The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-13

aLlOn--LOCU hOIuS- AuCIeHS-u nAo
Suggested for State Schools and In
stitutions for Care of the Helpless.
QFrom News and Observer Jan. 81
Governor Aycock's annual message to
the General Assembly was read in both
branches of that body yesterday; and the
reading was followed with deep atten-
ton. It is an unusually strong State
document, dealing with many momentous
issues. The message folloWs:
The Honorable, the General Assembly:
welcome you with much pleasure to
the capital of the State. With the begin
uing OF your labors my own are appre-
Gladly lessened. You come to your work
fresh from the people with a knowledge
of their wishes and with a sincere desire
to meet their just expectations and de-
mands. The year Just passed has been
one CT great prosperity to the people OF
the State. Farmers have produced good
crops and received reasonable prices Tor
them. Industries have Increased and
manufacturers have been kept busy. La
Dor has had steady employment at falr
wages and the State has probably never
enjoyed a period Of more general sue
cess. The State government, however,
has been embarrassed by a want of suffi-
:ient revenue to meet the appropriations
provided for by the last General Assem-
lily. It will be one Of your first duties to
devise means By which the expenditures
Of the State will come within the revenue.
THE SOUTH DAKOTA SUIT.
The State has been sued in the Su-
preme Court Of the United States by
the State Of South Dakota on ten bonds
secured by an alleged second mortgage
on the State stock in the North Carolina
Railroad Company. All of the bonds OF
this class have been adjusted long
since except about two hundred and fifty,
of which those sued upon are a part.
They are held or controlled by Schatfer
Brothers. brokers in New York. and the
ten bonds sued upon We're assigned by
them to South Dakota without considera-
ton and for the purpose, as North Car
olina. contends, Of evading the Eleventh
Amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States. and for the purpose OF
drawing into the jurisdiction of the court
the bonds held by the said brokers. This
is the first case of this character ever
brought by one State against another
end it is confidently contended by North
Carolina that no court has jurisdiction to
erforce. public obligations in the hands
Of an assignee which could not be en-
forced by the assignor. The principle
involved. IS Of serious Importance, not
only to this. but to all the States of the
Union. and if the suit can be maintain
ed it Will be a dangerous departure and
one seriously infringing upon the sover-
eighty of the States. | have employed
counsel for the State who in conjunction
with our able Attorney General are rep
resenting.
STATE TAX COMMISSION.
Tho report of the State Tax Commits
sion is a very interesting Gun and
We'll worthy of your serious study. Some
of the recommendations contained there
in are new to our people and may not
meet with ready acceptance. 1t is certain.
however. that the Commission has given
diligent study to the problems presented
to them for consideration under the Act
3. creating the Commission. l trust that the
views presented will not only arouse
interest en- the part of the General AS
se1nbly, but Will cause a general study
of the subject Of taxation by all our
people. Much revenue is undoubtedly
lost to the State. counties, and towns by
fe1USal 10 properly list personal property
in those communities where the combined
tax rate is SO high as to become a real
burden. If any plan can be devised by
which this can be remedied and thereby
cause a full listing of property at it's
true value, a long step will be taken
towards the adjustment on an equitable
basis OF the burdens of taxation. The
recommendation of the Commission that
a tax should be levied for State purpose
on distilleries, rectifying establishments
The State has heretofore levied a tax
on saloons for the use of the school
fund only. 1t would seem that an add
tional tax should be levied for State pur-
poses. There is no reason apparent why
distil!eries and rectifying establishments
should not also contribute 70 the sup
pert of the State Government.
EDUCATION.
I to your careful considera-
ton the very full and able report OF
our Superintendent of Public Instruction
I concur in the main in the recommen-
dations which he has so thoughtfully
made. But for the fact that some Of
your honorable body have come to the
Legislature instructed by the conventions
which nominated you to secure the adop-
ton Of an amendment to the Constitution
by which the taxes paid by the whites
shall go to the education of the white