Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 6, 1911, edition 1 / Page 2
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muiftiii THE CHABLOTTB NEWS, JANUARY 6, 1911 Message Of Governor Kitchin Wants Anti Trust Law Amended To the Honorable the General As- :c-mbly of North CaroUna: iviring two yoiirs I have given at- tv’ition to the state’s buslnesa, and ii'iTuerous mafters of legtalatlcn bava • crnrrod to me concerning which I ■’f'rein make reromroendatlona, many •)i which I shall not discuss as their rr nsons are apparent. Not only obe- ■!''nce to the conalltutlon but a sense '•f to tho people’s Interest !' impt. me to Mention them. V s?ener^’ asronbly -repiesenting • n';on?e who.se progressive spirit is )*’*i^URctl, whose prosperity Is bound- upward, whc ?e hopes and atten- ! n are centerf>d here, having splen- fl.tl opportunity to render public sar- ■ 0 commensurate with the honor • 'li reapf^nsibMUy upon It will be .1 ?() give Fii 'h wise and patriotic isideraMnn to these subjects a^5 ' ‘ prblic welfare domanda. '"^e ppor'ie iu-ivo ai'provod the prir- *:! h and po’loi-s of tiie party'v.'hioh ; been domlniijit in the suite for ■ •> pa-H Ten y^ars. ard that party I! (4)nfrol rjf }iii lirunchfis of the mvernin'nt is clii’rged TV’lth ^;rfiat resf'on.sibility l)^ Isjiislatlng l?f! i -'Hrost of the people and ‘m' t.in^ thtir wprfiire so far as lo- ' • Ki'\ rnment can dc -u. In ihe • tWM j(!urs thcro has been much r: grcs-i in the Tho reports of :> vari(.:i-> oJHrials, ard from the • - inns ])uMlc institutions, which •»"' trnr'.-iniii.i (1 a) yon an^f which 1 ”, r-'» r“ '-’ti' bul which will re- • VO vu.i.' cor.suiei'ation, ebow de- . 'ipmL-rt. ami fj^rvice ^’•lthout a i .’'anol i;i oi:r Vittury. Tlie basic oc- «• ' mT'v hi;3 beeu pro.s- !' i : • l,ir »n-l ; ny point heretofore ■ i' ^.r [ Ii*. ^vinie o? or.r ». ur'a'^tu Iri; industri»»s have not ? a- f'u:'.! wi^-.'d prowperity since • ph li.- i)f i >’T. h"f we liave roa- I t.* huoo 111 • tht*/ v.ill soon ■vn hsvo li( ir forinsr profitable I- !• • ' .K (i ii: tlJ^ treasurer's re- » ref nui ilk slate bon.ia i ,i i (■;. .ft.'iv I. i^iO. A ■ ' • ; Nviil -sl’.i'W that . ■ ; 11 I . lO . a; «i '-th-T ’oK-^iiiesr. mon •i • • ; when the . ! 1 • • V i)i’ rl. authorizod '' n ti’.f' ji’.oncy ct'U’^ors ! ti.-,t':.;-:'Uts ioi' bid.s in , ‘ ' 1‘lsfwht‘io rendered 't ' ■!;( !' t . ‘r ro oi’ Rhode ; . \w\‘h fljvor..')!’ ' ^ fli.' rotuin ’.'.-I'"' c;' iho i-po- i..! "Mfli the (ria:iilM('e f .stu'h lii.nil-'i I’a l ■ ..n; uinit'r a I'v rc- t..- !•- liicr to r.orrnt '»!1 i.:; h ' ' ■M'iJr ’v. r.' - rft"-*'.’ • ov* '• ,1 r •• P. si--:- t* i.v.t i;.ivc:no; n. iv., n'' AT* ^ X-'V V. rk, ,:.--M’nrd 1-' acopp: rheui. n 1 a ii iii’iiiun I r .1?; to rr"n;- h - a^T ;'.r >iiproi. i.^’. ti H cr.i)n 'r' I'C’.rl of N’('vn^’a. i ■ ■■■li.r. j r lo c -niuicnr] tiio i' , irir aivi J.ish .'•oiiso of • f . '.Mfli '.vhich these governors > ■ f l. r.. !M'!)le conduct on their Ill ’»e n.‘ -uined as a matt-'T ' ; ■ . ^ [ deem it proper to rih *v#' f.K ts for your infor- r -5 t’iO'. sh.iw tho dilligence h wh ■’]; th'.‘ ' jldrrs of tho frand- ■nt special trx bonds of 18R8-9 arc '■ uing to hara>^ us. their only pur- -i' In T'-T'deriug these repudiated -■nds to nur «isier states beinf; lo e th'-se state.-; sue North Carolina, >Uu theiehy to blarkniail Ui- fiito II i-ompromise of those etili ret»ined by the donors, who give with one hand that they may plunder with the other. Prohibition. Prohibition has now been In force throughout the state for two years. This is a short period with which to measure the effects of a reform movement. We have done little more than planted the seed, whose full fruitage will be gathered by coming generations. And yet already the re sults fully justify its adoption. There has been, as appe&rs from the at torney general’s report, based upon superior court statistics, a marlted diminution in crime, even in the cii'.no of violating the prohibition near-beer saloons . be prohibited. In case you permit the continuance of near-beer licenses, then you should provide that the holding of federal license to sell Intoxicants shall for feit the near-beer license. Appropriations. The legislature two years ago ap propriated over $300,000 more than our revenues. I most urgently re quest that you practice economy in appropriations and that you do not api)ropriate more money than the reasonably certain amount of reve nue which you may provide, without also providing for securing the nec essary funds. I also urgently recom mend that the state treasurer be au* W. W. KITCHIN. law. BuKiness has experienced rath er than dimi'ii.-lied prospprity. Mo rality.- industry and frugality have increased, cud politics and govern ment have been to a great extent relieved of one of their most cor rupting infl'icnces. The a;reatt'sr hindrance to its en- fnrce:i;ent, except tlie Interstate com- inerre clause of the federal consti tution, if. prcbab’y the licensing of persons ro sell near-beer, and sim ilar liever.?cres. Evil disposed persons use such license as a cloak to aid them in violating the prohibition Ibw; and they qu?te frequently ob tain a federal license to aell intoxi cating liquors. I recommend that the thorized upon approval of the gov ernor and his council, to borroAV whatever money is sufficient to cover the difference between the amotuit appropriated and tho revenue receiv ed by the treasurer for any fiscal yenr. a failure lo have such au thority has sometimes embarrassed the treasury and may some time ne cessitate a special session of the general assembly to prevent the im pairment of the state’s credit. Revenue and Taxation. The state needs more revenue. It is doing magnificent work in her various efforts to relieve misfortune, educate the youth, and uplift the people. The demands upon the treas- HOSTETTER’S STOMACH BITTERS Is Nature’s Surest Helper in Cases of Stomach Distress There is nothing you could imagine that will eQUal th© tortur© and £«ufferins:s of those who are distressed after each meal. There is Heartburn, Qas on ^tomacli, Bloatinsr* Headache^ Smoth©r*Irig: Sensations and often-times Vomiting* The trouble is, yotir food does not digr^^t—simply sours and ferments. No wonder you give up in dispair. If we could only persuade every such sufferer to try Hostetter’s StomacH Bitters at once we believe it will do them a world of good; in fact, there is no limit to its goodness in all cases of Stomach, Laver, Bowel or Kidney disorders. It will strengthen the stomach, awaken the liver, regulate the bowels and keep the system free from disease*. It is also excellent in cases of Indigestion, OyS" pepsla, Oonstlpation, Biliousness, Colds, Qrlppe and Malaria, Rever and Ague* We urge you again to try a bottle today. Its results are certain. "Fou Are As Well As Your Stomach*’ Eostetter I ury for worthy purposes are con- j stantly Increasing activity and pre- I gressively.* The health department, the good roads and drainage move ment, the old soldiers, the schools and the charitable institution all re quire more funds to render proper service to keep pace with pressing, legitimate public demands upon them. The fundamental cause of the cramp ed conditions is found, in my judg ment, in the undervaluation of the taxable property of the state. I doubt not that the taxable property of the state—real, personal and cor porate—is really worth, tnd would bring at fair sale over $1,000,000,000, yet the taxable values are but $600,- 000,000. The assessment at its true value of all property is lodged in the hands of the state tax commis sion and the local assessors and list* ers. Assessors for real estate will this year, under our quadrennial as sessment law, be selected by the county commissioners, who should se cure for these responsible positions , the best men possible, men of in- I tegrity, judgment and courage. In- equ:ililies in valuation are le.^s de fensible than Inadequate valuations. It is believed that with property of the state, real and personal, individ ual and corporate, assessed at its true value, the revenues of the state will be amply sufficient to pay all proper expeises of an economic ad ministration and interest on the pub lic debt, and the state’s work in ail branches will go forward with increasing rapidity. I commend to your careful consideration the re ports and recommendations of the state tax commission, and the state treasurer. There is some coinplaint that cot ton mills and other industrial cor- l.orationy pay then’ taxes directly and the sharthohlera pay no taxes on their shares, while the banks pay taxes only on their real estate, leav ing the shareholders to pay the taxes on all other bank values, the bank, however, paying to the state the stale taxes assessed against the shareholders. I deem it not. inappro priate to call attention to the reason which controlled former legi.=?]atures in e?tabll3hin3 and mair.iatnig this difference. Tiie ?;tate cannot tax na tional bank capital, but the federal law permits real estato owned by national banir.'r. to bo taxed and also permits a stato to lax the shares in a national bank hold by any per son in the same manner and at the same rate as shares of state banks are taxed. Since a state cannot tax the capital stock of a national bank, but can only tax the shares in the hands of the owner, and that, too, only as shares In state i>anks are taxed, our legislatures were compell ed to tax the shares in the hands of shareholders of state banks in order to reach the Investments in nation al banks. As banks are in the towns and cities ajid as the average tax rate in the towns and cities exceed tvro per cent. It is manifest that If the state were lo tax the capital stock of a state bank when it cannot so tax fhe capital stock of a nation al bank, every state bank that could do so woiild at the earliest possi ble moment be transformed into a national bank, as state banks could not be expected to compete with 1 banks having so great an advantage I over them in capital stock exemption I The same result would follow If the .state should retain itg present sys- j tem of taxing the bank shareholders, w^hich it can retain as to both state and national banks, and then also I tax the capital stock of a state bank. I It cannot so tax the capital stock of j national bank. This would be such I manifest, though unavoidable dis crimination that the public con science would revolt and a state ! bank could escape it only by sur- 1 rendering its charter and becoming a j national bank, and the state would ' thereby lose its expected increase in revenue. These are the practical, inevitable results which would fol- low' the system of doubly taxing the capital invested in brinks, that is, of taxing the corporation on its capi tal and also taxing the shares in the hands of individuals, j Health. ' The health of the people is essen tial to progress. Disease not only destroys the usefulness and consumes the substances of its victims, but takes the time and taxes the happi ness of his family and diminishes the energy devoted to personal and public welfare. The public good de pends in large measure upon the masses, many of whom are not so ! well Informed as to recognize the need of a physician nor able to s.e- cure his services, and yet we are ad- ; vised by those learned In such mat- ; ters that ignorance causes most of Ithe diseases, ignorance of the things i which render conditions unsanitary. ; The state board of health with its j limited appropriation has made re- ; markable progress and rendered tue j state invaluable sefvice. Believing I that we are not doing half of our I duty towards the public health, I j recommend that the appropriation I therefor be Increased to $25,000 to 1 enable it to carry forward with j system and dilligence the important I work entrusted to it. I also recom- mend that provision be made to gather vital statistics in all towns having over 500 population. While many physiciclans have been j successful and become skilled in their profeslon who had no consid- jerable preliminary education, the jlack of such education has handicap ped many othfers and probably ,been detrimental to the public. It I would work hardship on many men now studying medicine to make a school course a prerequisite to j license to take effect at once. But I j recommend that the general assembly j provide for reasonable academic or literary training in general j branches a prerequisite to entering i uiion the study of medicine, such pro- j vision to take effect at some reason able time In the future, say four years from now. * Drainage and Roads. Two years ago I emphasized the importance of drainage. Under the drainage act then passed, twenty- three drainage districts have been or ganized, or are in the process of or ganization. There were drained last year and the crops in them this year demonstrated their usefulness and profit. Teus*of thousands of acres of the most fertile Irnds in the state are awaiting drainage to enrich their a Taekage (Never bulk) NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY Fresh in every climate: Hot or cold, wet or dry. Adapted to every condition: Rich or poor, sick or well. Suited to^every color: White, black, red, yellow. Used by every age: Childhood, youth, manho^, old age. Good at all times: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper. And in all places: At work or play, by day or night. Uneeda Biscuit I owners and furnish increased values j to the taxable property of the state. I recommend that the appropriation to the geological and economic sur-i vey be increased from $10,000 to 815,000 to enable the state to fur-j nish proper engineering aid to dls- j tricts in order that drainage may be more rapidly promoted, and also that au additional $20,000 be appropriat ed for the better promotion of good roads, in order that competent and suitable advice and engineering ser vices may be rendered to the coun ties and townships interested in im proving the. public highways. In or der to insure the greatest benefit in the expenditure of this latter sum, I recommend the creation of a good roads commision of five members, three of whom shall be the state geologist, a professor of civil engi neering of the State University and a professor of civil engineering of the College of Agriculture and ^sle- chanic Arts. We have ample cause for congratulation in the develop ment,, of good roads throughout the state,* progress in this respect being notable in most of the counties, and its beneficial result recognized in all. But the movement Is still in its infancy, except in possibly a dozen counties. Nothing will at like cost more greatly increase our country wealth and contribute to the comfort of the people than the wider exten sion of good roads. It has been sug gested that a central highway from , Morehead by Marshall be encourag-1 ed by authorizing each county along! the route to appropriate the sum of $50.00 per mile of road ’within its! borders, to be used on any part of the road therein. I recommend that such authority be cranted. leaving it with each county to exercise it or not in accordance w'ith the wishes of her people, and that the good roads com mission, If established, if not, then the board of geological and economic survey be directed to furnish all proper engineering aid thereto. A general law giving similar authority and engineering aid to every county in reference to proposed cross state highways should be enacted. It is be lieved that with s-uch law’^s individual citizens w^ould contribute largely from private funds to secure good roads. I recommend that every county, upon a vote of a majority of its qual ified voters, be authorized to issue for the purpose of constructing good roads, bonds to an amount not ex ceeding 5 per cent of its taxable val ues to run for thirty years, bearing five per cent interest coupons, for the payment of which and to provide a sinking fund, a suffiicent special tax shall be levied, and that the state treasurer, upon approval of the gov ernor and council of state, upon re commendation of the good roads com mission, or the board of geologic and economic survey, as the case may be, be authorized to issue a like sum of four per cent state bonds, the pro ceeds of which shall be UE>ed to pur chase such county bonds at par value accounts to be kept In the treasurer’s office, charging the counties with all money paid to them and necessary expenses of the transaction and with all Interest paid on such state bonds, and crediting the counties with all premiums received on state bonds and all county bond coupons paid, and whenever a balance to the credit of any county Is suffiicent to do so, a state bond Issue on acount of such county shall be paid or purchased and cancelled, and a county bond S'hall be cancelled aad delivered to such county. State's Prison. The last two years have been the most sucessful in the history of the state’s prison, this being shown by its report, to which I invite your spe cial attention, the net eamlng» vast ly exceeding those of any previous years. The fair prices of cotton and peanuts raised on the state farm have contributed to this success, yet no small part of it is due to the able, diligent and faithful conduct of the directors and officials. The last legislature provided that all capital execution® be performed by electrocution in the state’s prison. Reasons of safety, convenience and propriety suggest that the board of directors be authorized to have suit able cells constructed near the death chamber, in which prisoners awaiting execution shall be confined. The state should pay out of the public treasury the necessary expenses for., these cells, not exceeding $5,000, and likewise pay to the state’s prison the sum of $650, which it was of ne cessity compelled to pay to provide the death chamber over and above the sum the legislature two years ago , appropriated for that purpose. . j Roads Graded by Convicts. Under the former administration, I and under an act of me general as-/ sembly, Avork by the state convicts j was begun grading the Mattamus-! keet railroad, and this grading has | now been completed from Fairfield: around the oast side of the luke on ^ to Relliav^n, some 20 miles west j of the lake, the distance graded be- i Ing about G3 miles. I recommend I that a joint committee of the senate ! and hou.se at once be selected to con sider all matters in connection with said railroad and report to your honor able body. The company has been un able thus far to raise funds to 'equip the road, and I am advised that under the constitution the state cannot lend its credit for such purpose. ConcvitK are still w'orking on the Elkin and Alleghany railroad, and duo progress is being made under an act of the general assembly. Con victs have recently begun work on the Statesville Air Line railroad un der an act of the general assembly. The committee above recommended ed ma hers and probablytodoypod. roads. There are judgments against the Wilkesboro-Jefferson Turnpike Company. The company pays no divi dends, and the property is not m good repair. I recommend that the state’s slock in said company be given to the counties of Wilkes and Ashe on condition they maintain the property for public use as a turn pike. Veterans. The Confederate veterans deserve liberal pensions. The number of the gallant band that offered their lives for the state, is becoming rap idly smaller. I recommend an In crease in this appropriation. The state can never do as much for them as they have done for the state. A liberty-loving peoi4e should be glad to make comfortable the old age of her heroes-, not only because of grati tude for services rendered by theui, but also to assure those whose ser vices may possibly hereafter bo need ed in war thp.t a brave people are .'il- ways appreciative. I also recoT;'- m.end sufficient appropriation to cover the deficit in the Soldier’s Home, aiW an increase in the appropriation for its maintenance, so that the demands justly made upon it may be promptly met. North Carolina National Guard. The efiiicency of the North Caro lina National Guard has greatly im- _ proved. Only once during this admin- istraetion has the civil authority needed its assitance. In this in stance the Clinton company, under my orders, supporting the Sflierilf of Sampson county, effectively and with out bloodshed, prevented a lynching. There has been no lynching or other mob violence in the state since the legislature last met, peace and order having prevailed in a commendable degree. Owing to the increase of work and r^ponsibility in the adjutant gen eral’s office, I recommend that his sal ary be increased from $1,600 to $2,000. State Institutions. I will not in detail recount the work or the recommendations set forth in the reports from the various departments of the state government or from many state instltuions. The work being done must gratify the people’s representatives, the needs of the institutions mus-t appeal to their sense of patriotic justice. You should and will carefull.v ^ amine the facts and scrutinize the reports for in creased appropriations for mainten ance and equipment. Extravagance is no less an offense than parsimony in the disposition of public money to state institutions. You will find in creased appropriations for mainten ance essential, and you will find ap propriations for enlargement and equipment in some instances also es sential, unless you are willing to give notice ’ that w'hile everything else goes forward, hope of progress must be abandoned in • these instances. Most of the stale institutions are well and suitably located, a striking ex ception being the Institution for the blind children. Steps should be taken to remove this school to some suitable place with more land. I be lieve there is no sentiment in the state against the proper enlargement and equipment of any institution for the care of the Insane, the old sol diers, the deaf, the blind and other diseased or unfortunate classes. Un doubtedly these classes nave the first claim upon the generosity of the peo ple. The state has established cer tain institutions of higher education. Chief among them are the Univer sity of North Carolina, the Norlb Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the State Norn^al ar ’ Industrial College, and Es?/?! Carn lina Teachers’ Training School. ():.-■ hundred and seventeen years a&o :li- University was established for a noble purpose, v.hicli it has vovthlly pursued. Since then several (^enor>riria- tional colleges have been establish ed to share with it the glory of cdu eating our young men. These iol- leges, likewise founded for noble ir.ir- poses, have w^orthily pursued th. m. Entering the field of higher educa tion, they have educated thousands of young men who otherwise would have been educated at the universit.v. thereby relieving the state of much ex pense. The people of the state ap preciate the splendid W'ork of these colleges, and the state has relieved them and their churches from taxa tion. The other institutions meu- tioned were established to fill practi cal demands for special instruction which no denominational college was undertaking. Again noble purposes are Avorthily pursued. Tiie state has put its hand to the plow and will not and should not turn back. There will not be too much education from, all the colleges in the state combined. The heads of every one, state and de nominational, are desiring more dor mitories, better equipment, more money, more capital In the business. ^f'he state has the ability to prop erly enlarge and equip her institu tions, while the denominational col leges must depend largely upon the uncertainty of private donation for proper enlargement and equipment, to meet the constantly growing de mands upon them. 'ines>e demauds are increasing rapidly and will con tinue to increase. The public schools in reach of every child, yearly fur nishing better preparation and deep er inspiration, thousands annually finishing the high schools and dealr- ins degrees, the wonderful develop ment of agricultural activity mak ing thousands prosperous now where hundreds prospered twenty years ago, the rural free delivery and good roads bringing to almost every home a realization of the great world out side, the intense educational cain- paign begun ten years ago, irnpres-s- ing upon all the advantages of educa tion—all these are causing thous ands to seek collegiate and higher education now, where hundreds sought it a generation ago. Shall the increase stop? Who would do it? Who Avill hamper any college, state or de nominational, in supplying to young men and women opportunities so de sirable, so useful, of obtaining higlior education, and that, too, within our own borders. The lementary public schools should have the first care of the state in her educational work. It is more important to put a common school education in the reach of all than it is to put higher education hi the reach of some. I therefore re commend that the appropriation ff'f the public schools be Increased, and that the recommendations of the super intendent o^ public instruction to in crease the tax rate for tjiis purpose have your careful consideration. Nothing that the state can do v.ill a surely improve her people in ever}’ way industrially, morally, socia!!y and so securely vouchsafe the: rights, and guarantee her own grcar future as the continual improvt-- ment of her common schools. There is nothing more certain that lnu.nuv- «d public schools will result in send ing more boys and girls every year to our colleges. There S'hould be i. ' contention betv/een our ' denoT;.ina tlonal colleges and the state instir.:- tions. It Is no argument against higl-’^ education that it costs more per > ita than common school educaiii^^ If it be, it would destroy every ■ lege—denominational and state. can secure nothing without uuderg / ing the cost. The state, like deno:n!- natlona, must pay the price to liaye higher educational facilitieH honorable man begs money when iio can fully and honorably accoioph’^ his purpose without begging. The state can do without It and cannot de pend upon It. Our gr^at state can not solicit from the holders of swol len fortunes, even should propr;o:y permit her acceptance of proflert'^ endowments. While some other state may s'ucessfully seek pri'. a endowment of her public institution.^, owing to the temper of our people. ^ do not believe North Carolina by dj*' igent solicitation could sulficientix endow a state asylum or ptuo^- though I know that now and thea generous Individuals feeling a deel? Continued on Page Three.
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 6, 1911, edition 1
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