Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-03-04
PROCEEDINGS Of
THE LEGISLATURE
$10,000,o00 is ESTIMATED AS
PROBABLE REVENUE FROM
TAX BILL REPORTED.
AO VAl0RUM TAX A SURPRISE
"'Present Liquor Laws are Inadequate
Because Of Being So Loosely Con.
strued by Courts OF the State.
Raleigh.

Carrying an advalorem tax of five
cents on the hundred dollars for
schools and a graduated income tax
ranging from one to three per cent
the revenue act for 1921 was introduc-
ed In the lower branch of the general
assembly and placed on its first read.
ing.
1t anticipates little more than ten
million dollars for the maintenance
OF the state government during the
coming year and for the support Of
the educational and charitable institu-
tions. The ad valorem tax is con-
trary to the hope Of the best minds"
In the legislature, but with its an
nouncement is the statement that
North Carolina cannot hold progress.
sive stride without ii"
The introduction OF this bill in the
house by Governor Doughton, and de-
feat before committee Of the 1921
prohibition bill were the outstanding
Legislative developments Of the day.
There is evident much surprise that
thu, finance committee should have in.
corporated the ad valorem tax In its
revenue bill this time. Opponents
are making a great deal OF fuss over
the democrats pledges of 1920 not to
al for Of at a
purposes. The proposal to put It In
the bill was bitterly resisted in the
committee by Senator Gallert and
Representative Townsend. Of Harnett
and the committee once back-tracked,
AT late meeting however, they
agreed to re-insert the clause carry
Ing the property tax for state pur-
poses and in this shape the bill came
to the house.
II will occasion a hard fight but on
top OF the announcement that 1t is In
cluded in the revenue program, is the
statement that a vigorous fight will
be made in the senate to put an ad
valorem tax in the road bill Against
this Governor Morrison has pledged
the weight of his influence, and 1t is
believed he will to some degree OPP
pose the tax in the general revenue
bill.
A warm fight in the judiciary COM
mittee developed when Representa-
tive Cookies bill to harmonic the
state laws with the Volstead act was
up for consideration. After a long
hearing featured by the presence of
the Rev. r. l.. Davis, and tilt be-
tween the anti-saloon league superin-
tendent and Representative Town
send, the committee voted seven to
one against reporting the bill to the
house. The lone member supporting
the Cook bill was Templeton of Wake,
who has a similar bill constituting
state constabulary.
The Cook measure carried an ap-
preparation of $4,000 and an extra
court tax OF $50 for each conviction,
the same to be employed as a special
fund for organizing state police
system and maintaining a legal force
for assisting the attorney general to
enforce the law.
During the discussion. Mr.. Davis
declared that the present laws are
chiefly inadequate because OF the
loose construction OF the North Caro-
lima courts. He chastsed the vener.
able Judge Bond, OF Edenton because
that Judge has held that the posses
sion Of a gallon Of whiskey is no evil
dence that its holder is keeping II for
sale
County participation in the pension.
ing Of Confederate veterans is provid.
ed for In the only bill OF statewide i'm.
portance found among the AZ new
ones. offered by Mr.. Matthews, OF
BERTHE.
Authority is conferred upon the
commissioners to levy a county tax
to supplement the pensions given by
the state.