The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-18

appoints the assessors on a civil SER
wee basis and makes them FREQ from
iocai influences. With only the State
tax commission to p.ease. and respou-
sibie to no other body. the local ap-
praisors are performing their duty
with fairness and with no favoritism.
ana the tax situation has improved
wonderfully. Tho State. said Mr..
Adams, exempts from taxation moneys.
securities and other forms, of intangi-
Die property. making up for IL by the
collection OF graduated income tax
Problem Ia North CAROLINA.
Charles Leo Rapcr. dean of tho grad
uate school of the University OF North
Carolina, was of the opinion that what
ever may be the action OF the individ-
ual State with regard to the distri-
outioh. segregation or equalization of
taxes, the problem OF equitable assess
inent remained unaffected. a State tax
commission with power to appoint and
remove local assessors, he thought was
AN institution that Is necessary to any
system, and will have to be provided
Tor by the Legislature of his own state
netore North Carolina can hope for
permanent relief.
permanent commission OF three
mem bers, at an annual salary OF $4,000
each. he thought. would meet the need
OF North Carolina and other Southern
states In order to be effective. the
commission should be free OF political
fluctuations. In conjunction with the
ONCE of the State commission. he said.
there should be n permanent assess
nent Office in each OF the local units.
The agitation for segregation and
ciassilcation OF taxes AT tho last SEES
SION OF the North Carolina Legislature
said Mr.. Raper, had beclouded the tax
C'th'niSsion issue and resulted in the
deteat OF the measure providing for
In 30.
was only delayed, and is sure to come
Ola System Encourages Fraud.
the assessment system now in use
In mississippi and Virginia, said Gov
ernor Noel places a premium on sub
terfuge and fraud and burdens tho
honest man with an undue share of the
expense OF government. Like virginia
ne said. Mississippi suffered from pau
per counties which draw from the
state treasury more than they nav
INTO It, When an agitation for equali-
|ation arises. he said, there arises from
these counties the same false and
empty cry that an attempt is being
made to abridge it's rights OF local self
government. There is impressed into
service the doctrine of county soye-
reignty. he said. until one even expects
some day to hear in the same connec-
.,oh oil the sovereignty OF the ward and
inc sovereignty of the precinct
Mr.. Noel agreed with the sneakers
who had preceded him that the remedy
lies In the creation OF permanent
state tax commission that will reach
down into the counties and appoiut as
SCISSORS who will act without fear OF
iocai influences. and who will be re-
sponsible only to the board
H. H. Barger. Of Shawsville. spoke
impromptu on the tax question as 1t
appeared TO the farmer. lie thought
mat the incapability of the local as
SCISSORS was overcstimatcd, and that
as rule. they appraised with fairness
ana justice. II was easier for the local
community TO keep an eve on its as
SCISSORS, he said, than TO watch the
disposition OF the public revenues by
the Legislature. which sits at a dis
tance. Some OF the concern now mani
tested about the assessment and col
iection OF taxes. he thought. might
probably be directed to economies in
state expenditure.