Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-10-03
Poe Thinks Amendments
To Win Out
Continued from Page One.)


ture, is being formed for the purpose
of carrying On a vigorous campaign
over the State for the adoption of the
four special tax amendments which
will be voted upon November 3. This
committee will be known as "The
State Committee. for Tax Reform
Amendments" and will undertake to
inform the electorate of the true pur-
poses and effects of these amend
nents between now and the election.
A vigorous campaign for the adoption
of the fifth amendment which would
increase the size of the State Supreme
Court from five to seven justices, is
already being conducted 10y State
wide organization sponsored by the
State Bar Association.
In an exclusive interview today to
the afternoon newspapers which are
members of this bureau, DR.. Poe said:
There will apparently be little OPP
position to the amendment increasing
the maximum possible tax bracket on
large incomes to 10 per cent. There
is also general applause for the pro-
posal to so limit debt-making and
bord-issuing by the State, counties,
than So of new debts can be con-
tracted for each .$3 of old debts paid
off, unless such Increased debt is ap-
proved by a vote of the people. The
adoption of this amendment will re-
suit in the eventual and automatic
retirement of all Indebtedness, since
no subdivision will ever (be able to
borrow more than two-thirds of the
amount of the debt retired during the
past year, except by special election.
CAS- for the amendment authorizing
| a tax exemptions on homes and home
steads not to exceed $1,000, some peo-
pie have been misled into thinking
that the full $1,000 exemption must
be given all at once and that would
be too much. AS matter of fact, the
forces advocating this measure will be
quite content if we can advance by
gradual stages as county finances per-
NIT and first grant an exemption OF
$780, then $500, then $3.50 and so on.
The last of these tax reform amend
ments, that permitting the classified
ton of property, will clear the way
for promoting forestry, soil conser-
walton, etc. It will also result in much
getting onto the tax books at reason
able rates, as DR.. Ralph w. McDon-
aid has suggested. For example, is it
fair, here in Raleigh, to levy tax of
$21O on a savings account which
earns only So interest in year? This
is enforced, 1 understand, only against
widows whose estates are being set
| tied. Or is it fair to levy exactly the
10 cfnY 111aJ PC.
| or laborer's savings account paying
only two per cent and on a money
lenders mortgage, paying six per cent
or more? Would it not help the state
and encourage conservation, to class
ify lands so as not to penalize man
numerically for enriching his soil?
Such a man is penalized now by i'm
mediately increased assessments,
while at the same time We reduce the
assessments and cut the taxes of the
man who lets his land lie unused,
permitting the soil to wash away. But
by letting his land become useless and
the soil wash away, this man throws
a heavier burden on all other tax
payers forever after.
r4If we adop. these amendments
and thus permit the assembly to cor
| rect these things, some mistakes may
| be made, of course. But these mis-
| takes, am sure, will be tremendous
| ly outweighed by the positive gains
which will result from them"
| DR.. Poe is confident that when the
purpose and intent of these amend
ments are understood by the people
of the State, they will vote to adopt
them by large majority