Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1907-01-17

"FF.AN.%oA " ASHuiA 4A1SS55 ali U value Gne1r
property correctly to- its true worth,
Just SO much the nearer we come to
fulfilling the constitutional demand,
for uniformity. This subject, there,
fore, requires your deepest thought
and most careful examination; and if
the>session should end with your hav-
ng accomplished nothing else but set.
Sling this troublesome question on q
falr basis, you still will have earned
the plauditv "Well done, faithful
servants.'
The assessed value of all property il
the State is $461, ,52O,66 .32; but in
my Judgment, if personal property
was fairly given in, and realty iustly
assessed, and railroads and other cor
poratlons fairly taxed, it's actual value
would be billion dollars, enabling Us
to have much lower rate than at
present, and still have much larger
revenue to meet all the growing needs
Of the State.
A fair valuation and a low rate are.
necessary to get more people and out.
side capital, while low rate and high
valuation frightens away both the
Eomeseeker and investor.
Railroads.
Much has been said of late ahout
railroads and railroad rates. both
passenger and freight, and how best
to regulate and control them. In deal
Ing with this question, [ would urge
upon the General Assembly to care
fully examine the whole matter of
railroads, and while doing everything
the law allows, in protecting the peo-
pie against. unjust discrimination.
heavy rates, and unnecessary hard
ships, at the same time to treat the
railroads with perfect fairness and
give them every legal right which be-
longs TO them.
Corporation Commission.
The Governor recommends that
the Corporation Commission be given
ample powers to regulate complaints
against railroads and other corpora
tlons; also that passenger fares be
fixed at 2 1-2 cents per mile with 2
cents mileage fare in books.
Insurance Commissioner and Insur-
ance.
Since the Insurance Department
was established, the revenue collect
ed from Insurance. companies doing
business in the State has greatly in
creased.
In 1899, the last year under the old
system, the Secretary of State collect
ed taxes to the amount Of $S4, ,S79 %.
and as his compensation received fees,
and was allowed 81 900 for clerk hls.
During 1905 the Commissioner of In.
surance collected $2O5,124.O7 from the
companies, and for the seven year1
since the Department was organized.
81, ,046, ,8O4.23 has been received, which
makes an annual average Of $149, ),
543.46. The .. Commissioner is paid
$4,000 and some fees paid by the in1
surance companies, and allowed $1,6O0
t9r clerical assistance, while if the
cid system Of fees had continued, it
would have been $S3,283.5O-iust
o,OS3.5O more than under the pres
ent laws. The Commissioner handles
over 100000 each year, and keeps
at least four hundred accounts: vet
has no regular bookekeeper. The
work is growing immensely each year;
ne needs more help, and I earnestly
hope you will allow enough to obtain
the assistance required.
Bureau Of Labor and Printing.
Some people seem to think that the
work Of the Department of Labor and
Printing does little if any good; but
It they will only remember that it is
the only bureau that gathers statis-
Tics from all classes Of labor, thew will
at once see its utility. The report fur
nlshed me in regard to child labor, and
the views Of the people on the subject
OF compulsory education, is more than
worth the small amount we spend for
IT'S maintenance. I hope each member
OF the General Assembly will care
1ully read the Commissioners renort.
as 1t will furnish him with a great
zeal OF helpful information for use in
| his legislative work. -
Vagrancy.
also urge that the vagrant law he
amended, giving adequate punishment
n the discretion Of the Superior
Court. Migrants furnish a great ne,