Raleigh. n. c., March so, 1900.
To His Honor Judge Simonton:
The question under consideration beins
OF very great Importance. it is agreed b,
counsel that it be certified to your Honor
Walving any points as to procedure. AM
the Standing Master hereby certifes tn,
same to your Honor, that is to say wheth
er the said books should be ordered to b,
produced for the purposes mentioned il
the annexed copy of the proceedings.
lnaSmuch as a recess is necessitated b.
reason of the foregoing, the Standin,
Master respectfully asks instruction
upon an additional question, that is t.
say, whether testimony tending to shoy
that the defendant Commission has no
assessed the compartments property at it
full value is admissible.
Your Honor's decision upon these ques
lions will greatly facilitate the hearin
before me.
Respectfully submitted,
JAS. E. SHEPHERD,
Standing Master.
1t is probable that Jud~e SimOntO,