The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-15
GOVERNOR GLENNS MESSAGE
To THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

equally on all, still the nearer we can
approach 10 requiring all to value their
property according to its true worth,
just 70 much the nearer We come to
fulfilling the constitutional demand
for uniformity. This subject, therefore
requires you deepest thought and
most careful consideration.
The assessed value Of all property ir
the state is s46l 500. 668.32; but in my
judgment, if personal property was
fairly given in, and realty justly as
sessed, and railroads and other corpor-
atoms fairly taxed, its actual value
would be a billion dollars, enabling US
to have a much lower rate than at
present, and still have a much larger
revenue to meet all the growing needs
Of the state
BY reading the report of the auditor
you will e that forty-five counties
out Of the ninety-Seven receive more
from the state than they pay taxes 10
it; and while we might expect such q
condition from a very few weak coun-
ties, still when We See the same tLinS
done by large and prosperous counties,
we know it is because they have pvt
an unfair and too low value on their
property, and are therefore perDetrat-
ing a wrong on the state and the other
counties.
This wrong is accomplished by the
assessors in some counties va!uinS
realty at 80, 50, 80, and 95 per cent. of
it's money value, while the assessors in
other counties where land is equally
fertile and valuable assess it at SO Is,
40. 80. and so per cent.
AS to what has been said in regard
to want of uniformity in both realty
and personality, the same can be added
rs to the violation of the constitution
as to returns on privileged taxes. 80
illustrate: One county returns a large
amOut collected from horse-dealers,
peddlers, etc; another returns nothing,
and yet perhaps the latter county has
been the resort of more horsemen and
peddlers than the one paying the tax.
The treasurer suggests that he has
no machinery and not sufficient knowl-
edge of what is going on in the differ
ent counties to properly collect this
tax, but that the sheriff of each county
required to collect all special taxes
for the state, receiving commissions for
doing, as in case of other taxes.
RAILROADS.
Much has been said of late about
railroads and railroad rates. both pass
and freight, and how best TO
regulate and control them. In dealing
with this question, | would urge upon
the general assembly to carefully ex- |
anime the whole matter of railroads, |
and while doing everything the law al
ows, in protecting the people against
discrimination, heavy rates. |
unnecessary hardships, at the |
time to treat the railroads with
fairness and give them every |
right which belongs to them. |
Railroads are the great arteries of
and have been the means |
IF developing and building up our re-
Iources as no other factor in the state |
has, and therefore should be Looked
Upon, not as hostile to the states in
.erestS, but as one of its most help
III agencies. There are certain things, |
therefore, that should be required of
railroads in carrying out their
to the pcop1e as common
carriers, and certain protection should
given them against the unjust de-
hands and exactions Of prejudice6 lit
giants.
- AAS AANA 1
hould be required TO pay taxes on all
heir property at a fair valuation, and
Iot be allowed + rate their property
t a high value when borrowing money
nd at a very low rate when paying
axes, as most of them now do.
CD Passenger rates should be re-
Of late years travel has greatly
increased, yet scarcely any reduction
as been made in the rate. The cor
commission contends that On
Of the two-fare system in this
tate, it could not properly make the
ecessary reduction. North Carolina
the only state in the union having
NO rates, and it is not now necessary.
therefore recommend that there be
My one fare, and hat the rate be
Xed at 2 IL cents per mile, and the
book at two cents per mile.
CD l recommend that some law be
assed remedying the loss of time that
lie public suffers waiting for delayed ,
aims. Several plans have been sug-
ested; one, to require railroads when :
lelr connections are an hour o. more !
te, to run a special train; another, !
require them Oh all their roads to '
IN a local, without regard to con-
sctions, arriving and leaving on its /
Yn time; and still another, to require :
le railroads to at once require the =
to at once bulletin its trains ,
late, giving reason for delay. and d.
hen it is expected. and then allow
irty minutes margin after the an :
TN-+,-l 49, d D@~4 I