The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-22
VERY FEW CHANGES.
Senator London Says Criticism of
Acts of 1901 Were Not Deserved.

| To tho Editor: Governor Aycock ia
his biennial message to the General As
sembly of 1903 recommended that "both
the Revenue and Machinery Acts, now
constituting our law in reference to
taxation, shall remain as they are, with
the notifications recommended by the
Treasurer and AUDITOR In accordance
with this recommendation the joint sub
committee of the Senate and House Fin
ance committees made as few changes as
possible in framing the new Revenue ard
Machinery Acts, and these few changes
were made only after most careful cor
sideration. This committee met nearly
every night for more than a month and
did more work than any other committee
in the General Assembly. The chairman
of the Corporation Commission, the
Treasurer and Auditor attended many OF
it's meetings and gave the committee the
Benefit of their views and suggestions
The fact that so few changes were made,
after such careful consideration, shows
that the Revenue and Machinery Acts ci
1861 did not deserve the criticism ana
censure which they received at the time
Of their enactment.
The object OF the committee was to-
! frame a Revenue and Machinery act
which would be fair and Just to all per
sons and corporations discriminating
neither in favor of nor against any class
| of persons or corporations, and 1T is
hoped tina this object has been accom-
! plishcl. The public generally will APP
| prove the abolition of several license
! taxes, which we're very unequal and un
! lust, provoking much irritation and pro
! ducing very little revenue Such, for
instance, as the license tax on small
merchants, dealers in fresh meats. etc.
The increase in revenue will depend
largely upon the manner in which the
Machinery Act Is executed. If the list
| takers and assessors do their duty the
estimated increase will be nearly 5000.
100. This increase will come chiefly from
higher tax on liquor dealers and dis
-illers (which Is doubled), on express and
telegraph companies and the increased
valuation of railroads. All real and per-
sonal property is to be assessed accord
ing to otis true value in money" as
Prescribed by section of article V of
he constitution, and the lst-taEers and
1I0
lot leave it to be valued oy the owner,
as is so often done.
Some of the so-caled "inauisitorialp
features of the former Revenue and Ma
ohinery Acts are abolished FOR in
stance, person whose income does not
exceed 81 coo VIII not have to list tho
fourccs or amount of his income.
The bond issue was necessary because
IF tho appropriations made by the Gen
eral Assembly of 1901 being larger than
he revenues received. and all those an
rropriations were for proper purposes
The difference between this bond issue
md that made because OF the Fusion
mismanagement of the renitentiary is thu
difference between money expended foi
/ proper purpose and money wasted o.
stolen. 1t would have been better II thu
bonds had been made payable in twenty
: or thirty years, or even longer, than in
) ten years. as they would have sold at a
higher price.
The appropriations made by the Gen
eral Assembly of 1909 are about 5000 00f
{ less than the appropriations of the Cen
eral Assembly of 1901 There should
therefore. be no deficiency in the States
treasury during the next two years
Thus. without any increase in the rate Of
taxation on either property or the poll
our States receipts should be ample for
all disbursements and its finances be in
; a most healthy condition and creditabIe
to tho party in control OF the State gov
/ ernmcnt.
Z H. A. LONDON.
, Pittsboro, n c., March Is, 1903.
) fSenator London was one of the sub
, committee of 1901 and was chairman o.