The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-06
sLANDERING THE STATE FOR
SELFISH ENDS.

convention a few days ago, a series of
resolutions endorsing the Democratic
State administration and showing how
it had fulfilled its every promise made
resolutions adopted was the following:
"That we recommend to our State
convention the adoption of a resolution
pledging the Democratic party to pro-
tect every interest with impartial vigi-
lance and fairness in the imposition of
public taxes; as we believe that the flu
ture glory and prosperity of our State
depends upon the development of our
wonderful resources. which can only be
done by the investment of capital with
in our borders, great part of which
must come from beyond the limits of
our own State controlled by associations
with corporate powers
In order to injure the Democratic party
and SANDER the State of North Carolina.
the Morning Post quotes the above reso-
luton and the fact that the Messrs.
Duke have purchased fine water power
in South Carolina and will build a mill
lion dollar mill as proof of it's oft re-
peated groundless assertion that capital
is not adequately protected in North
Carolina.
duced the Harnett county resolution,
says it was incorporated in the platform
merely to assure all interests that the
Democratic party will faithfully protect
every dollar of invested capital and
protect every interest with impartial
vigilance and fairness in the imposition
of taxes 1t was not introduced or
passed to permit railroad organs to use
it as text to SANDER the State. If such
twisting of the resolution had been fore
seen the resolutions would have included
the statement land We appeal to the
record of North Cardinals fair treatment
of the humblest and the richest individ-
ual and corporation as refutation of the
sianderous charge that capital is not
treated with Justice by the legislative.
judiciary and executive departments of
our State government.
The Boast says that the investment
by the Messrs. Duke, of Durham,
of 81, 000, 900 in a big cotton mill in South
Carolina instead of in this State may
have been DUE to North Carolina laws.
and asks if the recent Guilford county
petition and the Harnett resolutions sis
not evidence that a contrary Clair and
just treatment to enterprisesO condition
exists which needs to be wiped out?"
The Boasts question is equivalent to
preferring two charges against the fair
dealing of the dominant party in the
State 1t virtually makes two charges:
l. That the Messrs. Duke have decided
mill upon the water power they have
purchased in South Carolina because of
North Carolina legislation. The Messrs,
Duke have not made that statement and
they will not do so. They know that it
is not true. They have large investments
in North Carolina and their property is
given ample protection and the tax valua
ton is not too high. If the Boast doubts
this, let it print the sum at which the
Duke property in Durham is assessed for
taxation and the amount of capital upon
which it pays dividend. That is the way
to settle the question easily. The prop
erty of the Messrs. Duke and of all other
big enterprises is not taxed too high in
North Carolina. and to assert that such
a policy does prevail would tend to drive
away capital if anybody believed it.
2. That there is need of legislation to
protect capital in large enterprises in
ample protection. There may be good
reason for changing certain provisions
in the revenue law and machinery act
with reference to reports rendered by
Industrial corporations. If so, let those
reasons be advanced and let the charges
be made, but there is no system of taxa
ton by which any manufacturing enter
prise, mercantile establishment or rail
road is unjustly taxed in North Carolina
If there is. let the Boast name the
provision, and this paper will join hands
with any man to secure its repeal. There
are some small privilege or license taxes
imposed which might we'll be left to be
regulated by the cities and towns. The
next Democratic Legislature may be
trusted to make Just and wise ma
chinery act and revenue law. making
such changes as experience shows are
necessary.
Fair minded men who read the daily
ISLANDERS of the States dealing with cor
porations in the Morning Boast under
stand the inspiration of the iterated and
reiterated screeds The last Legislature
incorporated for the first time a new
method of imposing a separate privilege
or franchise tax on railroads. The tax
imposed is nominal, but the principle
of this separate tax has been grated