The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-01
Mr.. MIlLARDs BILL TO SECURE
PROPER ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY
A BOARD OF TAX COMMISSIONERS
Duties and Powers or such Board
ConferredUpon the Corporation TOM
mission-To Have Supervision OF All
Local Tax Of1cers-Thes senate Passes
q Bill Giving Greensboro ssHixh LIZ
cense''-The Railway Tax Assess
ment Settled.
Especial to The Messsenger.l
ment Settled.

Raleigh. January 2S-In the house
today Mr.. Willard introduced a bin
quite sweeping in its provisions. 1t
makes the corporation commissson
also a board of state tax commission
ers, increases the salaries and requires
the whole time TO be devoted to the
work.
The purpose is TO secure proper as
sessment OF personal property and of
real estate also. but the chief aim Is to
get at the true value OF personal prop
erty. a very great amount of which
now escapes taxation
Mr.. Willard tells me he believes IL
viii double the valuation OF PERSONAL
property; thai wherever the system Is
in force it a had this effect The
fact is, this is the Pingree biz. from
Michigan. Mr.. Willard says in that
state in a year, under its provisions
and the careful and thorough work
done, the valuation Of personal prop
erty increased from $142. OOO, 900 to $780,
0OO, 900.
The bill gives the commissioners su-
perviSion of all local tax officers; TT.
qudres that one COMMISSIONS shall an
nually visit ach county in the state
and see that the law is executed.
| The law as 1t now stands. is pref
ty good, but SO far as the personal
property is concerned, not TO speak Of
real estate, the local officials do not
! execute lit.
MI. Willard says this law. together
with the re-a3SesSment of all property,
which ought to be made this year. will
raise all the money needed. He says
the time is now ripe for re-aSSeSSmeni
after the disclosures made in the tax
assessment cases, of which there has
been a long hearing.
The bill is n iong one, but Mr.. Will
hard gives the above as AL its salient
points.
In the senate today Senator Glenn
introduced a bill to fix the cost of
liquor licenses in Guilford county at
not less than 81 600 nor more than 81
500. He introduced the bill exactly as
drawn by the aldermen of Greensboro,
and says he believes this solution of
the liquor questGon-high licenSe-to
be the true solution al over the state.
The biz quickly passed the senate.
Mr.. Winston introduced a bill in the
house, which is of considerable i'm
portance. 1t allows the governor to
employ and pay counsel TO defend the
state election officers who are under
indictment or who may be indicted in
federal courts.
Governor Aycock today received the
resignation of COngreSsman-eleot Ed
ward w. Pou as solicitor of this dis
trict-
The governor appoints T.. w. White
head, editor of The Milling journal
Wilmington. to represent North Caro-
lima at the National Maritime con.
RreSS. to meet in Brunswick. Ga. Ian.
airy 30th-31st.
A white child, apparently about l.
hours old, was found on the Doorstep
Of the house of a white woman here
The infant was wrapped i'm a copy o
The Times Visitor. The police quick,
got on the track Of the mother, sale
to be a young woman from Durham.
President Warren G.. Elliott, of tn,
Atlantic Coast Line, came here toda,
i'm the hands of Governor Aycock. an
Chairman McNeill of the corporation
commission, an agreement as TO tn
settlement of the tax assessment mat
ter. Details will be given out by TIL
governor in "a message which he viii ii
a day or two send to the legislature
transmitting the recommendation
made by the corporation commission
President Elliott said he had nothing
information was to be given by tn
governor. The latter said a settle
ment of the matter had been made.