The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-31
Disbursed

sit must be admitted that the small in
come of 1895 and 1896 was due to the
prohibition of dredging prior to 1895 and
the rigid enforcement of it until 1897 under
which the market in this State was vir-
tually destroyed and the oysters taken
from our waters were carried in lay-boats
out of the State. Since 1897 the market
in this State has continuously improved
in each year and the grounds, in the in
crease of their production, have SO well
kept pace with the demands that it can
not be doubted that under wise and judi
cious regulations the State is in near
approach to large income and the people
to great benefit from this industry.
conservative estimate puts the income
from this industry, when it shall have
been fully developed. at not less than $4O.-
900, in which case it's expenditure ought
not to be greater than $4,000 per year.
1.-The falling off in the receipts from
1899 to 1900 is no disproof of this esti-
mate, as our Investigations have dis
closed the most startling negligence and
inefficiency on the part of the officers of
the law in collecting the taxes and the
most defiant disregard of it on the part
of the shuckers and packers, from whom
the major part of the taxes are received,
some of whom drove the so-called deputy
inspectors off their premises, where the
law required them to be, with no effort on
the part of those officers to hold them
to account before the courts, and no con-
Germ on their part further than to retreat
in safety and draw their salaries. This
was done at Belhaven, where three large
factories were operated during this sea-
son, and as result no taxes paid by
anybody at that point except SIS by
Montgomery & Makely. From the best
information we could obtain. the dealers
at this point and Washington together
owe the State approximately $1,000. At
Swan Quarter not less than $500, at
Elizabeth City s160. At Newborn, where
large business was carried on-perhaps
larger than at either point-durng the
last season nothing was paid the State,
and therefore large amount must be
due.
I'VE found Mr.. Webb the very COM
petent and diligent Oyster Commission
er now in charge of the work, under the
appointment of His -Excellency Gov. Ay-
cock, enga ged in an investigation Of these
matters with all and additional powers
to those given to this committee, to dis
close the facts; and also at that time in
communication with the Attorney GEN
eral with reference to the bringing of
suits for the recovery of these amounts,
and for this reason we did not thereaf-
ter inquire into the details of these mat
ters. These conditions, in connection
with the loose and indifferent execution
of the law in every other instance. may
be taken as further explanation of the
findings and report of the committee
touching the claims of the So-called in
spectors wherein they are directed to be
paid seems much below the amount de-
manded.
Mr. White in his evidence before the
committee was unreserved in his admiS-
sions of these delinquencies, and in sew
eral instances admitted that certain
claimants were entitled to nothing for
these reasons. We believe that a proper
enforcement of the law and a collection
of all the taxes due the State during the
past season, would have yielded the
State as much as $4,000.
''In conclusion. we recommend to the
General Assembly the consideration OF
the cultivation and development OF the
CLANS of our waters. Recent years have
witnessed marked developments in the
catching and marketing of this valuable
shell-fish in this State.
I'm the vicinity of Beaufort and of
Ocracoke it is now no inconsiderable in
dustry, and demands the fostering care
OF the Legislative hand.