The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-01-31
BY w. O. SAUNDERS


About so years ago some one
wrote a joker into the consttu-
ton of North Carolina by which
most of the rich men of the
state have since been exempt
from paying an income tax to
the state. The joker provided
that no income shall be taxed
when the property from which
the income is derived is taxed.
The present General Assembly
of North Carolina will scrap that
Joker if the Doughton bill goes
thru-and the Doughton bill is
apt to go thru just because it is
the Doughton bill. The author
of the bill himself has heretofore
been one of the greatest reac-
tionaries in the House and a
stumbling block in the path of
progressive legislation.
Governor Doughton's tax amendment
bill would abolish that section of the
constitution which says mo income
shall be taxed when the property from
which the income is derived is taxed,
and provide for uniform income tax
law not to exceed six per cent. The
exemptions would be 81 GOO for unmar-
ried and 81, 500 for married persons.
The bill would also change the Con-
stitution and provide a uniform poll ta1
Of $500 and limit the total State and
County tax rate on property to IS 2-5
cents on the one hundred dollars valu-
alton except for a special pun pose and
with the approval of the General As
semby. Residence in tine State, as
Dre-reouisite to voting, would be chang
ed from two years to one ana In the
precinct from six months to four. The
payment Of poll tax prerequisite Wou:d
be abolished altogether
Demand Honest Basis
The assessment Of all property IN
North Carolina at its real value Tor
taxation, and a special session Of the
General Assembly in the summer OF
form the basis of plan agreed upon
unanimously by the joint france COM
mittee Of the House and the Senate
to put taxation in the State upon an
honest basis.
Because Of the short time left in
which a revaluation could he accom-
plished, it is not the aim Of the commit
tee to have the reassessment completed
by May Of this year. But work OF re-
valuation for May, 1920, will be under
way in the immediate future II the
plans Of the Finance Committee Work
cut.
There is no purpose in the decision
Of the committee to increase the States
income in this way, but merely to es-
tablish a solid basis for the States tax
ing system, a system which will insure
fairness on the part Of the State to the
people and fairness on the part Of the
people to the State.
. It is proposed that the taS rates in
cities and counties will be lowered in
the same ratio as that of the State.
<eye While the committee has as YET
Agreed only on the general policy to
fSe recommended to the General Assem-
,Mbly, no effort having been made to de-
tcide on the means to carry it out. MANY
believe that the existing machinery
should be used as far as possible. Thls
would place the giganti2 task under tho
direct supervision of the State Ta2
Commission, which woIid be entrusted
with the responsibility of securing
equitable reassessments of all property
in the State.
$25o,Ooo Agricultural Building
Governor T. w. Beckett has sent
special message to the General Assem-
bIy reiterating his recommendation fol
a new ,$25o,000 building for the Stat'
Department OF Agriculture and recon-
rnending the establishment Of thi'
building at the State College.
Stock Law For Washington
DIR. B. F. Halsey, representing Wash
ington county, is drafting bill to Civ
his county stock law. DR.. Halse!
will not put the question to vote o
his people. He says he will trust tn
judgment Of 20 Of the most progressive
farmers Of his county against the opiA
ion Of the county's whole electorate
laid to do the thing he believe
Chit He is determined on tn
aw question. --z-----------
Local Legislation
Ii representative has introduced
bills of interest to Elizabeth Cit,
and Pasquotank County. One hill seek
to provide the Recorders Court of Pas
& Suotank county with a prosecutor, a
! as been done in other counties in tn
81 States where Recorders Courts are es
ss rtsrSs--ee - The passage Of this bill Wi
~ provide Fasquotank witfs the machiner
to insure prosecutions in cases like tina
of the recent attack on the Y. M. c.. A
1t is bad business for any county t
maintain a Recorders Court in whic
the Recorder acts as Judge, Jury an
Solicitor. The Bill follows closely tn
Chowan county act and is as follows