The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-10-07
STATE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY LESS
INSTEAD OF MORE TAXES


Returning to consideration Of economic
conditions in North Carolina and the prob
able course of action of the next Legisla,
ture, we learn from the Charlotte Observer
that the States revenues are shrinking and
that some alarm is developing on that &C.
count among State officials. We quote
from The Observer:
Some alarm is felt among the officials in
Raleigh over the tendency of the State revenues
to shrink, receipts at present showing a rather
marked decline previous months and beng
now down to such level as to suggest deficit
at the end of the year of several million dollars,
provided the deelension does not let up.
The drop seems to be occurring in all Of the
brackets of revenues collected by the State,
notably, perhaps, in the case of inheritance and
sales taxes.
Of course, the inheritance tax receipts are
always fluctuating, and always will swerve from
a high to low to median. The reason for this
variability suggests itself.
In the case of the decline in the sales tax,
, which is a better barometer Of general condi-
tons in the State than any other form Of the
several levies imposed by the government at
/; Raleigh, the situation is more significant.
Naturally, this shows that the people are buy
ing less and have less with which to buy, but it
: would appear reasonable to assume that this
: temporary lag will be overcome when the agri-
cultural incomes from the major money crops
begin to circulate more freely in the retail trade
: of the State.
: Take the foregoing for what it is worth
las a contribution to the discussion of taxa.
ttion. Also take into consideration the de-
imands of certain groups of citizens, which
will undoubtedly be pressed at the next
Legislative session, and which will call fol-
iheavy additional taxation.
1t is certain the taxable resources Of
North Carolina will not increase this year
next year, or in the next several years
The fact is the chances are good that they
will decrease and that our people will be
less able to meet the burdens of taxation
next year than they are this year. Know.
ing, as we all do, what the present tai
burdens amount to, how does anyone fig
ure that the State can stand up under ad
ditional imposition of taxes amounting t.
millions of dollars?
Where is the money coming from to pay
if the next Legislature levies additional
taxes? -"aa'
OF course it will come out of the Labor
and the blood sweating of the people o.
the State, who are already over-burdenet
and oppressed by taxation. ... .a
Is State government in North Carolin:
worth what it costs at the present time
This newspaper answers that it believe
an ample government program, affordin,
the State all it needs and all the peopl
ought to expect and exact of government
can be given North Carolina for less none
than is now being expended.
What about an economy program, t
lOp off useless and even unwise expendi
lures? What about wiping out some use
less departments, bureaus, commissions, o
what-you-may-calE'em What about re
moving some of our office holding para
sites from the payrolls?
Is it impossible to institute these reform
in North Carolina? Perhaps it is. 1t
certain that the further we go in the pres
ent so-popular direction, the more Difficult
it will become to call halt.
We recently heard gentleman say, VIII
expects to be a member of The next Gen
'eral Assembly, that if he should go to tn
Legislature and make speech favorin
economy, he would expect to be laughe,
out of the Legislative halls. This gentle
man believes in economy and in foldin
down expenses; he believes the people O
North Carolina ought to get full valu
from the money wrung from the tax pay
iers; but he has no illusions as to the aetus