Newspapers / The News & Observer … / Aug. 19, 1921, edition 1 / Page 2
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HEWS AND OBSERVER. RALEIGH N. t. FRIDAY MORNING, AUCUiST 19. 1921. T : jDov. Morrison To Speak at Meeting at Concord Today , (Continued From Pag Oae.) pea, tie laid, M ui uovernor wouia explain hli position. Tht meeting aa hold outdoor! aad her were eores of automobile fring ing the., grove. Many came expecting to hear somithing about substantial assistance ia the way of fundsvtut Mr. Valine told tbem that aiauy people in this country are idle now and that H was nov rnsv 10 (jpi invut-.. Soldiers Faring WelL. The visiting soldiers as well ai those at home are faring fin'. The Concord 1 Y. M. C. A. hat ben epcued ,h,ln 1 and every afternoon ladies of the city erve ref reshmenti there for those who can ect nv.XJi? soldiers inarch, to ad fro from their duties in military formation and hive their headquarters t the armory of the local company. v;n n.nTi enntinne to seffve i evic tion note, on those who refuse to iga up on agreement to rpturn to work. The Partsell Mill lias scned twenty four notices and management f the Lorke Mill has served thirteen. 800 Back at Work Eight hucdred oper.it ive are Mid to have reported for duly rrt the big Kannspolis towel factory today. C. A. Cannon, the presided, stated t h :i t everything was running smoothly. 11 There wat no disorder of cmy kind re jported. The eotton mills are placed under at this ttme because they legin end- 1- i ........ Ik. int.. narl it this month to take orders for neit apring's retail trade. Their contracts provide against strike contingencies , u.:. :n .... r, t ... -i r inii.a mis aih ..-vi-uu. 'a Itrike they would have diili'U-ity in eeeuring orders. That, is said to be the . jtaaier reason for the determination for beginning operations here at tins time. jfcXPECT CHARLOTTE MltLS t 117 ni.3L.iii Charlotte, Aug. IS.-Tha re opening tfef the Ch:irttte cotton mills soon was 'recognize. 1 as probable in mill eirejes 'today. Owners are giving considera tion to requests of Kinking enipioyees !gt. .-resumption of operations. None ''win open .tYis week however, lawn! 'men have manifested keen interest in 'the strike situation in Concord and , 1 JJannapolis. The resumption of operations in the 'Cannon. Cabarrus and Pruncnrd nulla today brings the total number of mills Tunning in Cabarrus county to (even It is thought here that by the (Irst of rest week s majority of the strikers IB that conn'y will bo lock nt work. An increase in number of workers on fluty at the Cannon towe-1 plant at jKannapol.s aud the Lo. ko and ll.irtzell 'wills lias occurred daily. Secures Restraining Order ; Against Local Union Printers (Continued From Page One.) tf the non-union en p.oyet of Edrt' & Broughtoa Pnr.tiiij. Company, Com 'Tnercial Printing Company. H. P. Storr Printing Company, and M. J. Carrol! Printing Cnmpmy, and the concerns themselven. All of tlirm arw repre ented by former Oovernor Bickett and 'Murray Allen. i Oorernor Bickett lat night declared that the action started in this case re,p jesent something "Scie und;r the sun" Lin that It is the first time that such actios has been brought by one set of lemployet against strikers whose places Ijhey have taken. L Parties to The Action. f The plaintiffs listed in the bill of tomplaint are: I Marguerite M.-(!inni Rosa Mcdinnis, lorothy Tomlinson, Maude Touilirson, Oilbert Moore, O. K. Moore, W. T. Jlatch, John E. l.ukms, John J. Cortei, 'deo, R. Kiley, E. L. Tate, John lm faon, employees of Edwards and P rough jton Printing Company, in behalf of themsolves and a LLot li r rnplyy ees of aid Edwards an I Rroiihtou 1'rinting iCompanj : and'Kobert Uil and W. I ffillit, employees of the Commercial Sprinting Company, in behalf of them jaeh'e ami all other employees of the atid Commercial Printing ' Comnanr: iaeJ R. H. Bryan, an employee of IJ. S. fctorr Cempauy, in behalf of htmseif nd all other emplovees of If. P. Storr fompany;'jnTJ. H. llowerton. an em ploye of M.'.f. Carroll 4 Svn, in behalf f himseif and all ether employee of M. J. ( arroll Sun; Edwards and Sroughtoa Printing Company; Commer cial Printing Company; 11. F. Btorr ponipany; M. J. Carroll t Bon. The defendants in he in.iunction art lh Raleigh Typographical Vnion No. f4 Baleigh Printing Pressmen's Tnion No 30, Baleigh Bookbinders I'niou and aitnery odd individual as follow.: I Baleigh Tyixiraphic! Tnion No. M Jtaleigh Printing Pressmen' Union No. 930; Baleigh Bookbinder' lesion; t'baa. E. Jones, C'has. Y. Koonce, 11. E. TJp- enoreh, . K. ricruggs, L. 8. king, T jiW. Adm. W. R. Padgett, O. I. Holmes, iH. N. Heineman, V. H. Chapaian W. IF. Campbell, H. Q. Cos, J. P. Ackerly, U. J. Fittman, E. T. liavi. Charlie Itej ton, H. O. Houchins, T. N. Adam IBeorge W. Melton, Morri Beaves, 8. L (Gamble, C. L. Broughton, Walter (Worthington, A. H. White, P. V. Pr- tain, W alter Drw, A. F. Bridgert, O. A. kWilliama, H. B. Olmttcad, K. M. Dana, 4.. T. Johnson, I)id bprurll, Valter Hersey, John E. Mills, R. 1. Rutnell XBther Baker, Howard Harris, Eugene fTaylor, Frank C;;tes, L. .'. Matthewt, Vr. W. Flowers. C K. Parr.i. Vtui 'JUtihewa. J. T. Pierce, C. C. Hervey, O. C. Johns, t. .'. wick-T, Cho. C. Tertal, 3. T. Colliru,, Ve-.noi race, R. -fr-Wifttr, Bnbert Willums, J. L. beactoa. R. E. Lie. W. S. Ilarnngtoc, R. H. Woiale, B. r. EllU, G. C. Tool, Kit Fommers, H. K. Bronghton, C. N Eogu, N. U Wolff, Eerett'W. Harris. Ix 0. Saakenburg, Peanut Ball. Dock FaueetW, Whitt Faaeette, E. F. Pilley, JLtaaeta Cheek, M. U. Heath, Eddie . Bafia, W. 0. Pipkin, H. O. Harriactoa, larlie Johnson, Frank tilena, Ua'.ly Jordaa, Jiia Hayes, Earl Lassiter, Bud Baahford, Chaa. Koffin, E. B. Nelson, C. ii. blag. U, J. Werri, Lawrenc E. Mchola, Spurgeoa Hntchina. WUli Baraaa, B. L Barae. Baymoad Byawm, Bau Matthews, Eugene Womble, Fn U Pvi, aad all ether efficer, ea kart, aider, abettor and aasoeU'et tt aid asioa. ' Allege Caaaairacy. Th eoaplaiat allege "that th Ubot laioa abava tamed aad their eft cert, aaemban and aaaodaU abort aaascd. haea aatered into a eoaspiraey to drir faaat iadiTidaal aaatplaiaaBta fro as Usir , aBaitioaa aa teajrioyca of th erral friattff heart abejra mamed amd U auk h laipoatibl for thM eonplaia ata to work aad Ii la peaeo U th ity of Baleigh wh'i Uiey r engaged la their jrBt aplayvaat.'' V T "pirtcj,"' aeeordiai to the Terbiage of the complaint, eon aisti in "a systematic course of espion age, annoyance, intimidation, threats, iiase and insnlts whbli are intended to make, are eajleula,ted to make and are making the lives or inese compiaio. ants and all othe. employes of the sev eral printing houses above-mentioned miserable, intolerable and unendurable. The gathering of defendants in Slarge crowds' about the placet of business of the eomplainanta when the day' work is finished and the alleged indulgance in threatening gestures, in suiting jeers end hisses' and the tyste matic shadowing of the complainants by the defendants, is charged in the com plaint. "This course of eonduct has been so persistently nd relentlessly pursued by the defendants, the, couipluint says, that already more than one hundred employes of the printing houses above named have been literally dri'en from their work and have been forced to leave tho city." Printing House Charges, flpeaking for the printing houses, com pwiinBhts, trie Mil charge! a eonspiruey I o.1n.,...n v- V...-: .tj mi uimiwv mo ouninea ui iiiejic jirini ing compuiiies and for no other reason tlmu tlia,t,tliey decline to accede to un reasonable and unrighteous -demands of labor unions and are now exorcising t4ie right of every American citir.en to run tloir business on the American plan and to give employment to any ma i who applies for the same, this right, be ing odious to and utterly denied by the defendants herein. 'Wherefore," the complaint con eludes, "these complainants pray the court that an injunction be issued against the labor unions above named and against all their officers, members, aiders, abettor! and associates, tom pelling them to desist from indulging in tit tJie e.iniliiet above tot forth and to leave these complainant free to work and to carry on their business without molestation or annoyance of any kinri. , DECLARES DANIELS , IS IMPERIAL BOSS (Continued From I'age One.) in which Mr Pamela attacked tax rediictiou .allowed by Comniisiione Watts and urged Governor Morrison to euui home front his Hummer Capital and 'late the helm, the Uovernor declared he was satisfied, that the power is vested in the tax board composed of Attorney deneral J H Manning, W. T. Lee and A 1'. Watt; that he supposed any c tion taken at to legal authority vas upon the legal advice of J. H. Manning tho Attfirney UeneraJ of North (J.iro Ima. "Of course, I have known for tome tifnn, said (Jovernof Morrison, "that Mr. Daniels was eagerly looking or tome eicusa to attack tho present lem ocratie Htnte administration. He icts from every Democrat In North Carolina th most abject obedience and loyalty to hit national organization but when it comes to any loyalty to a State Democratic administration, it depends entirely upou whether it will do the bidding of this imperial boss and would be dictator to all officials In North Carolina, even those exercising judicial power ander oath ONLY FRIENDLY 'COCNBEI, IN INTEREST OK DEMOCRACY Replying to Governor Cameron Mor rison attack on him as au "Imperial Host, Joteplius Daniels, former Sec retary of the Navy and Editor of the Newt and Observer, last night declared "I have been fighting bosses all my life aud never aspired to be a boss. If I were disposed to answer the Governor by recrimination, I would say that I am no more ambition to be an im perial boss than he covet the royal trapping! of the Duke of Durham. When hit attention wat called to Governor Morrison's ttatement, h (aid Dsniel' Statement. "'Ves, I have read the Governor' statement in which he anys that I seek f tie a "Imperial Host.'' J ant -safe the oione of th mountains hat gone to the Governor head, or that he hat been misinformed a to what the New and Obcerrer said. All the paper did a to advise the Governor to com to Raleigh and put an end to the making I n indefensible donation of fU0.VW to two of Dukes tobacco companies by a rebate of tstation Uglily assessed in 1U20. That it all the New and Observer did. It was friendly counsel and made In the Interest of a Democratic Rate administration. Much To Admlr. "I have seen much to commend in Governor Morrison' administration nd wish I could pprove it ill. But hi ep pointee as Revenue Commissioner it the man whose actions are hurting the Democratic party and Injuring Gover nor MorYisqnai administration by un demoeritie favoritism. I cannot be tilent ami see the party I love injured at is bring done by this action of rebate. It ia the kind of thing I have condemned in Republicani and I cannot condone if in my own party. At this hour the Republicans nt Washington are farming through a bill to relieve the very rich of their thir of public expenses. The Democrat! in Washington are opfosing such favoritism to wealth. Melioa-Fordney Stant. "The action of reducing th sets ment of tat two Durham companies Is exactly ob a par with what Mellon and Fordney ar doing ia Washington, to wit: transferring Use to th shoulder! of those least abl to bear aad relieving those most able to pay it. Th policy that Hon. Claude Kitchin, Democratic leader ia the House,-end all other Demifj crats are opposing ia ao better when practised in Raleigh thaa whs prac tited in Washington. I am again! favoritism whether it it don by 8tate or Federal administrations. Th Dak ef Darkaaa. "I hav been fighting boitei all try ltf and never aspired to ho a bos. If I wtr ditpoted to aaswer th Governor by recrimination, I would aay that J ao asor ambitious to be aa imperial boa thaa he covet th .royal trappings of th Puk ef Durham." Watts Tells Why He Allows Trust Its Taxes Back (Coatiaaed Frwta Fag Oae.) war heard by th Btat Board of Equalization, aad aot by m aloa." Upoa which Joeephu Daniels, editor of thi paper, aud. th following coin- rat: Daniels to Watt "Th Conaiiatioatr of Betaaaa ha hot takiaformed. After I had goa keca last Bight I tailed try th telepkoa aad told by party that at had heard that Mr. Lot, wht was aot la town, approved U rtbata. aad that Judga Itaaaiag. wat had advised that tht aiatter was to h tad oa b th. pozamiasioacr, of Btveaat alona, agreed with Mr. Lee. But the party telephoning said he knew nothing of his own knowledge. I did not know the Commissioner had consulted anybedy else, and Jf others agreed with the re-' bate that does not justify the Commit sioner of Bcvcnuc, specially charged with tax problems, for favoring the re bate. It would not make it right no matter how imany should get in the boat with him. The principle is wrong just as wrong as wrong can be and is wholly indefensible. Colonel Watt' Statement Comniiisifincr Witts' ttatement fol lows: "I have read the statement of Cor poration Commissioner Maxwell an' the editorial and neivs statements appe-.r ing in th New anil Observer Uki morning wlfh reference to the'decrensn in the t.ii assessment on tho tobu'wi of the Liggett & Myers Com pirn y and the Anicn-aj) Tolmcre Company liu'ed in Durham Conn.? fr the year 1!)!0, which were grantet by t he .JState Board of EqualiMion a-t it r meeting onrues day, Auri st lfith, 19'Jl. "On Mat'7th, a deputy sberifl of Wake County served on me copies of exceptions of -the American Tobacco Company and Liggett & Myers Tobifeo Company to the recent decision of the $tate Tax Comtuissiou, which was ma b en April C8th, H-1, and of petitions to rehear thee case?, copies of which we hereto attached marked Exhibi's numbers one and two. These excep tions and petitions were also served on tho members of the Corporation Coin mission, as I am informed. Soon -after ward Mr. Jones fuller, of Counsel for the companies, called irt. my office and cqtiested a rehearing. Delegstion Come "Some days afterwards quite a dele gation of Durham Citirens including Dr7 j.'5iT"Mihning7 MTvn7'rtTrtfr f;r Caever, Chairman of the Hoard of County Commissioners; Hon. R. If. Sykes, President of the Chamber of Commerce; Mr. John M. M.vrkham, President of the Durham Merchants Association; Mr. M. E, New some, ex- nnyor, and quite a number of others culled on nie and very earnestly anl insistently urge nie to rehear the, case, saying that they were in no way con noc,ted with either of the companies, that they appeared as olBci;ri ami tax payers of the eity and coiinly of Dur ham; that in their judgment, the sssom meiits for taxes on tho stocks of tobacco in question were greatly more thaa their true value in money on January 1st, WM, and, therefore, did great in justice to these companies which were and hml been for uianv vears the heaviest tar payers, the largest em ployers of labor and tho most powerful and effective contributors to the growth nnd prosperity of their city nnd county These and othr arguments, were Xj 1 vanced. 1 told tlicni that tlieir views would be considered : that, I had no! examined into the question of my IcriI right to rehear the eases, but would confer with th Attorney Genera! and notify them and others interested of my decision. "Some dnyt afterwards T g::e the papers in the case to Attorney General Manning and requested, him to inlvisc me a to my legal authority to rehear the cases, should I determine to rehear them. The Attorney -General rendere 1 me an opinion dated June 10th, cn of which marked Exhibit number thrcj ia attached. "After reading the Attorney General's opinion and again rending the law creating the Department of Hcvenlie, Chapter,. 40, Public Iiwi IH21, especi iilly Section 3 thereof, copy of which is hereto attached Marked Exhibit num ber four, T became convinced that this entire instllr was in the jurisdiction of th Htate Foard of Equalisation of which I sip a member and Chairman ex-offlcio and not in rnino an Commit sinner of Revenue, I .informed the At torney General and after reading the law he agreed wi'h me. In the mean time I read c.ttefulU all the evidenre in the cases and formed an opinion n to the value of the stocks of tobacco. On the dates indicated I received let ters from .Mayor Manning, Chairman Carver of the County Commissioner, Hon. K. H. Hikes and Mr. John M. Markham, copies of which are attached marked Exhibits nutnhcr five, sit, seven and eight. Convinced of Wrong "After roasting rteTeTrim6Tiy4Trth:ea,v caeet I became convinced that these stocks of tobacco were valued for taxa tion far in excess of their true al,ie in money as of January 1st, lTO), and that my duty under the law and my oath of office wat to tot at a member of the Board to rehear them. "At the meeting of the Board of EqnaOiratlon on July "Oth, Mr. be ing nbseut, but approving our action wnon be returned, Judge Manning nn-1 I both voted to rehear the 'eases nnd set them for hearing on August Kth. The Chairman of the Hoard of County Com missioners of Durham County and the Mayor of the City of Durham, together with the attorney of the Companies, were notified of the action taken. The cases were heard by the Board nnd th rote was unanimous to reduce th assessment of the American Tobacco Company from 111,02.1, loj to 8,67;i,trt0, and of Liggett ft Myers Tobacco Com pany from 2.1,1 JM to il3,M5.271, the total reduction $11,032,732 Instead of over 113,000,000 it published in the aewspapers. "The evidence which .ihe Eoard con sidered la reaching its conclusion is on file in this office and it very volumi nous. ' I "AfUr th 8tl Tax Comminioa had raited the values at originally returned br th compnie, upon appel by th companies being filed, th Commission appointed a committe of thre ap rraisen. Col. W. H. Osborn. of Green. boro.; Mr Andrew Jamison, of Oxford. ana air. n. m. Jeffreys, of Chias City, Va., all independent dealers la leaf to- baeeo tnatr of Urge experience, but had tf Internal Revenue and one of tht drat tobacco bntinest-who went to Durham and after being dnly swarn spent wore thaa a week la examining the tobjrcea ana rawing the tame nnder the uper Titdoa of Mr. J. p. jOrifBn, Clerk in Charge of Revaluation ef the State Tat Commits! on. Aa tomaslaslon" "They reporteVth value of th to baect of th Americas Tobacco Com pany at IM09.178.e3 and of th Liggett 4 Uyert Tobacco Company aa 115,415,. X71.43. Col Osborn wa not only t beeo ma of large trperienee, b t had bee th wastry's ablest Commisaioaer of lattrtul Revenue and no ofth firtt eitlsew of the Stat. H ha tinea beea e)Ued from among as. ; "Hi associate an anatf th highest itandlaf ia thsir oniness, which it dealing ia tobxwe. Tht Butt Tax Cotn'mbMioBi e.nnM . abi'a the result of it ea appraiaen la thU iaitavact t tht oajy iaiUac la! th Jurtory of revaluation, so Cliairnian Lee informs me. "In December, 1920, th Tar Commi- sion had ft rublie hearing in these ca'S when Messrc. P. D. Watt, of Beidsviljo; iA. E. T. White, of Offord; Mr. Coopir, of Henderson, a-nd many others, all ex perienced tobacco men and among the Htnte t best citizens, testified that they ha"d examined jbe tobacco and placed a somewhat loner value upon it than did the sivorn appraisers, headed by Col. Osborn. There was no evidence intro duced lc controvert any of this testi mony. Besides the above testimony he State Board of Equalization hod the benefit at its hearing ou the IGth of statements from six or eight of the first citizens of Durham, to the tame effect. "The a-bove is the history of the easej. "I approached a decision in this case with extreme reluctance. I knew that the companies involved were probably the most unpopular of any which do business in North Carolina. I felt sure that a storm would be raised about my head and a casual look at the Ral eigh papers this morning will show that I was a true prophet. But under my oath of office and the law as construed to me by the State's law officer I felt that a grave injustice was about to be done to these companies by requiring them to" pay mor taxe than they should pay under the larw. I voted to rehear and to reduce the assessment as did my associates on the Eoard. I take my full responsibility. Ill-Timed Revaluation "I have no doubt that other tobacco companies and hundred! of other cor porations, firms aud individuals were required under the ill timed revalua tion law to pay more taxes than they should have paid. The Durham cases and two or three others hare regularly s ndy Ttrpead en'rn e tf f fir f"f hr Board of which I am chairman an d I have voted m I conceived the law and evi dence to make it my duty to vote. I will do th same ahould other caset come legally bfeore the Board. "It is contended that the action of the. Hoard in reducing thes assees- mi nts was illegal. The Atorney Oen eral of North' Carolina ndvised that, it was legal. "Tho State Tn Commission, before it ceased to exist, reheat! many cases iiflcr asseisnumts had been made. In one of whluh, the eao o.f the Cannon chain of Cotton Mills, of Cabarrus County, the C-ouimission reduced the assessments previously announced sev eral million dollars. The county au llmntii'S brought suit, against the Com mission and the court decided that the Commission had tha legal right to change tho assessment. As Jhe sue cr-'-r of the State .;m Commission the Mate Hoard of Equalization would ap--pear to have the sinno lopal authority. I verily believe, and I measure, my words, that th Btat Tat Commission would haie rhard tliesa cases, if it had eonrinued to axist. "The editor of the News aad Observer was informed nt an early hour last night, if not hefore, that these cases were heard by the l-Uato Eoard of l.'qualiatioii ami not by me alone. The section of the law which he printed ma-kes it the duty of tho Board, and not tin' f omeiissioncr of Rotonue, to hear and decido appeals from assessing uflicer in the counties. But so great was his desire to injure me that in his eatiTO puiier there is no word that would lead his readers to suspeef, much less know, that ChairmaaiWLeo and Attorney General Manning fward these cadca and voted for these reductions the same as I did." Eight Exhibits Filed The exhibits submitted by Commit sioner Watts in support of his action in granting a rebate of $110,327.32 in taxes to tlin tobacco eomnanics, cover sevej-al thousand words. They are out hneif on follow s : Exhibit No. 1 Exceptions filed by the American Tobacco Co., before the State Tax Commi-suon on last April, asking for a re hear.ug in the order fixing Jhu value of the property held tn Durham. Exhibit No. 2 Letter signed hj Jones Fuller1, counsel f.or,. t'uo America-n To bacco Co., addressed to Commissioner Watts under date of May f, 1U21, re questing Commissioner of Revenue to re opeu cas- n exceptions field with Tax Commission. Exhibit No. 3Ctpinitm ef th Attr ney General, under date of June 10, 1321, covering several paes, and clos ing with the following: "Tlie questions involved In tlie present petition is the de'erminatiorr of the vahies of the stocks of tobacco of these two com panies for the year lP'JO. In view of these facts and thi legislation, I think you hae the power to be used in your discretion,, to consider the petition of these two compauies, to rehear the de termination of the values of their stocks of tobacco aa ascertained by the Tax Commie ion." - Exhibit No. 4 Quoting Section 3, Chapter 40, Public taws, erea iiig Commissioner of Revenue. Exhibit No. 5 Letter to Commission er Watts, under date of July 8, 1821, from John M. Manning, mayor of Dur ham and brother to the Attorney Gen eral saying that he had investigated the assessments and found tbem on an "unfair and unjust basis.'' Exhibit No. Letter to Commit sioner signed by H. Lr Carver, chairman of Durham County board of Commis sioners, requesting that decree peti tioned be granted. Exhibit No. 7 Letter to Commis sioner Watts from John M. Markhtm, president of Durham Merchant Asjo- ct.Ttion, declaring that a great injustice had beea don th tobacco compact, and that "they ar clearly entitled to th relief which they ar asking." Exhibit No. S Letter from B. H. flykes, president f th Durham Cham ber of Com mere trusting "that yon have btea (bit to mak a decision rela tive to tht rehearing of tht esse ret cindinij. Uj tax," . CriSa'a "tatemoat. Th statement issued byJV. flriflia, former chief clerk of tht 8tatt lax Commission, follow: "It it with much reluctate that I feel -compelled to tak inut with Com' miwioner A. J. Maxwell with respect to hi eritieiara of Revenn Comtaia sioner Watts f regarding tht reas aatat ef ttockt of tobaee of Ameri can Tobacco Company tad Liggett A aXytn Tobacco Com pa ay for th year 1920, for that Mr. Maxwell does aot state the facta ia tht eases: "l. Tht But Tax CommUsioa did aot find i a fact that tht America Tobaeeo Company -- tad Liggett k Myers Company listed their stocks of leaf tobaeeo oa hand at 00 to W per teat of value wjth rtfereaeo to orlfiul eott of erra grade oa head, Ther w atver any endear Wort, tht old EUtt Tax Commistioa that tht largest tobacco company la tat crate naa roluntanly adopted a the Msia for making it return 'book value. 3. The book value of tobacco on hand January J, 1920, of American Tobacco Company asd Ligsrctt Myers Company were not submitted after it representatives were ealled into conference with the commission, Dlscaaaea History. "Xow, let hav the facts: "During the aummer of 1920, clerk ia charge of revaluation, clothed with full authority from the1 commission to u my own discretion. I ealled Durham .en ' tha rcDresentativft of Americas Tobacco Company and Liar gett V Myers Company to asrtrtAjn wnat method bad beea used ia arriving ai in value on January 1. 1920. their stocks of leaf tobacco oa hand oa that date. Tho representatives of those companies frankly and withbdt equivocation showed their working neeia and mat they returned grade bv grade tobacco at an average value' for eacn grade for five yeara. I then too a look tt tht book whieh dietoed that their-book value was somewhat in ex cesa of the average valuea nsed wieir- rax returns. - Both companies asked my opinion of their return as compared with book values in Tiew of th. rjuii.i.. -.i.-i. t . , "mmij ui.i.cii od wanuarv l, 1920, snd subsequently, I refused to give it "On my return to Raleigh and after adjournment of the pecil lession of the Legislature, upon consultation with Commissioner Maxwell, and without consulting the other member of the commission, and without notice to tlif companies, ing book value aj ascer tained by me when in Durham were certified down to Durham county a the tax value for the year 1920. . ..JJ.b. .entire. TaxCoojmitsion ahortly aiier mis icit ror oalt Late City, nab to attend a meeting f the National Tax Association, and authorized me to adjust all complaints coming up, dur ing their extended absence, with re spect to the revaluation work. Appoint Commission, "The American Tobacco Company and Liggett k Myers Companv com plained vigorously and earnestly that ttieir stocks of tobacco were not worth their book value on January 1, 1920 and insisted that the property be an praised according to law, which was at 'its true market value on Januaxy 1 1.1.'!. i no companies suggested no method. I told them I would agree to a reassessment by a board of three appraisers composed of independent tobacco men. "I induced the late Col. W. IT. Os bom, ex Coniruissitmer of Internal Revenue of the I'nited Rtates, to serve as chairman of the board and eu deavored, at his suggestion, to get Dr hd. White, of Oxford, to serve as memlier. I could not eet Dr. White but at his suggestion got Mr. Jamison of Oxford, to serve. Mr. T. J. Jeffrie, of Chase City, Va., served st the other member. None of these men weno appointed at the suggestion of either company, and were not connected with either company. All three were ex perienced tobacco men who bad spent their livct iu the basinets. ''I swore then in according to law as the oScial appraisers of the State Tax Commission, and part of the time supervised the detail ef their work. Their task was completed in about ten days. It was the fairest, most pains taking and most just appraisal made during the whole of the revaluation work. I say this advisedly, because I supervised many appraisals of miiiy properties In North Carolina, the np praisal of which was intricate and diffi cult. "In the heat of the income tax cam paign I left the Tax Commission. Just why th appraisal of their official ap praisers wji not accepted and dopted by them is a myetery. "They adopted every one ever made nnder my supervision. Commissioner Maxwell knew then and knows now that all I ever ought to obtain was .proper and legal tax value and do justice to all taxpayers, ultra rich or any other kind - "Colonel Watte, or the State Board of Equalization, ha practically adopted the values made bythe official ap praisers of the old Stat Tax Commis sion. ' ' ' ' ' y Challenge Maxwell. "Without dealing in plalitjndea or criticirm, I challenge Mr. Maxwell to criticize the justness ef thi action. Why should not the American Tobacco Company and Liggett and Myers Com pany be treated justly and fairly as taxpayers in North Carolina! The companies ia my opinio never at tempted to dodge. "'There have been reductions by the old Tax Commission which appeared to be without just caue that Com missioner Maxwell sanctioned. "Colonel Watt has been just in hi findings according to the evidence in the case, and no criticism can attnch to him either by expert or a layman. 1 hold n brief for Colonel Watt or the. tobacco companies, but if a smith, of Fayettevilie; J. C Kluttz, of facts." Liverpool was mentioned ia a petition to Queen Elizabeth iu 1J17 as "Her Majesties poor decayed town. The Yarborough Raleigh's Leading and Largest Hotel Announces a tremendous reduction in dining room rates. Our prices are the cheapest in this section of the country and quality and service the very best that money can buy. .We solicit your patronage. , B. H. Griffin Hotel Co., Props. S. J. Lawrence, Mgr. House Democrats Launcfr At tack On Tax Revision Bill r i . i .a tContlnaed From Page One.) elimination made by the committee was that section which would have com pelled the men who terved in the wars of thi .country to pay an income tax on the pension or allowances from the government which had come to them or their dependents. In fighting against flagrant injutticet of the bill, the-Demo-erati did not fail to driv home the fact that the Bepublican- purpose is to lift the tax burden from, the wealthy and place it to a greaterextcnt upon the people of moderate means. Tar Heels Present At the caucus of the Democratic mem bers of th House last night there were in attendance but three Tar Heel Demo cratic members, these Bepresentativcs Brinton, Buhvir.kle, and Hammer. When the voto was taken on the "quostioh of making fight to retain tho excess iprofits tax" in the bill, Representatives Ham mer and Brinson voted for the resolu tion, while Representative Buhvinkle voted Against. There was much ap planse during the reading 6f the tele gram from Congressman Claude Kitchin but the personality cf the Democratic floor leader was missed, as it was missed on the floor of the House when the bill was being debated. The Republicans must have rejoiced at his absence for he knows how to gcTunder their hides and to expose their fallacies. There was a rumor going the rounds today that he had suffered a relapse and was not expected to sflrvive, but tele gram! sent Scotland Neck making In quiry brought the reply that Mr. Kitchin was getting along well and was steadily improving in health. Bced Ploort" Whtrten The boosters of the Southeia Tariff rrecntjjhajd at Greensboro, have come to Waifiingtoa VB3 depBTT6d; While here . PI Wharton, fhe presi dent of the North Carolina division and A. B. High, the secretary, appeared before the Senate finance committee and presented th resolut.on adopted by the Ureenaboro meeting". In tho ab sene from The cott.iuitfee meeting" "of Senator .Simmons, who was on the floor of the 8cnate aiding in the fight o keep the direction of. federal road legislation under the control nt th Department of Agriculture, the North. Carolina Pro tectionists were taken in hand by Sona tor Reed, of Missouri, who brofght out the fact that a smajl number of men at Greerisboro had assumed to speak fur the South. He could get no declaration that the sentiment of the South was ex pressed in the resolutions, but that it was the sentiment of the bankers and manufacturers who signed. Senator Reed declared that no farmers were represented in the signatures, that there was nothing shown that would Indicate that farmers were for protection, and that he knew that fully ninety per eonf. of th people of the South were op posed to it. Peator Reed's questions were such as to rather floor tha visi tors, ana qqoorea tn"ir efforts to show that the 'South wanted a protective tariff. Representative Brinson, who ia member of tha census ennmittee, says that the reapportionment bill for mem bers of the Houso will go over till after the recess, and that be would not be surprised if it was not continued for act on till the regular session begins in December, but does not think it ought to be thus delayed. He states that the minority still have hopes of defeating any increase of membership, and feel that H has a good chance to kee-p the membership at the present number of 13dk Protest Against Tax. Mr. Brinson, Representative Weaver, aad other members of the North Caro lina delegation have received many tclcgrama protesting against the $10 tax which was proposed to be placed on re tellers of bottled soft drinks. There spieira to be a propaganda in favor of th passago of the bill which would givt 500 million to the railroads Among others the North Carolina Pine Association, which appears to have headquartera t Norfolk, is calling for ita pasiage. In v -letter to Congrett man Brinson " it .urges that' aueli re lief, to the railroads "Is vital. There seomi to be no doubt but that the rail roads are backing up these kinds of letter f rorp. corporations which they can reach, and that thete corporati. s are bombarding members of Congress with boosts for ther railroads. Call hav come to the Department of Commerce from North Carolina for abont 200.000 "fingerling" bass or black bass, these from the third dis trict, tho fish to be used in stocking certain streims in the Ptate. Writing to Representative Brinson this matter, through whom the requests were made, the acting commissioner of fisheries sayt w.e jll not be able to supply the larg. numbers requested, tine they repretent a number of bass in exeesi of the entire output of our North Caro lina fish cultural station for several years, but that as many as available will be sent at the next distribution period. In hi letter the commissioner of fisheries declares that the applicants for fish ahould use "their influence to- ard the enactment of better laws for fish protection," that "from our knowledge of the fish laws of the S te of North Carolina, they are at present inadequate. It does not sppear that the gome fish are protected during their spawning season, nor is thert a 'bag or six' limit, i Further, if our in formation it correct, tlie.uao of soincl nd other n ts is permitted. JPlth but few restrictions, it it hardly possible to expect the most efficient results frem stocking streams with' artificially reared fish unless the work can be sup ported, by intelligent conservation laws." Here is sbmr-thing for North Carolina law-makers to think about. Shlpman To New Jersey. f M. L. SJiipman, of Baleigh, Com missioner of Labor and Printing and also the Federal employment director for North1 Carolina, was here today on his way to visit New Jersey to look into the 'employment service and method in use there. With him was Wade H. Skinner, assistant director general of the United States Employ ment Service, and in a few daj's they will be joined by Franci I. Jones, Director General. Mr. JoMel has just been on r tour of points in North Carolina with Mr. Shipniun, and came to Washington with him. W'hilo in the State he had a conference with Governor Morrison st Wrightsville Bench. He expressed him self nsbeing delighted with he State, and pays the highest kinds of comple ments to, the services being rendered by Commissioner, filiipman in the em ployment service. ''Mr. Rhipmin is a genius,'" he said. . "He is developing the finest kind of a system. He ia working in a great State, aud he is doing a work of much ser vice. He is going to New Jersey at my request and will look iato the wonderful system of employment that is in use there. At Newark and Jer sey City we will be with Colonel James T. Bryant, tho commissioner of labor of Now Jersey, and on Saturday the ... party wTll he my guitts at Ocean Grove. As toon 0 I can, T sm goin .TtTrv-Hri Nrh -enroiitm. Tt is a de lightful State." Senator Lee S. Ovdrinan and hi pri vate secretary, Alfred M. McLean, left Washington this morning motoring to North Carolina. They expect to visit some of the battlefields in Virginia ' SirttioTf "way and wllf spend the- first night of their journey in Richmond. Senator Overman will spend the recess of Congress at his homo in Palislwiry, but Mr. McLean will return in about two weeks. Acting for Representative Weaver, his secretary, W. Has din. has secured a compensation of $281.4(T ' year 'for William A. Osborne, of Horse Shoe. Mr. Otborne being a rural mail car rier, passed the age of 6.5, allowing his retirement. William .Moore, of Black Mountain, who applied for a place to have hospital treatment for his nrnf, put out of commission by service oieraens with the American army, was admitted to Walter Ree4,. irosp:tjil on the application of Mr. Hardin. Representatie Brinson has appointed to the Naval ncademy F.rnest Judson Davis, of Beaufort, who is to be ad mitted on certificate. He was fint alternate to Cullori B. Hatch, of Mount Olive, who passed the required admin istration but finding that his eyesight would d"bar his entrance he resigned, and made the vacancy. Representative Dotigbtnn, who hn been spending some time at hit home at Laurel Springs, returned to Wash ington this morning. M'.sses Ethel Johnson and Jessie Oox, of Ashehoro, who have been visiting Miss Uoro'hy Grimes, left last night for their home. Among the North Carolinians visit ing in Washington today were: Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Holleman, and Phil Thcim, of Raleigh; Mr. and Mrs. J. 8. Kluttz, of Greensboro; Mrs. W. H. Thornton, of New Bern; J. M. Chiles, of Ashevillc; Banks Arendcll of Ral- - cigh: W. IT. McGenehy, ard J. D. High smith, of F;'.vettevi!Ic"; J. CC. Kluttz, of Durham. HOPES FOR AGREEMENT ' TO BRING WORLD PEACE London. Aug. 18. (By the Associated Press) The earnest hop was expressed by Premier Lloyd George in a statement to the Houfe of Commons today dealing with the subject of the coming disarma ment conference in Washington, that the conference would rctult in a com- plct understanding on.th problems of the Paciflo and the reaching of a tri- y n iio greeirrentf miMaafTig irapanes) ana a great partnership of tht United States and England, inturing the peact or the world. 666 Cures Malaria, Chills and Fever, Bilious Fever, Colds and LaGrippe, or money refunded. Adv. Worn
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 19, 1921, edition 1
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