French Broad hustler and Western Carolina Democrat. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1915-1916, 1916-02-17
the Union, but the percentage of


increase for the ten year period
is slightly greater in the ten
States selected by Mr.. Little for
his own illustration than in this
State, the increase for this State
being 59.4 per cent, and the aver
age increase for the eleven States
is 59.6 per cent.
'fCan Mr.. Little reach the con-
clusion from this fair comparison
with the ten States of his own Sc
lection that taxes are excessive in
this State?
Mr.. Little's figures r inaccu-
rate in his statement of the band
ed Indebtedness of the State as
So. 414,345 in 1902 and $S,593, $50
in 1912. The same authority from
which he was quoting gives the
figures as follows: 1902, $6,554,-
92S; 1912, $8,O5S,430. The State
has-liquid assets nearly sufficient
to pay its bonded Indebtedness,
and public buildings estimated by
the Census Department to be
worth $11t648, 1853.
"Mr. Titles conclusion that
taxes should be reduced as pepula-
ton increases is contrary to all
human experience. The highest
tax payment per capita are gen.
orally found in the most densely
populated centers where the most
public benefits are demanded"
The Butler pamphlet goes some
further than the Little article, and es-
pecially with reference to bonds. Mr.,
Butler is something of an expert On
the subject of bonds, and his circular
shows he is about as expert in max
ing bad figures about good bonds as
he is in accommodating bad bonds. For
the purpose of making out a case
against Democratic administration he
states that the bonded Indebtedness Of
the State in 1902 was only So Ala, $40
when it was in fact $6,554, 928, AMI
neither of these figures include the re
pudiated bonds now held by the But
l'r syndicate.
He complains that the bonded in
~debtedness of this State, $3.O5 pei
capita, (not including the Butler
bonds) is excessive. The bonded in
debtedness of the States used by M
Butler to make an u~nfavorable compa.
rison with this State, average $500
per CAPITA while we have the assets
" it'll which to pay ours.
He complains that the counties an6
cities of the State have voted bond is
sues for public improvements tina
average $11.39 per capita. The bond
Ell indebtedness of the counties ana
municipalities in the ten States rsei
by him for comparison averages $500
capita, using figures from the
same authority from which he quotes
Mr.. Butler complains that Demo
Gratis know how to issue bonds bu'
they do not know how to pay them
There is perhaps no other subject or
which Mr.. Butler a get so pathetic
as that of payment of (bad) bonds. L
is something of a hobby with him
But if a single good bond, either ~
the State or of any county or city in
the State, has matured in the ten years
he speaks of that vas not promptly
paid. or if default has been made In
the paymetn of interest on any sucn
bonds, the fact has not come to public
notice. The rules have been so strict
ly observed, and the bonded indebted
ness of the State and it's subdivisions
has been held to so low a margin il
comparison with other States that il
is we'll known that the market for
such bonds is second o that of no other
State. A. J. MAXWELL.
Raleigh. N. C.