The daily times., 1922-02-24
WATTS C0MPL PLA|NS
THAT PROPERTY IS
NOT LISTED RIGHT
TWO BILLION DECREASE
The State Insurance Depart
ment is Carrying on an Edu-
cational Campaign to Reduce
Fire Losses; General APP
proval of the State In Prose
cutting Bank Officials.
TWO BILLION DECREASE
(By Max Abernethy)

(By Max Abernethy).
Raleigh, Feb. 23.-Revised valua-
|tions of North Carolina real property
in many instances still needs revision
to make the tax books tell the truth,
in the opinion of Commissioner Of
Revenue A. d. Watts.
The values placed on property in
many counties under Revaluation
could not stand, the commissioner
thinks, because the assessments were
out of proportion to the actual value
of the land ''in normal times" He is
not surprised that horizontal reduc-
tions have been made in some coun-
ties since it is apparent to the reve-
nue. commissioner that the figures did
not list the property at 'its true
value"
Commissioner Watts does not hesi-
tate in saying that in his opinion Re-
valuation came at most inopportune
| time and at a time when inflated
values were the rule all over the
State rather than the exception. And
in saying this the commissioner is
not attacking Revaluation or any OF
its proponents. He agrees with some
other State officials that the State
was fortunate in checking up ON its
taxable real property and finding
what it's inventory was.
| But this does not mean that the
commissioner is hysterica1 over the
big reduction in valuations which
will be shown at tax listing time. It
may be around two billions under
the 1919 figures and the commission
Ter says this is to be expected.
| Insurance Commissioner Stacey
Wade is busy now preparing to
launch the departments annual fire
prevention campaign in an effort to
and property through fire losses.
The department has been carrying
on an educational campaign every
lyear, urging support of the press, the
pulpit and the public generally. Fire
losses during the last two months
Ibring the issue squarely to the
forefront again. December and jan
Iuary losses were over one million
dollars each and the end is not yet
in sight as additional losses are re-
ported every day.
It is the purpose of Commissioner
lWade to redonb1e efforts this year
and to carry the campaign for
safety to every section of the
|State. Representatives of the depart
ment are already in the field, The
lpress is recognized by Commissioner
lWade as the departments best ally
in the work and he praises the work
lit has done in the past.
Every day brings reports of more
Tires with tremendous losses in
property" said Commissioner Wade
to-day. eve are doing everything
that is humanity possible to stop the
l destruction, even resorting to crimin-
|. lal prosecutions, but there seems to
be no end to it. The fire losses in
North Carolina are a disgrace and an
| outrage. The people themselves must
, give us more help il we are to gel
| better results"
. The State Corporation Commission
r has forwarded the application of the
| Lexington Chamber of Commerce fol
a new passenger depot in that city
: to the Southern Railway and has
L given 10 days in which the railroad
4 may file Its answer to the charges
. that the present building is made
i lquate.
Ill After the company's answer is re
s iceived the commission will set dat
: and will hear both sides to the con
ltroversy.
The Lexington citizens argue tha
,vk;r pot v. ich was built in 1ss'
t .yaewhsrrasHRi y needs of the city an.
st.tpd the shoes must be given.
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