The news & observer., 1901-03-09

CataWba, to reconsider the motion by
which Judge Graham's amendment pro-
viding for taxation of gross incomes of
railroads was adopted.
Judge Graham spoke at some length in
opposition to this motion, comparing the
taxes paid by railroads with those paid
by other property of the State. He
pointed oTt that railroads were quasi
public corporations, possessing valuable
franchises and privileges, and arguing
that they ought to be made to pay for
these privileges. He added:
You tax the farmer three or four
times, you tax the merchant five times.
and ] submit that it is nothing but fair
that these great corporations be made
to bear their just proportion of the bur-
dens of government"
A list of the various trades and profess
sions taxed by the new Revenue bill was
read. Commenting on this, Judge Gra-
ham said
Compare with these the tax on rail-
roads and notice how grossly dispropor-
tionate they are. And yet gentlemen
here want to practically exempt railroads
while they so around hunting up every
miserable little coal dealer, butcher.
horse trader, junk-dealer and peddler and
tax them every cent they can possibly
stand. There is 10 justice in this /
don't want railroads taxed excessively,
but l do want them to pay something
like their just proportion of taxes.
You can take your choice. You must
do this. issue bonds or cut down appro-
priations Are you going to do this
because corporations that have grown
strong among you are able to send lob
byists and attorneys and friends here 10
prevent their being taXed?"
Judge Allen took the other side of
the question, arguing that the Corpora
tion Commission, in valuing railroad prop
erty took in consideration the value of
the franchise, and called attention to the
fact that within the past ten years the
tax valuation of railroad property in the
State had increased from $4,000, 900 to
s42.CO0,OO0. He added:
My position is simply this: The rail-
roads in North Carolina ought 10 be
compelled to pay their just proportion OF
tax. They ought to pay that and no
more"
Judge Allen went on to say that the
State had just passed through a period
of very expensive litigation over the tax
question and that il Judge Graham s
amendment was passed other suits would
be az once staTtcds- IIc continued:
Il don't believe we ought to refrain
from fairly taxing them on this account,
but when VIC can tax them and avoid
litigation. I believe it is our duty to do
So
Judge Graham said this came argument
had been used in every Legislature.
The railroads will kick and run to the
courts if you increase their taxes, is
the cry We hear every time. ] ask you
VIXEN they did rct kick and what tax
you have ever gotten from them that
you cid not get at the point OF the law ?
At, the last session of this body tho
friends OF The railroads promised | am
informed, that if the gross earnings tax
was not put on them they would abide
by the valuation put on them by the
Commission. Did they do it? As soon
as The assessment was made they few
to The courts. / tell you they will al
ways resist and what you get from them
you'll get at the point of the law
Mr.. Willard opposed the tax. though
he had urged its adoption two years ago.
He assigned as the cause for his conyer-
sion belief that the adoption of such
of the agreement made by the Governor
with the railroads in settlement Of the
tax suits. He read the Governors special
message, and added:
IF we levy this tax we will be doing
the very thing the Governor promised
should not be done-increase the tax on
railroads. Certainly we would violate
that agreement in spirit if not in let
ter.
II consider it OF much greater i'm
portance to get the principle in the law
than to try at one fell swocp to raise
ont of the railroads all that they ought
to pay"
On the motion to reconsider, Judge Gra-
ham called the ayes and noes The vote
resulted; Ayes, "A; noes, 21
AMENDMENTS LOST.
Mr.. Craig was then recognized and
said that he was satisfied that the prop
erty of railroads was assessed equitably
with all other property. The matter had
been settled and agreed upon, and it
seemed to lie satisfactory to the majority
of the people He urged the House to let
it remain settled, and moved the previous
question on the bill and the amendment
The question was then on Judge Gra-
hams amendment as printed in this
mornings paper, which would raise
revenue from the gross earnings tax on
railroads of about $275, 600 On this Judge
Graham demanded the ayes and noes.
On the roll call the amendment was lost
by vote of % to "a.
The ayes were; Messrs. Barnhill,
Blount, Britain, Carraway. Carlton,
Coleman, Collins, Dean, Dees Duncan,
Fields, Garrett. Graham. Harris, jenkins,
Lane, Morgan, Nichols Owen. Payne.
Whitaker of Forsyth, and
The noes were: Messrs. Alexander,
Allen of Wayne Baldwin, Banncrman
Barco, Beddingfeld Benbow. Bialock,
Blythe, Bradsher, Burnett, Galloway Carr
Carson, Connor, Craig, Curtis. Daniels Of
Vance Daniels of Warren, Daughtridge,
DuIs, Ebbs. Ellen, Gather. Gattis, Green,
Hayes, Hoey, Hood Isbell, Lawrence,
Little. Long. MacKethan Mann Mason.
Nastin, Mauney. McCuIloch, Mcfarland,
Mcintosh. McIvcr, Mclean, Morphew,
Nash, Oliver, Page. Parker Patterson.
Hearce Pearson. Petree Reinhardt. Rob-
srson, Robinson Ross, Rountree, Seawell,