The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-27
AS TO TAXATION AND ASSESS
MENTS.

ment of the tax laws in vogue in North
Carolina and of tax assessors. 1t points out
that solvent credits have not been reached,
| but suggests no remedy to reach them,
though tax assessors and all others would
rejoice to have a remedy. 1t points out
that city taxation is high-often too high,
but this statement is extravagant:
"The extent to which taxation has been
carried in our towns amounts to nothing
! less than an abuse and wrong We can
never have cities under present conditions.
One cannot afford to own less than $780,
0CO worth of property in one of our towns.
Owning less, he must work like death or
fee to the country to make both ends
meet"
There are several thousand people IN
Raleigh who own less than $250,0O0, who
do not work like death or flee to the
country to make both ends meet" Many
of them came from low taxes in the coun-
try to get the benefits of schools and other
things the city provides. They wish a
lower tax rate-and should have it-but
nobody in Raleigh would give up the city
benefits which cost money. The city can
be governed upon a lower rate, and 1t
should be done, but if nobody owning
less than $25OOOO can afford to live in
Raleigh, the population of the city would
be now less than five.
Equally extravagant is the statement
"the present tax is confscatory and that
is the truth 1t is high in the cities,
and wherever possible it should be re.
duced. But where the city taxes are hon
estly spent for sewerage systems and other
protection to health for fire protection;
for lighting; for street improvements; for
the education of the children; and for
good government-what is to be done?
Take Raleigh, for example, where the tax
rate is high and the assessment is high
Does the remedy lie in attacking the tax
assessors as the Recorder does? OF them
it says:
eve will pass by the recent astonishing
assessment in Raleigh, levied by three
men who were no more famous for good
judgment than they were for owning prop
erty, and who seemed to be guided by the
most optimistic views of the price of real
estate within our city's sacred and IN
changeable limits. We say we will pass
by these gentlemen with the remark that
their work has done our city an injury
irreparable, and it should be warning
henceforth to County Boards to select as
assessors men whose judgment Of the
value of property has had practical exer-
else in the cold and shrinking realities of
possession plus repairs, taxes, insurance
and care
This is not just or fair comment. The
three men who made the assessments in
Raleigh did their work conscientiously. 1t
may be that they did not give enough con-
sideration to the income value of resi-
dences, but we do not believe they assessed
fifty pieces of property in the city above
the true value in money" AS whole it
is nearest to a proper assessment than
any previous assessment. If property
should not be assessed at its true value
in money! the thing to do is to change
the laws instead of abusing the assessors
The suggestion that they are not fit TO
make the assessments because not large
property owners, is not worthy criticism.
1t is character and sense, not the posses
sion of land or money, that makes a
man capable of public service. When did
il become reproach to man that he
lacked large property interests? The wise
course for the good people in Raleigh to
pursue is, not to kick at full assessments,
but to demand a lower tax rate. 1t will
DC Raleigh much more good to let it be
known that it has low tax rate than
to have high tax rate and a low assess
ment. Both are impossible.
Concluding the long editorial, the
Biblical Recorder says:
eve must pay our taxes. and we should
pay them gladly. For the protection of
life, liberty and property; for security IN
the pursuit of happiness, however vain;
for the peace of our highways and the
progress that is born of order we should
pay generously and happily But under
present conditions this is impossible. The
declares it. We must bring into office
men who will conduct our affairs with
economy; who will levy taxes equitably;
who will revise our present system intel
ligently-to the end that citizens may with
good conscience render unto the State,
county and city a just tribute"
In a campaign for genuine reform and
economy this paper will enlist. AS far as
the State Government is concerned there
is no State in the Republic conducted so
wisely or economically as North Carolina,
and, as we understand it, the Biblical
Recorder makes no complaint of the State
or school tax Some of the counties are
not economically managed, so we are told.
The people ought to see to that and de-
mand and secure the closest economy con
sistent with proper administration. In
Wake county, for example, the tax rate
for county purposes under the new in
creased assessment can and should be re
duced. Some of the cities are not econo-
mically conducted. The tax payers