The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-08-25

~" = "a SOlSlOcI DTleIlE the Sll n |
stance OF the amendments proper. !
The most Of them may be passed
OVer without discussion because there
Will De no opposition to their ratifica-
ton. They are of minor Importance
. Inc providing for q
minimum Term of six months free
scnoo each year should be adopted
III every vocation and Industry are
calling for and demanding men Of
intelligence and efficiency, when the
uneducated are sorely handicapped in
the race Of life because Of sharp com
petition with these better equipped.
we would fail miserably in our duty
to the boys and girls of our State
if we did not incorporate into our
organic law the provision which. will
insure a minimum Of six months free
school term.
A Needed Change.
The amendment requiring that all
local affairs pertaining to towns,
toWnships and counties should be pro-
vlded for under general statute in
stead OF t h thousand and enc "local
bills that consume the time Of our
legislators, should be ratified by all
means. There should be 10 opposi-
| ton to it.
Every man who has attended on the
sessions of our General Assembly
knows full we'll that important State
wide legislation is rushed through
with scant consideration during the
last ten days Of the session because
the time Of the Assembly has been
taken up with petty local bills.
More Pay for Legislators.
The amendment providing for in
creased pay for our legislators is just
and equitable and should be adopted.
Under the present constitutional per
diem, only the man of means, or the
man with an axe to grind can af-
ford to go to the Legislature. We
should not have too many of the for
mer class, m the self-seeking class
is not the safest legislator. OF course
we have many legislators who are not
OF the wealthy class, and who are
not using the legislature as a stepping
stone to reach other favors from the
people. but they can i'll aord to neg
lect their private business for legisla-
tive honOrs With the proposed in
crease in salary We will be able to
draft into the service Of the people
a better class of legislators on the
average.
And, moreover, it is just and right
to pay a living wage. 1t is we'll known
that the present per diem will hardly
exceed his necessary expenses.
The Most Important of All.
The most important Of all the
amendments, and the one which will
be the hardest fought, is the amend
nlent providing for, or rather open
ing the way for readjustment Of our
system Of taxation. 1t has been said
that from taxes and death we cannot
escape, yet it is we'll known by all who
have given the subject n study, that
wealth in various forms escapes its
!, just proportion OF the burdens of tax
alton. That is the small property
l hO16or no VIC in nr0nOrfiNn fn his ability
to pay, more tax than the large holder
1t is also true hat certain classe:
Of property is taxed too high while
other kinds of property is proportion
ately too low. In this way industry
thrift and economy that tends to buil(
: up the community is often
l with taxation, while idle wealth share
: in the increased values from commu
nifty development, to which it contri
e butes nothing, and escapes with yer.
light taxation.
Tax Rate Too High.
t 1t is. true also that the present rat
of taxation is unreasonably high, an
: this is made necessary by the low val
e uation of all property listed, and from
r the fact that much intangible prop
/ erty is not listed at all because Of tn
: high rate. This high rate is not at
r tractive to prospective investors, VINO
e not knowing our very loW appralse
Z monC, are CloIcDy OSlSllCu AHeh
r ing investments within our borders
The wealth goes elsewhere.
e Under the present system OF taxa
n ton it has been all but Impossible
establish equalization of taxes betWee
1 the various counties of the stat
IS This can only be done by segreSatlo
of property, the State taxing certal
II classes Of property for State revenu
n and the counties taxing other classe
IF of property for the benefit OF tn
county. '
System is Inefficient.
IT But the most serious charge agalns
1t our present system is that 1t is II
efficient as a revenue producer. 1t
,r a reproach to our State goveInmeI
II that our elemosynary lnstitutloI
are crippled for lack OF funds, tn NJ
our educational institutions can NJ
expand to meet the neeas "a ~ pe &c
- ME and that we are forced 10 isS.
!" bon1s ~ meet running IL