The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-08-19
A BETTER OLD NORTH STATE.

Mere statistical presentations
groups, squads, companies, regiment
Ct figures that ordinarily would pro
duce dry-as-dust reading, from whicl
the mental taste would rebel; such il
the main is the report on revaluat1ol
of North Carolina real and persona
property made to the general assem-
bly, by the state tax commission.
1t is as fascinating a recital as has
appeared in the newspapers. 1t is an
unfolding OF wonders; wonder upon
wonder. 1t proves that revaluation
has worked. 1t reveals that the splen-
did attempt of North Carolina to es-
tab.Ish honesty, equity and democ-
racy in taxation has succeeded.
The administrative agencies of gov
eminent have taken the instrunentall-
ty provided by the legislative and ac-
compIished the purpose sought with
industry, with intelligence, with cour-
age, supported by the will of the citi-
zens themselves that this thing
should be done. 1t is "a thing that
could not in anywise have been done
without the hearty cooperation OF
the citizens Of the state.
1t reveals a North Carolina wonder
OusIy rich in all the elements of ma
terial wealth, and growing greatly
richer every day that passes. But
the whole business reveals a wealth
Of character, a righteousness. OF pur-
pose, that is a grander thing by far
to contemplate than the figures rep
resenting land and houses railroads
personal possessions Of utility and
luxury.
ROBBED in magni1cence, the old
North, State stands before the world
today in a new light. In the dazzling
radience superlatives appear without
lumber, and not the least of these is
that she will have the lowest tax rate
OF any state in the union.
Perfection will not have been
achieved if the general assembly pro-
ceeds to carry through the program
Co tax reform unimpared-and 1t is
uEthinkable that it will not do so.
Taxation is ever a difficult matter.
It is certain that there will be errors
II any revenue structure the state
ever has, and it is very probable that
structure It may be that there are
even changes Of a fundamental ma
tuTe in this new tsructure that ought |
to DE undertaken at once. But the
great thing is that the state, after
struggling ineffectully for a decade
has succeeded in going so far, at one
stride, in the direction Of both hon
esty and sound taxation economics.
North Carolinians have in this series
Of events, the passage of the act OF
1919 by the general assembly, the
work that has been done by the as
SCISSORS, the cooperation of the peo- !
pc, expressed in most convincing |
manner the will to base their public |
business upon absolute honesty and !
candor. The light has been turned !
ca, everywhere. The state has for
the first time in history taken an in |
vGntory. AS to its&resOurces, it knows |
itself, for the first time since it be-
came a state. 1t has been doing bust
ness all these years in the dark.
Every citizen has sworn to the value |
of that portion of the states assets
of which he has the most accurate in
formation; namely, that portion that
is his own, that belongs to the state
in the sense that it claims him as {
citizen; that belongs to. the state be-
cause it belongs to him, and he is
LaTt Of the state.
The good Old North State has be-
come a better state; more worthy OF
cherishing, protecting and defending.
Greensboro News.