The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-03-09
A PLEA FOR THE VoIcELESS GUY
WHO is PAYING OUR BILLS.

WHO is PAYING OUR BILLS.
In writing an editorial designed for general reading
several counties there parts of that necessarily apply
less county than in the Others but in principle the
thought is the We wish to make plea for the guy
all persons will ealousy guard his rights treat him fairly
at all times We make plea for the fellow who helpless
in the that he has voice and VOTE and he
make protest protect himself against often wild
tendency to derive for spending by the simple
dent of raising taxes
It is mighty easy to say we don't mind paying taxes"
for sort of Improvement greatly desired by group of
citizens but this should not be when comparatively small
group shares entirely all the benefit derived from the total
collected from the whole Yet in many the
greater majority of people who are taxed have not the least
says because they nonresdens and cannot vote
they enjoy of the benefits of their money that be-
extracted from them and spent for the pleasure the
profit and the advancement of the few.
In counties than in Others this condition
obtains Particularly in those counties who derive the
greater part of their income from owners of resort
property When these people, whose taxes the only
benefits we receive but various other large they
spend contribute greatly to the general PROSPERITY and
nomic stability of all citizens and invest large sums
with they have entrusted in good faith with mighty
enge to of duty responsibility and fair dealing
They have conded and entrusted with their capital
on which we collect in various ways great dividends
pounded from year to year into higher returns in progress
prosperity and enhancement of all values.
These nonresident property owners share very little in
the returns from their money which citizenship and
voting privilege gives the sole right to and to
spend at will They do not share in the benefits of
schools for they have children here to benefit through
our schools Their children going elsewhere to schools
for which they also taxes They burden upon
taxpayers in this Yet their money eases our own
burden and much of it paid out to needy They
do not call for other services from government
agencies and in fact there is very little they could get
Neither are they burden upon courts.
The mere fact of their investment here is challenge
OF the highest order for to care comonsense
sight and discretion before unduy any burdens
even for benefit, which will likewise place upon
them undue toll We have all the sayso; they have
We can tax and tax and tax well knowing that although
raise taxes in doing will get back many times
profit ourselves the small amount we will pav on
our comparatively less highly assessed property Far more
than half of all the taxes paid counties from
this group of nonresident property Far than
half OF all the additional may against prop
ery in counties will also from this group
who cannot VOTE and who effective objection
AT the time the bulk of the money for operating
the schools often from Raleigh out of state funds
paid out of sales taxes income taxes and franchise
from counties We cite you examples where
of the entire cost of operating all the county schools during
the entire school year less than 20 cent of it paid by
the people who share the entire benefits.
Surely them such people have right to brag about
how much they paying for schools Nor do any of us
have the right to boast of willingness pay this
that thing additional which we desire In actual fact if we
had to the entire burden of ourselves paying for
what get would find taxes doubled and then in
deed would test of generosity and public spirit
This is time for giving serious thought our zeal and
desire for spending money for things would like have
We are not kidding anyone, not ourselves when we
willing to do this and do that The actual fact
is we are willing to put 20 cents for the privilege MAX
for us to spend and enjoy o wouldn't be happy to do
just that the year arouAy could do it in good con-
anyway and maybe drive away the investment on which we
also depend for many other things having dis
couraged investment and driven away be nearly
SO able to raise the 20 cents which has oyousy
been blessed share of every dollars worth we have 50
long enjoyed There really such thing as killing the
goose that lays the golden egg!
GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
Our business in life is not to get ahead of other people
but to get ahead of ourselves To break our own to
ousp yesterdays by todays bear our trials more
beautifully than we ever dreamed could, to whip the