The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-01-17

B1CK0CC mdQ0 C0TLdlu uT0cOIulu0u-
dations for the listing of taxes
which should be carefully stud
led by every North Carolinian.
North Carolina today appears
to be one Of the poorest states
in the union with an abnormally
high tax rate. Governor Beckett
would have this status reversed
by legislation which would COM
pei people to list their property
honestly.
The wealth of Pasquotana
county, for instance, is probably
$4,000, 100000. It appears on
the tax books as $4,000, 100000.
We are compelled to fix a high
tax rate and a low valuation.
Governor Bickett's recommen-
dations, including his sensational
suggestion how to get the truth
from the. tax payers, follows.
Read
SHOULD NOT LEAP IN THE DARK
When the General Assembly knows
the liabilities Of the State for two years
it knows just half enough. Unless 1t
prefer to leap in the dark rather than
+ 70 walk in the light, the General AS
sembly should have before it an In
yentory OF the assets Of the State as
well as its liabilities. This inventory
should be taken as thoroughly and as
honestly as the merchant takes stock
when he desires to ascertain exactly
how his business stands. There has
never been a conscientious effort &c
take such an inventory Of the assets of
North Carolina. The present maeh1n-
cry act tends to conceal rather tnan
reveal the true value Of property. Ihe
excuse for such machinery is that II
property should be placed upon the
| hooks at it's true value the tax rates
would be confiscatory. Such q fear 1s
| not well rounded. It may be consld-
tered a. childish faith, but i believe that
/ in the long run it pays to tell the truth
about anything. We may not nope &c
he a, great people SO long as we con-
done falshehood and deception in ouI
relations to the government under
which we live The principles and prac-
tices that are tolerated in the listing
of non-listing Of property for taxatlor
constitute a school Of immorahy tna'
will, if allowed to continue. destroy the
moral fiber of our people.
/ deyoutiy believe that if we shai
resolve to about face and tell the exac
truth about our property, we Will no
only shame the devil, but we will de
lcrease rather than increase the bur
dens of taxation.
To this end urge you to clothe th'
Tax Commission with ample powers
and, equip it with ample forces an
direct it to find and place on the ta'
books at it's real value every piece
property tangible and intangtoie IN tn
state of North Carolina. It will not o
( difficult to frame machinery that WI
accomplish this result If we be in dead
1v earnest about it. It is not necessar
to discuss the details of such machln
Ierv. but I will mention just one vita
feature entirely absent from the pres
: ent act A questionnaire snouio
! carefully prepared and submitted I
every tax payer, and he should be re
e o,ired to answer under oath a ser1e
e of very searching questions.
QUESTIONS FOR TAXPAYER.
E Did YOU secure this property
s purchase or Inheritance and when?
2. If by purchase what did you pa
for it? :.
8. Have you sold or offered to Sc
any part Of this property within Tn
Hast four years, and if so what dio yo
: get or offer to take per acre or ~fror
Z foot2
A. Has any one proposed to buy TN
: property or any part OF 1t WITHIN Tn
e last four years, and If so what was tn
Z offer per acre or front foot?
3 S. Has any property been soid
|, tvoar-. section OF the town or count
6 within the last four years, and II
4 what did 1t bring per acre or fror
e foot? =,
6. State in full the difference De
n tween the general character OF you
property and the property SO sold.
Il
{ IN. What are. the buildings on Tn
= property worth Independent ssof ath
6 land. and how much insurance do yo
d carry on such buildings?
: Z 8. Have you ever offered a loan Q
: applied for loan Of money on tn
q property, and il SO for how much di
g YOU apply, and what did you state we
d the value Of the property in your az
: Eplication for the loan?
s @. What do you honestly think en-,
fnroperty would bring II sold for one
q fourth cash the balance of the purchas
i price to be paid In one. two and thre
i years?
II The above questions are simply sue
n tgestiye; others may be inserted IN u
= Hnuestionnaire in regard to tntang1p
81 81 property. The law should make 1t pei
b. jury for any tax payer to knowing
le make statement aferially false, II
= law can be so framed that any perst