The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-15
THE 4 QUESTION.

Daniels often pitches into the southern
Railway 1t is nothing un-
usual for him to attack that corpora
tdon through the editorial Columns OF
his paper; but on this occasion. he
threw some extra hot shot into Colonel
a p Andrews camp. He stormed the
first vice presidents citadel and he
sheIled the woods generally. When the
state corporation commission meets
pext month to assess for taxation the
railroads of the state the Southern had
better have IN all it's defensive arraOr,
for it is likely that it will be called
upon to defend itself against one of the
fercest attacks ever made upon it from
certain quarters. The News and OBJ
server in Sundays issue devOte5 three
and a half columns Of it's editorial page
to showing up the conduct OF this cor
poration in trying to dodge what Is
alleged to be the just and proper val
uatiOn of its tangible property in this
state. 1t seems that his Ompany has
kicked and kicked strenuously against
a valuation Of it's road at a sum 4 little
less than fourteen thousand dollars a
mile while it's secretry. Mr.. Josiah F.
Hill in a suit against the company
brought in he federal court by certain
citizens of Danville. Va. swears that
the road was worth forty thousand
dollars a mile and perhaps more.
As to the true value per mile Of the
Southern railroad or of any Other rail-
road in this state we know nothing
We do know, though, that it is human
nature for every corporation and for
every Individual (there are some isolat-
ed exceptions we know to get off with
as light taxes as possible.
There is a general cry that ali prop
erty in this state is valued too low when
it comes to giving it in for taxation.
There are exceptions in this case too.)
There is a general nov to have all
property in this state valued for taxa
fion at its true value and also, which
is just as important. to get all prop
erty, whether corporate or individual,
on the tax books. Could these TWO
things be accomplished the rate Of tax
alton could be greatly lowered, and the
HILL WHO gives III INS pIOptAby iIC
and pays his taxes or it would not be
compelled, as he is now, to pay, in ad-
dition to his own just taxes, those of
that large class Of tax dodgers. All
property, whether corporate or individ-
ual, should be made to bear its share
of the burdens of city, county and
state government.
~ I-1~r-@ Sc ~
ter the railroads so strongly II would
do the state and the homes tax payers
q good service if it would occasionally
turn it's guns on that class Of our Citl-
gems who. by hiding their property or
claiming to be nOn-residents Of city or
state. escape payment of just taxes.
Railroads may be sinners in the matter
of lodging taxes, but they are by no
means the only ones and, therefore, we
do not believe they alone should come
in for abuse. BY all means let the rail-
roads be forced to pay the taxes Justly
due, but do not let the good work stop
there. Let all tax dodgers be forced
to toe the mark. If the corporations
are made to pay taxes on the full value
of their property, then the same should
be required of individuals. If indiVid-
uals are allowed to pay taxes on only
q third. a half or two thirds Of their
property, then it is not right to require
corporations to pay tax on full valua-
ton. That is all any one should de-
mand.
North Carolina in the rapid progress
and development of her in
the past twenty years owes much to The
railroads traversing her territory, es-
pecially to the three great systems,
n while these corporations should not
be allowed to escape the payment of
their just dues to the state, they ought
not to be considered as the enemies of
the state and of the people-as foreign
corporations which are the legitimate
prey of the individuals of the state and
of the state itself whenever opportunity
to fleece them arises. 1t is to the in
terest Of these roads to build up the ;n-
duStrieS of our State-tO have two fac
tories where there was only one be-
fore; to make the land produce two
bushels of farm products where It yield
ed only one before; to have two pro-
gressive. wide awake farmers where
there was only one before. Unless the
people prosper the railroads will lose
money. 1t does not pay to operate a
railroad through Il barren country.
The peoples interests are not hostile to
those of the railroads. 1t is inst the
reverse-the railroads interests are
bound up in those of the people.
Dr. Crum. the colored gentleman
whom President Roosevelt was so de-