The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-01-12
GOVERNORS
MESSAGE,
State IN Excellent Shape.
The Revenues are Now ADEQUATE.
No DEFICIT TO Be MADE Good.

F.!Ioaing is the full text Of the
& .g..sor's message read before the
Gecsra' Assembly
Tie Honorable, the General Assemble
co!.erat.l!a:e YOU as you enter IN.
ua '.a discharge Of .cur duties tina!
80: .'a:. in the State an excellent con.
iii - Her citizens Of all cailings are
g.. <ae-oas and the rsyenues of the
state a,e adequate fer all the needs
th;.t y<1:l will be called upon 10 supply.
81 .n- close Of the las. fiscal year on
54c :3esh Of NoveIn Der there was In the
Ste Treasury for general purposes
e4e suln 81 1888, 1872 80 The revenue
sui machinery acts passed by the last
:,s.ST.tl Assembly have worked admir-
uj.y AID have brought Into the State
Treasury sufficient sums for all pur-
poses If cvernment economically ad-
T.is;is.erei. You will therefore enter
up0n ne discharge Of your duties uu-
ham ..erei by a deficit and interrupted
by any large surplus to mike extravs-
gait propriatiocs-
Certain taxes levied by the last Cen
eral Assembly have been declared by
tie courts unconstitutional These
taxes are adyeried to in the report Of
| the STATE Treasurer and ! concur IN
his commentators concerning them
such change ought TO be made in law
a. vii enable the collection of these
taxes t,r The future ana likewise for
tie past TWO years. Tbc taxes SO levied
were proper, but OF course they must
be iEF5ai Ia a constitutional manner
With ne Jew changes suggested the
iaschiilsry and revenue acts are per-
h,rs a good as VIC can make them un-
der cur constitution.
The whole subject Of taxation is one
Wci worthy your I,roioundest consider
alton. The iurdens Of government,
Away. 0neTons. are made more SO by a
ar,:.. distribution OF them The tax
alton IA nanE OF oar towns and cities
when combined with the State, coun-
6 and special taxes, is found to be
rlTy burdensone and results in great
los, o; revenue by reason OF the refusal
o ne taxpayer to fully list his prop
tr,: w.ien the tax rate is 80 high So to
e,agart to something ike confisca-
t!ta. / commend to your most care
| f. c9ns:tierat1cn the able disc ussion of
til mater by the State Tax Commits
sl.I THIS com &c 'ssion has given
ra,;ca and profound study to the ques-
lion i taxation aud its opinion is
v'erthy If the most serious considera-
ton.
- assessment of railroad property
t taxation II 1898 was $33 ,6I9,S 800
ia 1903 his assessment WAS made $780,
p-> ]-3, tb;.s mere shan doubling the
assessment IN period If FIVE years.
his increased assessment OF railroad
property at first might appear to be I'M
Ja-F. but when 1t Is considered that
within thu zine named the gross earn
ms of the railroads Of this State have
iocrea sed from $l1 ,443 ,566 to $18.-
1i9Slo, The appearance OF Injustice
passes away and leaves one in doubt
whether thu railroads ara even now as
sesSet at anything like their true val
re. Inc Corporation Commission has
nsaaged the assessment OF railroad
pFonerly and the collection of taxes
cat q the railroads with great wisdom
ana Without creating any serious !,ict
IN between these great corporations
a"1 he State.
NEED OF LAW AGAINST TEEsPassERs
| an Of the opin:cn that the rail-
ToaIs and the Stats ought to be pro-
'eeted against the loss of life inciden:
t. n.lag the railroads as highway by
PEDESTRIANS. Some sixty people are
&onuslly killed while walking GA the
1@i:roi;. tracks at o:fer places than
c.as>;lgs. This l'.ss II life ccud he
saved ~ the State b. rnakiuy it mis-
Ga'G:easior :o use the r.s!li Ga track as a
A'S'.:| y except 70, the purpose o! go
lae directly across It. This would re-
So i. he swing at ElsDy vu'uab g
lives u Ire state and much money to
tina railroads which is paid ont by
en- fpr the in lry and killing OF peo-
pie sho ',ush: not to be upon the
tracks
am also of the opinion that the
Cooperation Com N, ~,on act should be
~ ';;neHded as to give to that commits
Sion me power 10 permit the railroads
10 nave only one passenger fare. j
an ,oid that all the STATES of the I'm
Ion now have but one fare except
North Carolina. II this b neficial leg
Eiation shall be enacted Into law 1t
vii certainly then be the duty of tie
Corporation Com N salOn, or OF your
h"nnr,ble bods-if the Corporation
has already the rOw0r-tO take