The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-05-20
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1888
TRADE BARRIERS

a r,anufaeturefs of ASheVllle are III
yo,sed in the difficulties which have arisen
oysS the leyyfng of taxes in the milk pro-
duetien. marketing and manufacturing
lines in the two counties. No doubt every
one involved in the controversy oehe'eS
that bis position is correct and that ne mas
r;oht on his side. As matter OF faet' IL Is
somewhat hard to unravel and stralgnteh
out the intrieaeies and difficulties OF this
matter; and The Tinies-News regrets eH-
eeedingly that it is unable to place oelore
orr Mayor and City Commissioners sugges-
tions which would enable them to reach
decision which would satisfy everybody
maintain a rich market for Henderson
eounty dairymen. and continue q valuable
raw milk supply for an Asheville industry
However. we confess our inability to offer
that suggestion with the assurance that II
will achieve the desired ends.
About as far as this newspaper can go
is to warn public officials and all classes
OF citizens of the dangers that are funda-
mentally involved in all efforts to have
civil government control business and man
ufacture trade volume and prosperity Tor
business by political fiat.
We would especially warn against the
pitfalls that are basicalfy found in tarlffs'
trade restrictions, punitive taxation, ana
all attempts to control competition in busl-
ness by making law" This warning ap-
plies to local laws and to State and ma
tienal eractmgelnlttss unnertron IS certain, and
= that Is that the HendersonviIle ordinance
and the Asheville ordinance belong to the
class of laws which are in restraint of
trade and which build up localized tariff
walls between towns and cities, between
communities and communities, and between
States and States. The tendency of laws
OF this character is to decrease the volume
of trade or business and to retard or de.
stfoy business prosperity.
This newspaper believes a tax reform
meashre which would place North Caro-
ii9a in the forefront of enlightened and
progressive States would be one to wipe
out all privilege taxes. This would In a
large measure throw down all tariff walls,
remove restrictions and distractions to the
free movement of trade and no doubt prove
noticeable stimulus to business, SEQ
iAt any rate, privilege taxes ought to be
ieYied at the lowest possible rates. If the
rates were nominal in the ease under con.
slderation, both here and in Asheville. all
citizens directly affected would probably
pay the taxes and proceed with business
without saying or doing anything to start
a controversy or fight. 2.1 AN
WI course, there are certain privilege or
license taxes which appear to be justified
pere Is strong argument in favor of these.
pc trouble arises, we believe, in the fact
tnat the system Is basieally unsound Ger.
tam 1t is that the policy of trying to control
BUSINESS, adjust trade inequalities and in
equities, stifle competition, and create an
economic Utopia by making laws, is a de.
FUSION and snare. 1t is course that once
entered upon eompsls It's devotees to press
on INTO more remote mazes beset with in.
Vulnerable pitfalls. One law calls for an.
other; one restriction makes another 70.
stfleuen imperative; laws of this character
act and react until communities, States and
the nation are swamped with the destrue.
tive results ~ So - !.
Notwithstanding the fact that at a. GER
tam time OF the year one of the most i'm.
portant considerations with South Caro-
nnans IN a large area of that State Is the
marketing OF the peach crop-and thou
SANDS OF North Carolina trucks and auto
mobiles desire to enter the State to- buy
ana transport peaches - South Carolina
ieYles tax on out-of-s State motor vehicles.
North Carolina retaliates and trucks from
other States coming to buy vegetables
wnieh our farmers are laboring to self-I
are taxed here. This is an illustration of