The news & observer., 1901-02-23
TAXAX EION, APPROPRIATIONS
BONDS.

1AAhA t4ON, AZ FhUE A1 "A AVN0
BONDS.
When the Legislature met it was con-
fronted for the first time in many years
with Treasury deficit. Several of the
State institutions, notably the A. and
NJ. College and the Institution for the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind, were in debt by
reason of a deficit inherited from the
Fusion administration. The State Nor
NAL and Industrial College had incurred
a debt by reason of the fever epidemic.
the State had been unequal TO the neces-
stiles of the State-a situation that call
ed for serious consideration.
In the face Of the deficit and the debts,
the incoming administration had given
its sacred pledge to do more for the
cause Of education than had ever been
done in the States past history, and at
in every district in North Carolina. 1t
takes money-and considerable money
to redeem that pledge. In addition, the
directors of the various insane hospitals
OF the State in their reports ask for an
increase Of two to three hundred thous-
and dollars to care for all the unfortu-
nate insane of the State, and the legis-
lative committee has favorably report
ed in favor of all that the insane asy
lums ask. The Confederate veterans.
who freely gave their services and their
health for the State in 1S61-65. have
asked an increase in the pitiful pen
sions they now receive and every die
ate Of She patriotic heart is to grant
heir request The educational institu-
ions are hating in their great work for
he lack of necessary funds, and the
sentiment of the State is to literally
provide for their immediate needs. If
the recommendations are scaled fifty
per cent, an increase of at least 100000
will be needed to half way comply with
the recommendations Where is this
money coming from?
That is the question that has been the
burden of the Finance Committee. 1t
is strong committee, composed of wise
and sagacious men. The sub commit
tee is composed of sagacious men of af-
dustrial and business life of the State.
They were charged with the heaviest
task that has been imposed upon any
legislative committee in a decade. They
have worked faithfully and patriotical-
ly, seeking in the best way and the most
just way, to so distribute the burdens
of taxation as that they will fall upon
those who ought to pay them. The pres
ent revenue law permits much property
to escape taxation and does not reach
the incomes and franchises as modern
fected bill has in the main met the ap-
proval of everybody except the tax
dodgers. Some of the corporations got
the mistaken idea that provision was
made for double tax. whereas the pro-
vision they thought imposed double
tax was in fact q provision that guar
anteed the payment Of one tax. The
committee was glad to make clear the
provision that lead to this error. They
are giving hearing to all who object to
any provision and have been glad to
have suggestions from those who felt
that a particular tax was unequal or
unjust. These men. after understand
ing the bill, as il was drafted, have ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied, in the
main, with it's provisions. There re-
main one or two taxes that are objected
to by some Taxpayers. But, with these
few exceptions the bill as it stands is
recognized by everybody who examines
it as the best revenue act ever drawn in
North Carolina 1t will not please
everybody, but it will as it is studied
give general satisfaction to those people
who recognize that all revenue bills are
the result in measure of conflicting
opinion. or we may say, of conflicting
interests.
The people who know the personnel
of the Finance Committee. are not de-